Beaumont ISDThe

AdministrativeTeam Guide2011-2012

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Beaumont Independent School District2011-2012 Administration Guide

Table of Contents

Introduction ..............................................................................2Dr. Brian Abel .............................................................................3Dr. Susan Alfred-Barefield .......................................................3Shannon Allen ...........................................................................4Sharika Allison ..........................................................................4Thom Campbell-Amons ..........................................................5Barbara Andress ........................................................................5Wilbert Andrews .......................................................................6Lydia Bahnsen ...........................................................................6Cynthia Barnes ..........................................................................7Amber Belton ............................................................................7Patricia Blueford .......................................................................8Lisa Bolton .................................................................................8Dr. Shirley Bonton.....................................................................9Jolean Bourque .........................................................................9Joseph Bowser ........................................................................10Frank Brocato ..........................................................................10Philip Brooks............................................................................11James Broussard .....................................................................11Ezell Brown ..............................................................................12Fannie Brown ...........................................................................12Susan Brown ...........................................................................13Dr. Veda Brown ........................................................................13Ronnie Bryant ..........................................................................14Patrick Calhoun .......................................................................14Richard Cantu ..........................................................................15Dr. Timothy Chargois .............................................................15Cathy Chavis ............................................................................16Ava Colbert ..............................................................................16Elvena Colbert .........................................................................17Sybil Comeaux ........................................................................17Linda Cooper ...........................................................................18Julie Corona .............................................................................18Dr. Aaron Covington ..............................................................19Stephanie Cummings ............................................................19Bill Daniels ...............................................................................20Clydell Duncan ........................................................................20Craig Eichhorn, APR ...............................................................21Rosalind Eyre ...........................................................................21Sue Foery..................................................................................22Martha Fowler .........................................................................22Anita Frank ...............................................................................23Joanna Genuardi ....................................................................23Belinda George .......................................................................24Jillian Granger .........................................................................24Dr. Marcia Green .....................................................................25Holley Hancock .......................................................................25

Barbara Hardeman .................................................................26Dr. David Harris .......................................................................26Birdie Harrison ........................................................................27Jessie Haynes, APR .................................................................27Tillie Hickman ..........................................................................28Alberto Iglesias .......................................................................28Dr. T. Nelson Ikegulu ..............................................................29Janie Jackson ...........................................................................29Ronald Jackson .......................................................................30Joy James .................................................................................30Rachel Jones ............................................................................31Jessie Kibbles ..........................................................................31Michelle Kibbles ......................................................................32Belinda Klock ...........................................................................32Laura Klock ..............................................................................32Dr. Kimber Knight ...................................................................33Patricia A. Lambert .................................................................33Dr. Jackie Lavergne ................................................................34Bendy Lee .................................................................................34Naomi Lawrence-Lee .............................................................35George Luke ............................................................................35Patsy Magee ............................................................................36Tamraka Manuel .....................................................................36Randall Maxwell......................................................................37Devin McCraney ......................................................................37James Melanson .....................................................................38Dr. Lona Mitchell-Alexander .................................................38Odis Norris ...............................................................................39Terri O’Neal ..............................................................................39Jarod Parnell ............................................................................40Dr. Gabrielle Polk ....................................................................40Connie Richard ........................................................................41Dr. JoAnn Rucker.....................................................................41Rodney Saveat ........................................................................42Senecia Saveat ........................................................................42Greg Schumacher ...................................................................43Michael Shelton ......................................................................43Dr. Paul Shipman ....................................................................44Hoyt Simmons .........................................................................44Steve Tatum .............................................................................45Dr. Carrol A. Thomas ...............................................................45Cynthia Washington ...............................................................46Wayne Wells .............................................................................46Debra Williams ........................................................................47Jimmy Wilson ..........................................................................47Robert Zingelmann ................................................................48

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Introduction

The Beaumont Independent School District Adminitstration Staff is comprised of a group of individuals

who represent a wide range of expertise to help them achieve excellence in education for the 20,000

students here in Beaumont public schools. As different as their origins are, each member of the BISD

administrative team are united in their efforts to make Beaumont ISD one of the best educational systems in the

area, state, and even the world.

The men and women who lead the District are a goal-oriented, people-minded group that have reached

their current positions in the educational field by utilizing “The Three D’s” throughout their career. They desire

to help others learn, learn from others and strive to improve themselves in every way. Their dedication to their

craft has sharpened their skills so that they can effectively impart their guidance and knowledge to students and

fellow District staff. And finally, they are all determined to make BISD the kind of school district of which the

community can be proud.

This guidebook presents a unique opportunity for others to learn more about the backgrounds of this

remarkable gathering of people that are at the helm of administrative responsibilities for Beaumont ISD. Within

these pages are revealed some of the personal journeys they have taken to reach their individual milestones and

how many of them have been instrumental in helping the District achieve success.

The Administrative Staff of Beaumont ISD are employees who are diverse in their make-up, but singular in

their purpose to lead the District to the heights of excellence.

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Dr. Brian Abel is a Beaumont native and 1991 graduate of West Brook High School. Abel has a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Louisiana State University, a master’s degree from Lamar University and a doctorate from Lamar University.

Abel has had an impressive 17 years in the education field, all of them with Beaumont ISD. He has also worked as an adjunct math instructor at Lamar University and Lamar Institute of Technology. The students lovingly refer to him as “that math dude.”

For six and-a-half years, Abel worked as a math teacher and coach in football and soccer at West Brook before moving to Marshall Middle School to take on the role of assistant principal. After three years at Marshall, he transitioned to the curriculum department as the District Math Supervisor.

Dr. Brian AbelMath Supervisor, Curriculum Department

Dr. Susan Barefield has been a significant part of Beaumont ISD’s educational system since 1984. She has a doctorate in educational administration from Texas Southern University, a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Lamar University and a Master’s in Supervision from Lamar University. Barefield is working toward a superintendent certification, and is certified in the areas of mid-management administration, generic special education, mentally retarded endorsementand Professional Development and Appraisal System.

Barefield has amassed many honors and accolades within the District and in the community. During her tenure as principal of Fehl Elementary, the school was awarded “exemplary” status by the Texas Education Agency, and received a Distinguished Performance Award in Title I and a Gold Performance Award for the Improvement of Reading. She was awarded Beaumont ISD’s “Employee of the Month” in 1990 and nominated for “Teacher of the Year” in 1991. The Catholic Diocese of Beaumont presented Barefield with the Distinguished Service Award in 1999. In 2000 she received the National Association of Federal Educational Administrators’ State Leadership Award, and the National Catholic Education Association awarded her its Educator of the Year Award in 2003.

Several organizations have access to Barefield’s wealth of educational experience. She serves on the board of the Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education and the Pastoral Council for Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church. The Association for Compensatory Educators of Texas has elected Barefield to be its president, and she is a representative of the Diocese of Beaumont.

Dr. Susan Alfred-BarefieldExecutive Director, Special Education

Beaumont Independent School DistrictAdministration Staff

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Shannon Allen is a product of the Beaumont Independent School District who graduated from West Brook High School in 1992. Originally planning to become a physician, Allen studied at Prairie View A&M University, graduating in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. After graduation, Allen returned to Beaumont ISD to teach biology at Clifton J. Ozen Magnet High School. Allen realized that teaching was a phenomenal opportunity to enrich the lives of young men and women and remained a science teacher at Ozen for five years, also serving as head of the science department. During her teaching career, Allen was recognized as the Beaumont Texas A&M Club’s Outstanding Teacher in 2003, and recipient of the Good Apple Award.

Allen made the decision to further her educational career as she was teaching by obtaining a master’s degree in education from Lamar University. Later, she was promoted to curriculum coordinator at Price Elementary. After a year she was promoted to assistant principal/magnet coordinator at Clifton J. Ozen Magnet High School. In June of 2007, Allen was named principal of George C. Marshall Middle School. Under her leadership Marshall has advanced its TEA campus rating to “exemplary” status, and is the first secondary campus to receive the rating.

