TASA - Key Persons

Dr. Art Cavazos retired in 2021 as superintendent of Harlingen CISD, with more than 30 years of education experience and numerous accolades under his belt. A native of the Rio Grande Valley, Cavazos began his career as a math teacher before becoming a counselor, principal and finally, administrator. While Cavazos has retired from the superintendency, he remains an active supporter of Texas public education. Besides serving TASA as an executive superintendent, he is also a superintendent-in-residence for the Holdsworth Center and a member of the UIL Executive Committee. For Cavazos, his work in these roles is crucial to supporting school systems through a three-pronged approach, focusing on culture, human capital and strategy. By serving in a supportive capacity for school leaders and superintendents, it's his goal to build them up so that they can hone their leadership abilities. "If you support the leaders to be the best versions of themselves, then, if their purpose is aligned to the core of their values, they're going to do great things," Cavazos says. "But, they can't do it alone." The first component, Cavazos says, is identifying leadership talent early - that's the human capital piece. Once you have your culture in check, the strategy comes into focus, resulting in a roadmap that takes an organization from good to great. "That's where the magic really takes place," Cavazos says. During Cavazos' time as a superintendent, there was a strong focus on the four Cs: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. He says that for today's superintendents, those skills, while crucial, just scratch the surface. "Oftentimes people will think, ‘Well, I'm a great communicator,' but it's not really about how you deliver the message, but how that message is received," Cavazos says. It's unlikely there's a school administrator out there who'd tell you that his or her job has gotten easier over the last two years. In Cavazos' eyes, the role of the superintendent has always been complex, but has become even more so of late. The COVID-19 pandemic may have served as a catalyst, disrupting school systems across the globe, but Cavazos believes it was a convergence of science, philosophy and politics that led to a divisive populace, where everyone believes they have to take sides. "I know boards that have been solid as a team, and this has thrown a wrench into them," Cavazos says. "I remind them that when you govern as a one-issue board, then you've lost sight of your purpose." As an executive superintendent for ESC regions 1 and 20, it's Cavazos' aim to serve as a conduit between superintendents and TASA leadership. His goal is to help them through challenging times by not only supporting them, but connecting them to an organization created to offer help.

Dr. Kevin Brown

Job Titles:

Executive Director
Executive Director of the Texas Association of School Administrators

Dr. Kevin Brown is executive director of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), whose mission is to promote, provide, and develop leaders who create and sustain student-centered schools and develop future-ready students. Brown, who holds a doctorate in education administration from Texas A&M University, a master's degree in education administration from Texas State University, and a bachelor's degree in government with honors from The University of Texas at Austin, has a wealth of experience in public education. Prior to joining the TASA staff in 2018, he led Alamo Heights ISD as superintendent for 10 years after serving as a teacher, assistant principal and principal, and in district-level positions in human resources and communications in Southwest, Round Rock, New Braunfels and Alamo Heights ISDs. Dr. Brown has also taught graduate courses at Texas State University and guest lectured at Trinity University. During his career, he has held top leadership roles in TASA, the Texas School Coalition, the Texas Association of Mid-Size Schools, and the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators. Dr. Brown is a passionate advocate for public education and believes that quality teachers and a supportive community are critical components to the success of children and to the continued success of our democratic way of life.

Dustin Breithaupt

du..@lytleisd.org

Job Titles:

Assistant Superintendent
Member of the Higher Education Committee

Dwaine Augustine

da..@hfhorns.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Superintendent

Edcouch-Elsa ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Higher Education Committee
Member of the Professional Learning Committee

Edna ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Superintendent / Edna ISD

Elizabeth Fagen

el..@humbleisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Legislative Committee
Superintendent

Eric Simpson

es..@tasanet.org

Job Titles:

Chief Learning Officer

Faye Alexis

fa..@tasanet.org

Job Titles:

Executive Assistant for GR & Executive Director, and TASA Awards Coordinator

Frenship ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee

Garland ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Advocacy Committee

Gary D. Bates

gb..@fshisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Superintendent

Gayle Stinson

ga..@birdvilleschools.net

Job Titles:

Superintendent

Gerald B. Hudson

ge..@chisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Advocacy Committee
Superintendent

Godley ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Professional Learning Committee

Gonzalo Salazar

gs..@lfcisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee

Graham ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Legislative Committee

Greg Bonewald

gr..@wimberleyisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Superintendent

Gregory Rodriguez

Job Titles:

Member of the Higher Education Committee
Member of the Professional Learning Committee
Superintendent

Gregory-Portland ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Professional Learning Committee

Guillermo Mancha

gm..@roscoe.esc14.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Advocacy Committee
Superintendent

Hardin-Jefferson ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Advocacy Committee

Harold Colson

hc..@pilotpointisd.com

Job Titles:

Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Deputy Superintendent

Heliodoro Sanchez

Job Titles:

Member of the Advocacy Committee
Superintendent

Herbert O'Neill

Job Titles:

Superintendent

Hereford ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee

Hidalgo ISD

Holly Ferguson

Job Titles:

Member of the Professional Learning Committee
Superintendent

Holly Morris-Kuentz

Job Titles:

Member of the Professional Learning Committee
Superintendent

Hunt ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Legislative Committee

Irene Garza

ir..@taftisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Professional Learning Committee
Superintendent

Jack Lee

ja..@bullardisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Professional Learning Committee
Superintendent

Janis Jordan

ja..@nisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Higher Education Committee
Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction

Jason Hewitt

jh..@shepherdisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Legislative Committee
Superintendent

Jason Marshall

Job Titles:

Member of the Legislative Committee
Superintendent

Jason McCullough

jm..@mtvernonisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Superintendent

Jay Bacchus

Job Titles:

Member of the School Board Awards Committee
Superintendent

Jay Killgo

jk..@vidorisd.org

Job Titles:

Superintendent

Jay McWilliams

jm..@bsisd.esc18.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Legislative Committee
Superintendent

Jeannie Meza-Chavez

jm..@seisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Member of the School Board Awards Committee
Superintendent

Jeff Burke

jb..@splendoraisd.org

Job Titles:

Member of the Legislative Committee
Superintendent

Jeff Harvey

Job Titles:

Superintendent

Jennifer Butcher

Job Titles:

Member of the Higher Education Committee
Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging / Abilene Christian University

Jennifer Garrido

jg..@tasanet.org

Job Titles:

Director, Corporate Partner Services

Jennifer S. Blaine

je..@springbranchisd.com

Job Titles:

Member of the Legislative Committee
Member of the Professional Learning Committee
Superintendent

Jenny Jones

jj..@tasanet.org

Job Titles:

Director, Member Services

Jenny McGown

jm..@kleinisd.net

Job Titles:

Superintendent

Jeremy Strickland

js..@trentonisd.org

Job Titles:

Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Superintendent

Jeremy Thompson

jt..@ponderisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Superintendent

Jessica Arceneaux

ja..@tasanet.org

Job Titles:

Executive Assistant, Member Engagement & Support

Jill Siler

js..@tasanet.org

Job Titles:

Deputy Executive Director, Professional Learning

Jimmy Jack Burns

Job Titles:

Member of the Advocacy Committee
Superintendent

Joe Lopez

Job Titles:

Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Superintendent

Joe Young

jo..@brownwoodisd.org

Job Titles:

Member of the Professional Learning Committee
Superintendent

John "JJ" Villarreal

jo..@rockwallisd.org

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Superintendent

John Wilson

Job Titles:

Member of the Higher Education Committee
Clinical Professor / Baylor University

Jon Cody Mize

Job Titles:

Member of the Advocacy Committee
Superintendent

Jonathan Scott

jo..@albany.esc14.net

Job Titles:

Superintendent

Jose Gonzalez

Job Titles:

Member of the Advocacy Committee
Superintendent

Joseph Burns

Job Titles:

Member of the Advocacy Committee
Superintendent

Joshua Garcia

jg..@kaufman-isd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Advocacy Committee
Superintendent

Juan I. Martinez

ju..@clint.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Professional Learning Committee
Superintendent

Judd Marshall

Job Titles:

Member of the Legislative Committee
Superintendent

Karen Rue

kr..@tasanet.org

Kathryn Rollo

kr..@lubbockisd.org

Job Titles:

Member of the Advocacy Committee
Superintendent / Lubbock ISD

Katy ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning / Katy ISD

Keith Bryant

kb..@lcisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Legislative Committee
Superintendent

Keith Butcher

Job Titles:

Member of the Higher Education Committee
Clinical Associate Professor / University of Houston

Kelli Moulton

km..@tasanet.org

Kelly Burns

kb..@redwaterisd.org

Job Titles:

Superintendent

Kelly Legg

Job Titles:

Assistant Superintendent for Instruction

Kenneth James Berry

Job Titles:

Member of the Legislative Committee
Superintendent

Keri Hampton

Job Titles:

Superintendent

Kermit ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Member Engagement Committee

Kevin Badgett

Job Titles:

Member of the Higher Education Committee
Assoc. Professor of Educational Leadership / the University of Texas

Kimberly McLeod

Job Titles:

Member of the Higher Education Committee
Associate Vice President / Texas a & M University

Kristin N. Brown

Job Titles:

Chairman of the School Board Awards Committee
Member of the Legislative Committee
Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Superintendent

Kyle Lynch

kl..@seminoleisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Superintendent

Kyle Wargo

kw..@esc17.net

Job Titles:

Executive Director
Member of the Legislative Committee

Lackland ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee

Lamar CISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Advocacy Committee
Member of the Editorial Advisory Committee
Member of the Executive Committee
Superintendent
Superintendent / Lamar CISD

Lamont Smith

la..@elkhartisd.org

Job Titles:

Superintendent

Larry Coffman

lc..@tasanet.org

Lasara ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Legislative Committee

LaTonya Goffney - President

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
President
Superintendent

Lawana Pulliam

la..@canadianisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Higher Education Committee
Director of Curriculum and Instructional Technology

Leander ISD

Liberty Hill ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee

Lindale ISD

Lisa Huffman

Job Titles:

Member of the Higher Education Committee
Dean, College of Professional Education / Texas Woman 's University

Lisa Meysembourg

Job Titles:

Member of the School Board Awards Committee
Superintendent

Lizet Benites

lb..@tasanet.org

Job Titles:

Administrative Assistant, Member Engagement & Support

Lockhart ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Member Engagement Committee

Lubbock-Cooper ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Editorial Advisory Committee
Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Legislative Committee
Member of the Professional Learning Committee
Deputy Superintendent

Luci Harmon

lh..@huntisd.org

Job Titles:

Member of the Legislative Committee
Superintendent

Lupita Hinojosa

Job Titles:

Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Superintendent

Lynn Pulliam

ly..@canadianisd.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Professional Learning Committee
Superintendent

Lytle ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Higher Education Committee

Macy Satterwhite

ms..@lcisd.net

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Professional Learning Committee
Member of the Editorial Advisory Committee
Member of the Executive Committee
Chairman of TASA Professional Learning Committee
Professional Learning Committee / Deputy Superintendent

Marco De La Cueva

Job Titles:

Coordinator, Graphics & Multimedia

Maria Cruz

mc..@tasanet.org

Job Titles:

Coordinator, Learning & Events

Mark Estrada

ma..@lockhart.txed.net

Job Titles:

Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Superintendent

Mark Malone

Job Titles:

Principal

Mark Ruffin

mr..@normangeeisd.org

Job Titles:

Member of the Member Engagement Committee
Superintendent

Marlin ISD

Job Titles:

Member of the Legislative Committee

Martha Salazar-Zamora

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Committee
President - Elect
Superintendent

Mary Ann Whiteker

Mary Ann Whiteker began her professional career in 1973 as a first grade teacher in Corrigan ISD. She spent a total of 44 years working in public education before retiring as superintendent of Hudson ISD, a post she held for 23 years - an outstanding stint for an administrator. Whiteker began her career in a classroom, but moved into administration due to an interest in curriculum. She says that when she was a teacher, curriculum was largely set by the state, and handed down to districts. In a small district such as Corrigan, there were no curriculum teams at that time who could understand and explain the curriculum or guide teachers through what was essentially a broad framework. In the district, Whiteker worked to understand the handed-down curriculum and interpret it for other teachers at her grade level. She was able to make the curriculum easier to understand and more usable for her colleagues, something that piqued her interest in the process. The superintendent recognized the value of the work she was doing and asked Whiteker to assume the role of elementary curriculum director, a new position at the time in Corrigan. From there, Whiteker was hired by Hudson ISD to serve as curriculum director before moving into the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction position and finally the superintendency in 1995. When she moved to Hudson ISD, Whiteker was invited to attend numerous conferences with the district superintendent, including TASA's Midwinter Conference. At that event, she became familiar with the organization and realized how much an administrator could gain from a network of experienced colleagues, especially when that administrator came from a small district with a small staff. Whiteker made use of TASA's networking and training opportunities and then stepped up to serve on several committees. She also served as legislative chair for TASA, but she says the greatest impact on her career came from working on the visioning committee.