Allen was named the Outstanding Middle School Principal for Region V by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. A passion for learning prompted Allen to enroll in the doctoral program at Lamar University where she plans to graduate in 2014 in educational leadership.

Shannon Denise AllenPrincipal, Marshall Middle School

Sharika Allison is a country girl at heart with very humble beginnings. She is a proud graduate of Lamar University where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting. Sharika began her career at Lamar, doing temporary work and managing to move her way up to senior accountant, where she was selected to be on the finance team at Lamar to help create and implement the university’s financial software.

While employed there, Sharika made the decision to travel a road only a handful of people in her family had walked: the path to earning a college degree. A goal-oriented person, she set out and accomplished this feat while working full-time, parenting and being a wife. She was also taking care of her parents, the ones who had instilled this drive in her.

Now, having successfully completed one goal, Sharika has made up her mind and her focus has now on becoming a Certified Public Accountant. This, she feels, is her ultimate goal.

Sharika AllisonComptroller, Business Operations

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Thom Campbell-Amons is a Florida native who has earned degrees from Stillman College, Lamar University and Prairie View A&M University. He completed additional studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. His occupational career includes stints as a YMCA Director, insurance salesman, youth director, teacher, assistant principal of a middle and high school and principal of BISD’s Central Medical Magnet High School. Amons is currently the principal of The Mike “O.C” Taylor Career and Technology Center.

Mr. Amons began working in the Beaumont ISD in 1968; since that year, he has served as president of BISD’s former Administrator Association, was the first vice president of the Beaumont Area Association of Black School Educators, and assisted in organizing

the first BISD Education Summit. He is a basileus of the Delta Omicron Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a member of the NAACP and has served on the Mid-Region Board of the YMCA.

Mr. Amons is married and has three children. He is a deacon, trustee, Sunday school teacher and Benevolence Committee member at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.

Thom Campbell-AmonsPrincipal, Taylor Career Center

Barbara Andress was born and raised in Beaumont, and is a proud product of Beaumont ISD education. She attended Roy Guess Elementary, Austin Junior High and French High Schools. She graduated in 1975 from French. Andress came to work in the District in 1990 as a substitute in payroll. In 1992, she was hired as a full time payroll clerk. Andress was promoted to her current position as Payroll Supervisor in 2006.

Andress has a son and daughter who are also products of BISD. Both are West Brook High School graduates. They too, have children who are and/or will be attending BISD schools.

Barbara AndressPayroll Supervisor

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Lydia Bahnsen has more than 21 years of experience in the educational field. As a teacher, she has taught students at the first, second, third and fourth grade level. She has served the Beaumont Independent School District in a supervisory capacity for the last ten years. For ten years Bahnsen has also served as an adjunct instructor in the Accelerated Certification Program at Lamar University’s Orange campus.

Lydia has written and/or managed grants valued at more than $40 million. She has also served as principal of the Elementary Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) Recapture Summer School Program for five years. In the 2010-2011 school year, Bahnsen served as the interim principal of Eugene Field Elementary, recognized as an “exemplary” campus by the Texas Education Agency.

Bahnsen started her current position as principal of Regina-Howell Elementary in 2011. This school is also TEA Exemplary rated. She is currently working on her doctorate at Lamar University, expecting to graduate in the summer of 2013.

Lydia BahnsenPrincipal, Regina-Howell Elementary School

Wilbert Andrews is a product of the Beaumont Independent School District educational system. He attended West Brook High School, graduating in 1988. Andrews played football, ran track, was a member of the power-lifting team and played in the marching band.

After graduating, Andrews attended Lamar University, majoring in health education with a minor in mathematics. He graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree. Andrews received his teaching certifications in health education in 1999 and his certification in secondary mathematics in 2001 from Lamar University. In 2005, Andrews received his Master’s of Education from Prairie View A&M University.

Andrews began his professional career in Port Arthur, teaching and coaching on several campuses in the Port Arthur Independent School District. At the urging of Coach Arthur Louis and Ozen Principal James G. Broussard, Andrews “came home” to Beaumont to teach and coach at BISD’s Clifton J. Ozen High School. With a burgeoning career at Ozen, he was considered one of the best mathematic teachers in BISD. Andrews became the Mathematics Department Chair at Ozen in 2004. In 2007, Andrews became assistant principal at West Brook High School, residing over the mathematics department. In 2011, Andrews was promoted to principal of Smith Medical Magnet Middle School.

“The World is My Classroom,” is Wilbert J. Andrews’s philosophy on life. He believes, “Teaching is a passion. A teacher is born and not made.” Wilbert is passionate about educating children, and passionate about educating everyone with whom he is blessed to come in contact.

Wilbert J. AndrewsPrincipal, Smith Medical Magnet Middle School

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Cynthia (Cindy) Barnes is the special education counselor for the Beaumont Independent School District. She graduated from Lamar University with a bachelor’s degree and received her master’s degree in counseling and guidance in 1990. Cindy is also a certified Special Education Counselor. She will receive her principal’s certification in late 2012. Her work experience includes teaching fourth grade, life skills at both elementary and middle school levels, autistic students and students with emotional disturbances. She was an elementary school counselor for fifteen years and has held her current position for the past two and half years with a total of 32 years’ service to the education of children. Cindy has one son, Garrett who lives in Pearland with his wife, Christin and their two dogs, Sadie and Dixie.

Cynthia BarnesSpecial Education Counselor

Amber Belton was born and raised in Beaumont. She is a proud product of the Beaumont Independent School District and an Ozen High School Alumnus, Class of 2002. Ms. Belton graduated from Texas Southern University with a bachelor of science in food and nutrition and became a certified nutritionist in 2009. She has a heartfelt passion for nutrition and she serves the community and abroad. Ms. Belton is on a mission to implement healthy living through developing positive nutritional habits for children while they are very young in order to combat unhealthy decision making and help defeat the childhood obesity epidemic. She believes good nutrition and physical activity in youth are a lifetime investment in a child’s future. As a member of the BISD team, her strong focus is also marketing and promotions. Ms. Belton has received

various grants such as Team Nutrition and Fuel Up to Play 60 which have been successfully implemented. She continues to bring in new programs that will continue to promote and encourage healthy lifestyles for our students in the future.

Amber BeltonAssistant Director, Child Nutrition Services

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Patricia Sennet Blueford is a native of Beaumont. She graduated from the legendary Hebert High School in 1974. Patricia received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Lamar University in 1979. With the coaxing of her principal, she went back to school and received her master’s and mid-management certification from Prairie View University. Ms. Blueford is a founding member of the Beaumont Area Alliance of Black School Educators (BAABSE). She is also a member of the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators and the National Alliance of Black School Educators. With a desire to keep up with “Best Practices” for education, she became a member of TEPSA, the Texas Elementary Principal School Association.

Blueford taught in a classroom for fourteen years at Fehl Elementary. She served as a curriculum coordinator for two years. Patricia fulfilled the role of assistant principal at Fehl and Martin Elementary for a total of eleven years. Additionally, she served as interim principal for six months at Martin Elementary. There, she helped lead the school to TEA Exemplary ratings and to its National “Blue Ribbon” status. Ms. Blueford is now in the position of principal of Lucas Pre-K Center where she believes “Every Child, Every Day, Will Learn.”

Patricia BluefordPrincipal, Lucas Pre-K School

Lisa Bolton was born and raised in Beaumont and spent her formative years as a student of the Beaumont Independent School District. Bolton has always loved young children, and to that end, she pursued the coursework that would allow her to teach at the elementary level. She received a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Lamar University in 1983. Lisa has worked with the BISD family for the past 27 years. She began the first ten years of her professional career as an elementary teacher, which she found truly fulfilling. During her time as a classroom teacher, she received a Master of Education degree in administration from Lamar University. With the feeling that she could better serve the needs of children by using her degree to work directly with classroom teachers, Lisa left the classroom to become a lead teacher. Two years

later, she was promoted to Title I curriculum coordinator, where she and two other coordinators developed and implemented the item analysis instrument which is currently being used district-wide. “Things have definitely changed from the days of pencil and paper analysis with all of the technological advances of today,” says Bolton. In January of 2001, Lisa was promoted to elementary principal, a position she has held for the past 11 years. While there were many “feathers in her cap” along the way, Lisa’s main claim to fame is her continued love and dedication to the education of children and an everlasting loyalty to the best school district in the nation!

Lisa BoltonPrincipal, Bingman Head Start

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Dr. Shirley Bonton received a Bachelor of Science and a master’s degree from Lamar University where she was later inducted into the Lamar University Educator Hall of Fame. Bonton earned her doctorate degree in education from Texas Southern University.

She is currently serving as the Deputy Superintendent for Elementary Education/Curriculum Instruction for the Beaumont Independent School District.

Bonton has been involved in public education for the past 20 years. As a prior deputy superintendent, staff development director, adjunct professor and principal, she is credited with leading teams and students to great academic success. These accomplishments were highlighted and published in an article entitled, “Our Best Schools” in the November 1996 edition of the Texas Monthly Magazine. Additional honors credited to her leadership include the Texas Education Agency Exemplary School Award, the Four Star School Award and the Texas Southern University-CPAL Award.

Bonton is very active in the educational field and the community. She has contributed to many organizations through her active membership in the Beaumont Area Alliance of Black School Educators, Texas Alliance of Black School Educators and the Texas Education Agency School Improvement Initiative.

Bonton is an avid reader and marathon runner.

Dr. Shirley BontonDeputy Superintendent

Jolean Bourque, supervisor for the Southeast Texas Regional Day School Program for the Deaf, has been working in the field of deaf education for 32 years. Her Deaf Education career reflects 12 years as a teacher for the deaf, 16 years as the Regional Day School Program for the Deaf diagnostician, and 4 years as the RDSPD supervisor. In 1975 Bourque graduated from Lamar with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech/Deaf Education. She received a Master’s in Audiology/Deaf Education in 1978. Jolean also obtained diagnostician and supervision certifications from Lamar University. She is a member of the Texas Counsel of Administrators of Special Education and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Advisory Committee for Regions 4 and 5. In the spring of 2011, she successfully completed the Texas Education Agency’s on-site Regional Day School

Program for the Deaf Peer Review with the rating of exemplary for 11 indicators and the rating of effective for 18 indictors.

Jolean BourqueSupervisor, Southeast Texas Regional Day School Program for the Deaf

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Joseph Bowser grew up in Beaumont, as part of a large family. The seventh of twelve children. Bowser attended public school in the Beaumont Independent School District, and is a graduate of the class of 1970 from Charlton Pollard High. Joe was the first in his family to receive a college degree. He graduated from Lamar University in 1975. Bowser became employed with Beaumont ISD the same year. He was a health teacher and coach in 1975 at his alma mater of Charlton-Pollard High School. He moved to the Maintenance Department as a groundsman in 1981. In 1996, he was promoted to the position of supervisor of operations and grounds. He has held his current title of director of facilities since 2004. Joe is proud to say that he has also been the pastor of Anointed Tabernacle Church for the past 25 years.

He and his wife Lillian (Henry) Bowser have been married for 35 years. He is the proud father of three children. They are all involved in education in some way. He has three grandchildren Janai, Jojo and Ayden. Bowser says he has no claim to fame; he says, “I am just glad to be alive and serving the Lord Jesus.”

Joseph BowserDirector of Facilities

Frank J. Brocato, Sr. has 48 years of experience in the field of education. Brocato has a Bachelor of Arts and Master’s of Education from McNeese University. He has completed all of the course work for his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, and is awaiting approval on his dissertation. Mr. Brocato currently serves the Beaumont Independent School District as supervisor of social studies and gifted and talented students, Kindergarten-12th grade.

During Frank’s educational career, he has served in the capacity of principal, assistant principal and associate principal in three different states. He has also been a teacher of social studies and speech, a debate coach and coached football, basketball and baseball.

Thanks to the efforts of Brocato and the educators of Beaumont ISD, social studies has achieved exemplary status for four consecutive years, and has received a commendable rating from the Texas Education Agency for the last three years. The Future Problem Solving program had all gifted teams from five District campuses advance to state competition and one team from Marshall Middle School finished second in the world.

Brocato’s hard work has not gone unnoticed; he has been nominated as teacher of the year four times. He was also nominated Southwest Louisiana Speech Teacher of the Year where he served as the organization’s president. Debate teams there won state and national finalist awards.

Frank was a national finalist in speech for the Jaycees. One of his students even won nationals in oratory.

Frank BrocatoCoordinator of Gifted/Talented & Social Studies

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Philip Brooks has lived in Beaumont all of his life. He grew up in South Park and attended Pietzsch Elementary, MacArthur Junior High and South Park High School, graduating in 1972. Immediately, Brooks enrolled at Lamar University and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a music specialization in 1976. He did his student teaching at Martin Elementary School in Beaumont ISD. In January of 1977, Brooks began teaching third grade at Martin continued there for six years. He then went to Roy Guess Elementary as a physical education teacher and was there for four years.

At the beginning of his fifth year at Guess, Dr. W. Preston Shaw named Philip Brooks as an assistant principal at Central Senior High School. When Dr. Shaw transitioned to the Administration Building, Brooks was given the position of associate principal. He spent eleven years at Central and enjoyed developing his skills in an administrative capacity.

In 1997, Brooks became principal at Eugene Field Elementary. He was there for thirteen great years. While he was principal, the school received Recognized or Exemplary status from the Texas Education Agency for eleven out of the thirteen years.

In 2010, Brooks was promoted to the Administration Building as an assistant superintendent. BISD has been very supportive of his efforts and Brooks appreciates the many years he has served in the District.

Philip Brooks has been happily married to Wanda Vick Brooks (of the 1975 class of South Park) for 34 years. She is a teacher at Dishman Elementary. They have three children: Justin, Kody and Katy. They were all honor graduates of BISD and went on to be college graduates. Each is married and has given Brooks five wonderful grandchildren.

Philip BrooksAssistant Superintendent for Administration

James G. Broussard is a 35-year veteran educator. Presently, he is the principal of Clifton J. Ozen Magnet High School. Broussard previously held the position of principal at Martin Elementary, a recipient of the Blue Ribbon School acknowledgement. He has been a coach and teacher at the middle and high school levels and also Transportation Department manager for BISD.

Mr. Broussard is a product of BISD, a Lamar University Alumnus and lifelong member of Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church. He has been married to his wife, Melvinice, for 35 years. They are the parents of George, Kevin, Ricky and Bianca. The Broussards also have seven grandchildren.

James BroussardPrincipal, Clifton J. Ozen Magnet High School for Performing Arts

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Ezell Brown earned his Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in communication studies at New Mexico State University. While at NMSU, he exhibited leadership qualities by being voted president of the Black Allied Student Association and grand exchequer of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (Theta Omega Chapter). He was also a representative of the Student Athlete Club and Captain of the New Mexico State University football and track teams.

Brown began his transportation career at the Region 5 Education Service Center where he served for nine years. During this time, he spearheaded a public service announcement (PSA) with the Southeast Texas Association for Pupil Transportation (SETAPT) and the Department of Public Safety. The PSA continued to inform the public of the severity of running past the red lights of a school bus. He has assisted in giving workshops at the state level on the “Blueprint to Saving Lives,” a short documentary on a school bus disaster drill. Brown is certified as a state instructor for the School Bus Driver Training Course as well as for Operation Lifesaver.

Brown continued his transportation career with stints at Beaumont ISD and Port Arthur ISD, and now back to Beaumont ISD. Along the way, he has become certified by the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation (TAPT). He currently presides as president of the Southeast Texas Association for Pupil Transportation and is on the research committee in the transportation field of the Texas Association of School Business Officials.

Brown has been married to Juliet Coleman Brown for thirteen years; they have two sons, Julian and Ethan.

Ezell BrownDirector of Transportation

Fannie L. Brown is a Gulfport, Mississippi native who did her undergraduate study at Alcorn State University. Brown earned a full fellowship to Ohio State University where she went on to complete a master’s degree (June 1977) in nine months. The first time an individual completed their masters’ degree studies in such a short time in the history of the university.

After marrying in August 1977 and moving to Texas, Fannie became employed with the Beaumont Police Department as a crime scene clerk whose responsibility was to label and tag evidence from crime scenes. The photos of children who had been abused or neglected proved to be too much for her. After a year in this position, she sought employment with the Beaumont Independent School District as a teacher of

special needs students. She pioneered the program of vocational education for the Handicapped (VEH) which got its start at the old Edwards Education Center on the corner of Detroit and Filmore in Beaumont’s North End. She was a part of the team who helped design the layout for the Taylor Career Center’s Food Production and Management labs.

Brown spent 13 years in this position before pursuing her present position as special education supervisor. Her love for and appreciation of special needs students continues to drive her life’s chosen career.

Fannie BrownSupervisor, Special Education Department

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Susan Thrash-Brown was born in Dallas and raised in the true Texas spirit of accepting challenges and molding these challenges into successes. Graduating from Richardson High School in Richardson, Texas, she entered Austin College located in Sherman, Texas. Susan graduated from Austin College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and later from Lamar University with a master’s degree in education administration.

Susan first demonstrated her skills in education when she taught eighth graders in a one-room school in North Carolina. The building was 60 years old and in the middle of a tobacco field. The following year, Susan taught children transported in from the barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina.

Moving to Beaumont, Susan began working closely with the local Parent Teacher Association at Sallie Curtis and then Price Elementary. She served as president of the Price PTA. She is a lifetime member of PTA. During her teaching years at Marshall Middle Schools, Susan attained the highest position in her professional organization, the Association of Texas Professional Educators. That’s when she was elected State President of ATPE.

Susan has taught the majority of her career with the Beaumont Independent School District. She was an Assistant Principal at West Brook; then the social studies and gifted and talented District supervisor; and later to principal of Sallie Curtis Elementary. Susan has led the Sallie Curtis team to a Texas Education Agency rating of Exemplary status, the highest achievement the State of Texas awards to the public schools. Proud to be a member of the staff for BISD, Susan continually strives to attain excellence in all areas of her career.

Susan BrownPrincipal, Sallie Curtis Elementary School

Dr. Veda Brown was one of the first African Americans persons to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Developmental Psychology from the University of Florida and is among the 18 or so African Americans in the nation holding a Ph.D. in Development Psychology. In addition to serving as an elementary school teacher and a university psychology professor, Brown has successfully secured and managed millions of dollars in federal, state, and private funding for academic, community, and research projects and programs.

Brown has authored and/or co-authored numerous peer-reviewed academic articles and books, and has taught thousands of parents throughout the country about the importance of providing effective home learning environments. She developed the evidence-based Creative Critical Thinking Skills Enhancement Family Literacy model for home preschool literacy development, as well as

authored a series of 14 children’s educational books to improve preschoolers’ critical thinking skills, higher order reasoning and understanding of number concepts. As a result of her research in adolescents’ violent behavior patterns, Brown created and implemented the research-based national Violence: Early Detection and Action module to help educators, parents, and community leaders identify early warning signs of aggressive/violent behavior patterns. This module has been involved in local and national discussions/workshops and recognized among top officials at the U.S. Department of Education and the U. S. Justice Department.

Additionally, she has authored a series of 20 youth books that empower at-risk adolescents with a healthy sense of self-worth, self-confidence, and self-reliance. She continues her work with researchers, educators, community leaders, students, and governmental officials to ensure academic and social success for all children – especially those who are at risk for school failure.

Dr. Veda BrownSupervisor of Special Initiatives-Grants and Research

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Ronnie W. Bryant is a Texan who grew up in Louisiana and graduated from Vinton High School. He excelled in music as well as math and science and received college scholarships in each of these areas. While in high school, he was a member of the District V Honor Band, Louisiana All State Honor Band and the Louisiana Governor’s Honor Program for Music. Upon graduation, he continued his education at McNeese State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education, a master’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in secondary administration.

Bryant taught music education for 15 years in Louisiana, where his bands succeeded in winning many honors including the “Greatest Bands in Dixie” Marching Band Contest. He and his family moved to Texas, where he continued to teach music and became an assistant principal at Austin Middle School and Vincent Middle School in the Beaumont Independent School District. He is now the fine arts supervisor in the Curriculum Department. This year marks Bryant’s 39th year in the field of education.

Ronnie BryantFine Arts Supervisor, Curriculum Department

Pat Calhoun is the Career and Technical Education Director for Beaumont ISD. Pat and his wife Patti moved to Beaumont from Richmond, Kentucky, in 1980 to teach in the South Park School District. Pat received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial arts from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master’s of Science degree in Industrial Technology from the University of Texas at Tyler.

Pat is involved with several educational and community organizations, including acting as the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce Foundation president, Lamar Institute of Technology Foundation Board vice president, Leadership Southeast Texas Youth Leadership co-chair, and District 7 SkillsUSA Texas Student Competition Director. He is also a board member for the Career and Technology Association of Texas, the Greater

Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Southeast Texas, Junior Achievement of the Golden Triangle, and the Southeast Texas P-16 Advisory Council.

Pat is very proud to have received the following awards: Texas Industrial Arts Association Outstanding Regional Teacher, Vocational Home Economics Teachers Association Outstanding Vocational Administrator, Career and Technology Association of Texas Area 10 Outstanding Administrator, Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce Foundation Distinguished Alumnus, and Community Leadership Association Distinguished Leader.

Patrick CalhounDirector of Career Technology

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Richard J. Cantu has been director of Adult and Community Education in Beaumont since 2005. He has worked for 34 years in education, including in positions as director of bands, assistant principal, and principal. Since he became director, the program has experienced success in many areas. Of particular significance is the Distance Learning Program that has grown significantly through the use of social media technology.

Cantu is the proud father of Victoria Cantu, currently a freshman at Texas State University. His hobbies include cooking and he is especially fond of music. Mr. Cantu continues to remain active as a musician in the Southeast Texas music arena.

Richard J. CantuDirector, Adult and Community Education

Dr. Timothy B. Chargois is in his fourteenth year with the Beaumont Independent School District. He currently serves as assistant superintendent of Research, Planning & Evaluation, promoted from Director of Research/Evaluation, and formerly principal and assistant principal of Lucas Elementary School. Before joining Beaumont ISD, Chargois served as a secondary school assistant principal in the West Orange Cove-CISD and also taught elementary music education for six years.

During Chargois’ educational career, he has served on state testing committees and advisory teams, served on the Comptroller’s Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST), served with EdVance Research and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation on the development of research-based leading and lagging indicators used to identify, measure

and predict student outcomes. He has been a technology advisor and a coordinator for interventions and awareness programs, and has helped to develop after-school programs for students.

Chargois has been a speaker/presenter at national and state conferences for instruction, data-driven practices, teacher/administrator walkthroughs and incentive pay programs. He has served on boards of many organizations such as I Have A Dream (IHAD), Lamar Alumni Association, Leadership Beaumont, Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Texas Arts Council, and the American Heart Association. In 2008, Dr. Chargois was invited to the Oxford roundtable to present his research on variables that impact student performance on state assessments.

Most recently, Chargois has worked with professors from Lamar University to develop research-based, data-driven approaches to improve teacher-preparation programs and has co-authored articles focusing on student performance in largely minority and urban school districts. In 2009, he created the “The Graduate Assistant Coordinator” position that provides direct support to students at-risk of dropping out of school. Recent collaboration between the City of Beaumont and BISD has brought the “Experience Corps” program to our elementary schools empowering more pre-K-3 students to read and communicate.

He earned his Doctorate of Education from Lamar University in 2008, his masters degree in secondary administration from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1998 and his bachelor’s degree in music education from Lamar University in 1991.

He and his wife Imogene have been married for 20 years. They are members of The Anchor Church of Beaumont where he serves as church organist.

Dr. Timothy B. ChargoisAssistant Superintendent for Research, Planning & Evaluation, Incoming BISD Superintendent

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Cathy Chavis is a crusader for school reform and a relentless activist of children’s education. She is setting trends in Beaumont as well as the state of Texas by implementing innovative programs that develop highly trained classroom teachers. Thanks to her, curriculum coordinators are following her lead.

Her impact can be found throughout BISD with administrators, teachers, students, and parents who have observed her advocacy for children to “do their best and nothing less.” Chavis is a firm believer that a teacher’s classroom is the cornerstone where knowledge and information are shared and young minds are sharpened to face the future. As director of Title Programs, she has managed more than $135 million, established the six-week data analysis program, managed and cultivated curriculum specialists, and provided countless District staff development opportunities for teachers, paraprofessionals, parents, and administrators. Chavis supervises a team of curriculum supervisors, the Bilingual/ESL and Foreign Language supervisor, and two coordinators.

She has been honored as Educator of the Year by the Beaumont Area Alliance of Black School Educators and Educator of the Year by the National Association of University Women.

Mrs. Chavis and her department received and afforded her the impetus to become the “best of both worlds” – an exemplary educator and a community advocate for all.

Cathy ChavisDirector, Title Programs

Mrs. Ava Colbert is a native of Commerce, Texas, but has called Beaumont her home for the last 36 years. She began her teaching career in 1978 with the Anahuac ISD but was soon hired by South Park I.S.D. (now part of BISD) in 1979. She has served as a 5th grade teacher, assistant principal and currently is principal at Homer Drive Elementary (which has been recognized as a Texas Education Agency Exemplary Campus for the last 4 years). Under Colbert’s leadership, Homer Drive Elementary has received awards such as the Gold Performance Acknowledgement Awards in several categories, TBEC Honor Roll Award, and NCEA Award for Higher Performance Schools.

Colbert received her bachelor of science degree in elementary education in 1978 from Lamar University and her master’s of educational administration degree from Prairie View

A&M University in 1993. During Colbert’s tenure as an educator, she has been honored with awards such as the Good Apple Teacher Award, Texas Alliance of Black School Educators Distinguished Principal’s Award and several other local and national honors. Colbert is very active in her church and her community. She is a member of the local chapter of the NAACP, United Business Women’s Association and is a diamond life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She serves as the chief operating officer of Paradise Church, coordinator of the Scholarship Ministry and participates in various other ministries in her church.

She is a self-proclaimed “Servant Leader” and “Advocate for All Students!”

Ava ColbertPrincipal, Homer Drive Elementary School

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Elvena Colbert is a Beaumont native who attended public schools. She is a 1976 graduate of French High School, where she made history as the schools’ first African American Drill Team Buffalo Belles officer. She has always had a desire to become a teacher. During her senior year of high school, she served as campus president of the Future Teachers Of America. Elvena continued on to higher education at Lamar University, where she graduated in three years with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and a certification in generic special education. She later obtained a master’s degree in guidance and counseling and a certification in mid-management.

Elvena served as the Top Teens Of America sponsor for four years while she was actively involved as a member of the Top Ladies of Distinction. She also received an award from the NAACP for community services and service to the youth. In addition, Colbert enjoyed being an “I Have A Dream” mentor.

Elvena Colbert has worked for 31 years in the field of education. She has served as an elementary teacher, counselor, a high school assistant principal and is presently serving as the principal of the Paul A. Brown Center where a $3 million grant was recently awarded.

Colbert’s motto is to “Believe in yourself and never give up.”

Elvena ColbertPrincipal, Paul A. Brown Learning Center

Sybil Comeaux is a veteran educator and administrator who is the executive director of personnel for Beaumont ISD. She started her teaching career almost five decades ago. With the exception of a short stint in Smithville, Comeaux’s entire career has been in Beaumont. She is the former counselor for Lincoln Middle School and the former dean of students and assistant principal for Beaumont Charlton-Pollard High School. The Beaumont native was born into a family of educators and is also the former principal of the Central Medical Magnet High School.

Comeaux is known for initiating the now national model of high school to work program at Beaumont Charlton-Pollard High School and Central Medical Magnet High School. As the executive director of personnel, she is guiding BISD successfully

through the “highly certified program,” fingerprinting initiatives and the much touted incentive program for teachers and other employees.

Comeaux holds a master’s degree in education with a focus on guidance and counseling from Prairie View A&M University. Her undergraduate degree in biology was earned at Huston-Tillotson College. Comeaux is certified in administration and a number of other areas ranging from counseling to management. She is president of a local education organization and on the board of directors of a state educational association. The wife, mother and grandmother is a trustee at her church and spends much of her free time volunteering for several non-profit entities.

Sybil ComeauxExecutive Director, Personnel

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Linda Cooper was hired in 1987 by Dora Nisby, Beaumont ISD’s Library Services Director. Nisby hired Linda and Toni Sachitano to implement the literature program that she had created. The three developed a program to enrich literary appreciation and knowledge of the curriculum for the BISD elementary students.

They chose the acronym “EAGLE,” for the program, which means Encouraging And Guiding Literature Experiences. The name and symbol were inspired by an autobiography of Helen Keller in the MacArthur Library. On a visit to Beaumont Keller inscribed the school district’s copy of her autobiography with, “Books are eagle wings with which to circle the heavens of mind.” Cooper continues to meet adults who recall their first lesson on Helen Keller, as well as searching for the eagle hidden in the book shelves! Since 1987, Cooper and the EAGLE librarians have presented cross-curricular lessons to all BISD students from kindergarten through Fifth Grades five times a year, teaching several classes at a time in each elementary library. They have also added lessons created for the pre-kindergarten students during the year.

Cooper began “BISD story” to collect and help preserve the history of every school in the BISD. Yearbooks, scrapbooks, and memorabilia are donated to the Tyrrell Historical Library for safekeeping. These items are valuable historical documents shared by researchers and members of the community.

She said she feels she has the greatest job, not just in BISD, but in the world!

Linda CooperLibrarian, Annex Building

Julie Corona is a Texas native with a strong rooting along the Texas/Mexico border. She became the second member in her family to receive a college education. Her bilingual aptitude has enabled her to teach students in the Bilingual, dual-language, English as a Second Language (ESL), foreign language, and regular education setting while serving as a public relations liaison between the Hispanic and school communities. This former president, treasurer, and newsletter editor of the Lamar University Student Education Association also received the 2004 Port Arthur ISD Campus Teacher of the Year Award, the 2009 Texas A&M Club Recognized Classroom Teacher Award and served as a Lamar University Master Supervising Teacher.

Recently Julie embarked on a journey as an advocate for language-minority and immigrant students and their families, working tirelessly to promote educational excellence

and equity for this long underserved group. Her role as the bilingual/ESL and foreign language supervisor has enabled her to empower and mentor administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals and parents in regard to federal and state legislation addressing the unique needs of English language learners. She encourages utilizing special funding to maximize instruction, and to provide on-going professional development.

Corona’s passion for Bilingual/ESL education has brought structure, organization, and consistency to the Bilingual/ESL Department. Her strive for department excellence was noted in Region V’s LEP/BIL/ESL and Parental Denial Students PEIMS report.

Julie believes education is a basic human right. “It is not predetermined by circumstances, but through the will of the teacher and the student,” she explains. Her hope for America is to, “Imagine a future in which the color of a child’s skin, the language a child speaks and the side of town a child comes from are no longer considered barriers to a great education and a great life.” These are the words of Dr. Maria “Cuca” Robledo Montecel.

Julie CoronaSupervisor, Bilingual/ESL/Title VI, Annex Building

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Dr. Aaron Covington, a graduate of Port Arthur’s Thomas Jefferson High School, attended Lamar University, majoring in government with a minor in history. He began his teaching career in Fort Bend ISD, serving there for six years. Five of those years were at Christa McAuliffe Middle School, the first school in the nation to be named for the late teacher and astronaut.

Coming back home to the Beaumont area, Covington accepted a position at the Beaumont Alternative Campus (now Pathways Learning Center), where he taught social studies for five years. During this period, Covington earned his master’s degree in educational leadership at Lamar. Covington then served as assistant principal at Pathways for five years (with one year as simultaneous assistant principle at the Paul Brown Center) before transitioning to Marshall Middle School, also as an assistant principal.

After his service at Marshall, Covington became principal at Sallie Curtis Elementary. In 2003 he received his doctoral degree in educational leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University. The next year he moved to Austin Middle School, where he has served faithfully for eight years.

The focal point of Covington’s educational practice has been to work with economically disadvantaged and at-risk students. He considers his experiences working with urban youth in Houston, and again with students at Pathways Learning Center and at the Paul Brown Center, to be transformational. The experience taught him to value a learner-centered and (not teacher-centered) classroom as the optimal avenue to success for at-risk students. While he is especially proud of his role in building the programs at Pathways and Paul Brown, Covington absolutely loves his service at Austin.

Dr. Aaron Covington Principal, Austin Middle School

Stephanie Cummings, a native of Beaumont and a graduate of Beaumont Independent School District schools, taught at Fehl and Caldwood Elementary schools before becoming the EAGLE Librarian for 3rd – 5th grades. She loves sharing her passion for books and reading with students! So far this year during Eagle Library lessons, students have been introduced to this year’s Spindletop nominees, codes, chimpanzees and mysteries.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in education at Sam Houston State University, Cummings went on to earn a master’s degree in administration at Lamar, and a master’s degree in library science from the University of North Texas. She is a proud member of Beta Phi Mu, an honor society for library and information studies students.

Stephanie CummingsLibrarian, Annex Building

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Bill Daniels is the principal of the largest high school in Southeast Texas. He was born in Orange to Mr. and Mrs. H.G. Daniels. One of four children, he graduated from Orangefield High School and attended Lamar University. Daniels started his career in the education field in 1984 as a gymnastics coach. He began his employment at Beaumont Independent School District in 1994 at Vincent Middle School as a science teacher. Daniels received his master’s degree in educational administration from Lamar University in 2002 and is currently the Principal at West Brook High School. Daniels is married to Glenda Daniels, an administrator in BISD. His first grandchild will be attending West Brook in 2014. He is proud to have served under Dr. Thomas for 16 of his 18 years in the District and credits Dr. Thomas and his family for much of his success.

Bill DanielsPrincipal, West Brook High School

Clydell Duncan is an Arkansas native who has come to BISD as its first chief of police after serving as the top cop in one of America’s toughest cities. He is a graduate of Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he received a bachelor of science degree in education. He also attended Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he received Master of Arts degrees in counseling and educational leadership. Duncan was a career law enforcement officer of the Flint Police Department. He was the first black lieutenant, captain, deputy chief, and the first African American of the Flint police department to rise from patrol officer to police chief.

Duncan developed and implemented Mott College’s Police Department, and served as its first police chief. He also developed and implemented the BISD Police Department where he continues to serve as its first police chief. He was an adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice for 16 years at Mott Community College and a past principal of Beaumont Charter School. Duncan has been listed in Who’s Who in American Policing and has received numerous community and organization awards.

Clydell DuncanPolice Chief, BISD Police Department

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Craig Eichhorn, APR, currently serves as communications specialist for the Beaumont Independent School District.

Craig, who holds a bachelor of arts degree from Texas A&M University, began his professional career as a sports writer/editor in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. He returned to Texas in 1990, working as the editor of three weekly newspapers in north Houston. Thanks to their guidance, he quickly learned the ropes of school public relations and was named Rookie of the Year in 1992.

He became Galena Park ISD’s director of communications in June 1998 and was named director of communication in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD in June 2002. He returned to Galena Park ISD as director of communications in July 2006 prior to assuming the Beaumont position in February 2010.

Active in the Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) from the time that he joined, Craig has served two previous terms as a TSPRA regional vice president. He was recently installed as the 51st president of TSPRA.

Eichhorn is a loyal supporter of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) since 1991 and received his Accreditation in School Public Relations (APR) in 2000. He is currently serving on NSPRA’s Executive Board Search Committee. Craig has presented numerous sessions on APR accreditation at TSPRA conferences and also presented sessions at Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) conventions.

Craig is always looking for ways to utilize social media to enhance the District’s communication efforts. An avid sports fan, Craig he also assists with the American Heart Association fund raising and awareness campaigns.

Craig EichhornCommunications Specialist, Communications Department

Rosalind Eyre has worked in Beaumont ISD’s libraries for 32 years, seventeen of those as District lead librarian. She has a bachelor of arts in French and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Lamar University, a Master of Library & Information Science degree from the University of North Texas and has done post-graduate work at the University of Utah. She serves as a graduate internship advisor for Texas Woman’s University and the University of North Texas, helping to certify students working toward their Master of Library Science degree in school librarianship. She is an active member of the Texas Library Association and the American Library Association.

Accomplishments during her tenure of which she is most proud include pioneering the electronic reading program (the precursor to Reading Counts and Accelerated

Reader) at South Park Middle School the first year of its inception. Additionally, she has led moving the library management system to a web-based version so that patrons can access resources and information at any time from any Internet-capable computer, established libraries at the Paul Brown Center, Taylor Career Center and Pathways Learning Center and introduced ebooks and ereaders (Kindle, Nook) to students.

Rosalind EyreDistrict Lead Librarian

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Sue Foery attended Port Arthur schools, where she graduated from high school with honors. She was ranked 35th in a class of more than 600 students. Foery attended Lamar University, earning a degree in history with teacher certification and a degree in information management. After teaching three years for the Hitchcock Independent School District, she came to work for the Beaumont ISD in 1986.

Ms. Foery has worked for the District 26 years. She started as a systems operator/programmer and then advanced to the position of systems manager. In this position she has been responsible for installing, implementing and troubleshooting software for all the modules in the Business Office. Foery is perhaps the most avid fan of the Duke Blue Devils in the entire BISD.

Sue FoerySystems Manager, Business Office

Martha Fowler is principal of Martin Elementary. Her twenty-four years with Beaumont ISD began at Dick Dowling elementary as a second grade teacher. When Homer Drive Elementary School opened, she taught fifth grade there and afterward became the curriculum coordinator. She was later promoted as the assistant principal at Anthony F. Lucas Elementary. She became principal of Lucas Elementary in 2006 and served in that position since 2010. Fowler has been the principal of Martin Elementary for two years. With the dedication and hard work of the students, parents, staff, and community, the Lucas and Martin temporarily merged campus was named a National Blue Ribbon school in 2011.

Fowler is a native of Kirbyville, Texas, and a graduate of Silsbee High School. She received a business degree in marketing from Lamar University. Martha returned to Lamar in 1986 to obtain a teaching certificate. She received certification as an elementary teacher in 1988 and began her teaching career with BISD in 1988. Dr. Norman Traylor, principal of Dick Dowling and Homer Drive Elementary, encouraged Fowler to return to college. She received a master’s degree in administration in 1997.

Throughout her educational career, Martha has presented at various District in-services/workshops for teachers and served as the principal for Title I Summer School for five years. Fowler also worked in conjunction with Lamar University to assist new teachers entering the profession. Student teachers routinely come to Martin Elementary to learn from the campus’ veteran teachers.

Fowler has a firm belief and considers herself as proof that education is the key to success.

Martha FowlerPrincipal, Martin Elementary School

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Anita Frank serves as the principal of Fletcher Elementary, a Blue Ribbon School and Texas Education Agency exemplary rated campus. She is a Beaumont native and proud product of the Beaumont Independent School District. Frank received a Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies from Lamar University in 1998, a Master’s of Education degree in educational administration from Prairie View A & M University in 2006, and is currently pursuing her doctoral degree.

She has a proven track record of successfully working with economically disadvantaged students. Anita’s knowledge of curriculum and best practices for teaching has been integral to the achievement of exceptional academic performance at each school she has had an affiliation with. She has been and is committed to building a unified staff with a common purpose and goal while promoting community pride in its school, children and staff.

Frank is an inspiring, compassionate and a dedicated leader. Her goal is to make a difference in every child, every day. She works very hard to create a culture of excellence on her campus. It is her belief that every child can reach their full potential when they are given positive experiences and teachers set high expectations. Knowing that “every child is a story yet to be told,” she strives to positively impact the lives of the children who cross her path, molding & shaping their story to end with them being positive, productive citizens and giving back to society.

She is active in a variety of civic and cultural organizations including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Beaumont Area Association of Black School Educators, and Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association. Outside of professional interests, she enjoys spending time with her two young children and traveling.

Anita FrankPrincipal, Fletcher Elementary School

Joanna Jordan Genuardi is the director of the Child Nutrition Department. She has been with the Beaumont Independent School District for seven years. She began as a supervisor in the Child Nutrition Department. Genuardi was promoted to coordinator and then to assistant director, before being named director.

She has an associate’s degree in Culinary Arts from The Art Institute of Houston, a Bachelor of Science in dietetics from Lamar University, and is currently working on a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in leadership, also from Lamar University.

Genuardi has a varied background and work experience. She has worked for firms such as Morgan Stanley and Weyerhaeuser as an executive administrative assistant. She has also worked in the oil and gas industry reviewing contracts. Genuardi became a chef and worked for Sodexho

as a manager. She managed the cafeteria in the Entergy Building for several years before coming to Beaumont ISD.She also is certified as a school nutrition specialist, the top credentialing for school nutrition programs. Genuardi

is a member of the School Nutrition Association, the Texas Association for School Nutrition and the Beaumont Association for School Nutrition. She recently joined the Beaumont Area Association of Black School Educators, the Texas Association of Black School Educators, and the National Association of Black School Educators.

When not at work, Genuardi spends as much time as possible with Madeline, her 11 year-old daughter. They spend lots of time on the softball fields because Madeline loves to be there. Genuardi also loves to garden, ride bikes and read. She is a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and involved with Leadership Beaumont.

Joanna GenuardiDirector, Child Nutrition Services

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Belinda George is currently serving her first year in the capacity of Beaumont ISD’s pre-k thru second grade curriculum supervisor She is originally from the great state of Louisiana. George has also proudly served the country in the U.S. Army for four years. The military Veteran has been happily married to Beaumont native Melvin George for 13 years.

George’s love for educating students began while she was serving in the military in Ft. Hood, Texas. With the aid of the Montgomery Government Issue (GI) Bill, she received her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a generalist early childhood (EC) certification. After three years of teaching at Roy Guess Elementary, George decided to pursue her master’s degree. Upon attaining her degree in educational leadership, she was immediately hired as the first curriculum coordinator at Dishman Elementary.

As the BISD primary grades supervisor, George is constantly learning and attending workshops while working closely with other curriculum supervisors. She is always looking for the best ways to close the vertical alignment gap between elementary and secondary education. She is proud of her career and proud to be an employee of BISD.

Belinda GeorgeEarly Childhood/Language Arts Supervisor, Curriculum Department

Jillian Granger is a native of Beaumont. She graduated from Lamar University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management Information Systems. She started her career at the Beaumont Independent School District as a substitute in the Information Services Department. Upon her graduation, she was hired as the assistant to the systems manager in the Business Office, and has remained in that position for two years. Granger is thoroughly engrossed in the District’s transformation fully into the digital world. She works to assure that everything from employee accountability systems, financial members, attendance, purchasing and more are utilizing data to function more efficiently.

Jillian GrangerAssistant Systems Manager, Business Office

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Dr. Marcia Green is the curriculum supervisor for Dyslexia, Reading, and English. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English & Spanish from Bishop College, a Master of Arts degree in Spanish from Stephen F. Austin State University, another Master of Education degree in supervision from Lamar University, graduate hours in English equivalent to a Master of Arts degree from Lamar University, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in curriculum and instruction with emphasis in reading and adult and continuing education from Texas Woman’s University.

Green taught at Lamar University for 21 years before joining the BISD team. While at Lamar University, she was recognized as a Regents’ Professor, the highest academic honor awarded to a faculty member based on teaching excellence, outstanding educational accomplishments, publications, university committee involvement, and community service. Dr. Green has served in Beaumont ISD for 19 years. Since she has been English and reading supervisor in BISD, Green has improved secondary writing scores from acceptable to exemplary and secondary reading scores from acceptable to recognized.

Dr. Marcia GreenDyslexia, English & Reading Supervisor, Curriculum Department

Holley Jo Hancock was born in Beaumont at St. Elizabeth Hospital. She is the stepdaughter of the one and only Dr. O. C. “Mike” Taylor. Hancock graduated from Hardin - Jefferson High School in Sour Lake, Texas. According to Hancock, her lovely mother worked at this school because she did not want to work for her husband. Hancock attended the University of Texas in Austin, where she had too much fun! After a year, and in culture shock, “Doc” told her she had to move home, get a job, and go to Lamar. At 19, Hancock began working for the District. She did various odd jobs such as work in the mailroom and man the switchboard, but ended up calling the personnel office for substitutes at 5:45 a.m. so that she could go to Lamar. Then, Hancock would go back to the Administration Building, sometimes working until

6:00 p.m. She graduated from Lamar and was granted her first teaching job under Principal Michael Ryals at Blanchette Elementary. She then moved to Homer Drive, where she taught first and second grades. She earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from Lamar University. She left the District to be an assistant principal at Kountze Elementary.

“The greatest thing Dr. Thomas ever did for me was to lure me back as the Title 1 reading and math Supervisor under Cathy F. Chavis,” explains Hancock. After three years, she was promoted to be principal of Amelia Elementary, a place she considers to be home and where she is with the children she loves. Under her leadership, the District’s oldest elementary school has earned many state honors.

Holley HancockPrincipal, Amelia Elementary School

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Barbara Hardeman is a native of Dallas, now residing in Beaumont. Her husband, Johnny is a retired Army lieutenant colonel and retired Texas state trooper. She has two children, nine grandchildren and two adorable Bichon Frise dogs.

Hardeman graduated from Lincoln High School in Port Arthur. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in elementary education from Lamar University and a Master of Education degree from Prairie View A&M University. Her Texas Educator Certificate includes mid-management administrator grades (PK-12), elementary reading grades (1-8) and elementary self-contained grades (1-8). She also completed the Principal Academy X at Lamar University.

The year 2012 is Hardeman’s 24th year as an employee in Beaumont ISD. She taught for 10 years at various schools in Beaumont ISD such as Martin Elementary, Roy Guess Elementary, Pietzsch Elementary and Pietzsch-MacArthur Elementary (where she was a Good Apple Award honoree). Hardeman served as assistant principal at Roy Guess Elementary for a little more than six years. She has been principal at Blanchette for over seven years, which includes being principal at the temporary merger of Bingman and Blanchette.

Hardeman has had the opportunity to work with a dynamic staff that consistently received accolades for student performance such as Gold Performance Acknowledgements in various subjects, as well as “recognized” and “exemplary” ratings by the Texas Education Agency. She has been a District staff development presenter and served on numerous committees. Hardeman is a member of the Prairie View A&M University Alumni Association.

Barbara HardemanPrincipal, Blanchette Elementary School

Dr. David Harris grew up admiring his coaches and knowing that he would one day be a coach and teacher. Shortly after his graduation from Texas A&M University where he earned a degree in kinesiology, Harris landed a post teaching special education and coaching athletics at Las Vegas ISD. He gained more experience and education, including working at Bryan and Fort Bend school districts. Harris joined the Beaumont ISD family in the late 1990s. He became an assistant principal and later, principal of Martin Elementary School. In 2005, Harris was appointed principal of King Middle School and in 2008, he joined the BISD executive cabinet as assistant superintendent for secondary education.

Dr. Harris earned a master’s degree in education from Prairie View A&M University and a doctoral degree in education administration from Texas A&M. He holds a number of certifications, including generic and secondary special education, secondary education, physical education, sociology and health education, principalship, superintendency, and mid-management. Dr. Harris is also an ordained minister, a dedicated husband, a father and an avid community volunteer. He is active in the Chamber of Commerce, the Ministerial Alliance, the Rotary and a host of other community and civic organizations.

In March 2012, Harris was unanimously approved by the DeSoto ISD to be their district’s new superintendent.

Dr. David HarrisAssistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools

(Appointed to Superintendent of DeSoto ISD in March 2012)

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Birdie Harrison is Beaumont ISD’s coordinator of guidance and counseling/safe and drug free schools. Her career in education spans 33 years. She says she still enjoys each and every day of her work.

Harrison received a Bachelor of Science in home economics from Prairie View A&M University and went on to complete a Master’s of Education and Guidance degree from Prairie View. She has taught for Buna and Silsbee ISDs as well as Beaumont ISD. Mrs. Harrison was the lead counselor at Clifton J. Ozen High School prior to her current position at Central Offices.

Harrison is involved in several local and national organizations. She is a member Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and the National Association of University Women. She serves on the Workforce Development Board and has served on the board of directors for the United Way and Family Services of Southeast Texas.

Christian and family values are important to Harrison. For three years she served as the youth counselor at Borden Chapel Baptist Church. A member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Harrison serves on the Scholarship Committee, the Mission Society, Survivors Ministries and the Board with Christ Debutantes. She and her husband Anthony are the proud parents of a daughter, Sondra Harrison-Wilcox and a son, Stephen Harrison.

Her goal as coordinator for guidance and counseling in the Beaumont Independent School District is to ensure that all students in the District have the educational development required to succeed – whether they are gifted and talented, underachievers, college bound or special education students.

Birdie HarrisonGuidance/Safe and Drug Free Schools Coordinator, Curriculum Department

Jessie Haynes, APR is a Mississippi native who was one of the first African Americans to earn a journalism degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. The former executive director of university relations at Mississippi Valley State University and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania also taught advertising at the university level and was head of public information, marketing and advertising for the cities of Chesapeake and Norfolk, Virginia. For 20 years, as president of her own advertising firm, she managed major grassroots communications projects for corporate clients as Dow Chemical and for state and local government clients, including Beaumont’s first successful recycling campaign and the State of Texas’ smoking cessation campaign for the Southeast Texas region.

Haynes has served as president of several statewide professional associations, garnered a host of state and national awards for her work, is one of the few accredited public relations practitioners in the Golden Triangle and has appeared on several national television shows, including the Oprah Winfrey Show. She has hosted several cable talk shows, including winning awards for “Inside City Hall” which was similar to her current BISD show, “Principal Matters.” Haynes is a public relations practitioner, publisher and writer who established several popular publications in Southeast Texas and recently penned her third book, “The Grudge Ditch Gang.”

She spearheads on a number of fronts, including the employee newsletter, the BISD Insider that goes to some 75,000 readers, the expansion of BISD’s social media communications, facilitating the telephone parent communication system, pushing forth the upgraded board room communications and implementing the BISD WebTV program as well as a host of other outreach efforts. She made sure BISD’s million dollar score board was paid for via advertising at the Thomas Center and works relentlessly behind the scenes on behalf of several critical BISD initiatives.

Jessie Haynes, APRSpecial Assistant for Communications, Superintendent’s Office

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Matilda (Tillie) Coffey Hickman was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and educated at McNeese University. Hickman planned to be a Nellie Bly girl reporter. She majored in journalism. However, editing the college newspaper soon changed her focus to majoring in English education and a 45-year career working with children and teachers.

Hickman taught every level of English Language Arts from sixth grade through college English, spending most of her career as the “dreaded” Advanced Placement senior English teacher who thought students should love Beowulf, Chaucer and Shakespeare, write effective, well-organized prose, and read well enough to succeed in college.

Later, as the BISD English supervisor, she helped writing scores rise dramatically and established writing workshops to help teachers.

In 1992, Hickman moved to the position of assistant principal at Odom Middle School. That year she designed the program establishing the first BISD magnet middle school and the Pegasus program. One of few people in the District at the time who had state certification in gifted and talented education, she was able to choose best practices from around the state for the program. She became principal of Odom Academy in 2000, the same year the school was honored as a National Blue Ribbon School.

Hickman’s work with gifted and talented students and the design of the Pegasus program brought her to the attention of the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented. She served on their board for many years. Representing Region V for two terms, she also served as secretary/treasurer, president-elect and president.

Hickman is the mother of a son and daughter and grandmother of five. Over the years, her belief in community service has led her to serve on the executive boards of the Beaumont Symphony, Junior League, Beaumont Children’s Museum and many others.

Tillie HickmanPrincipal, Odom Academy

Alberto Iglesias was born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico. He was educated in one of Mexico’s most prestigious universities. Alberto Iglesias became a U.S. citizen in 2005. His bachelor’s degree in business administration from Universidad Tecnologica de Mexico gave him the opportunity to start his career in education by teaching accounting for several years. After 10 years as principal in a high school in Mexico City, he decided to move to Beaumont, where he has been working for BISD as a community liaison helping the Hispanic community. He accomplished much of his work by translating for parents and individuals who do not speak English and are in need of a Spanish interpreter. He has taught computer classes in Spanish for adults, translated documents and presentations, written motivational articles in the Hispanic

newspapers, and taught citizenship classes. Iglesias has also pursued a close relationship with all “at risk” students and their families to create working plans to find solutions to prevent students from “dropping out of school.”

Alberto IglesiasBilingual/ESL/Title VI Liaison

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With six college degrees behind his name, Dr. T. Nelson Ikegulu is the programs/project evaluator at Beaumont Independent School District. He was the evaluator/coordinator for the National Science Foundation’s grant supported Comprehensive Partnerships for Mathematics and Science Achievement (CPMSA) project at BISD; a position he assumed after he left the Ozen High School, where he was a mathematics teacher. Ikegulu was also a research associate in the Department of Educational Leadership, College of Education, and an assistant professor of mathematics and statistics with the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, College of Science and Technology at Grambling State University.

He earned one of his terminal degrees in instructional technology and education statistics at Grambling. He earned his Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Southern University; a Master of Science in management from Troy State University; and a Master of Arts in applied mathematics from the University of West Florida. He has a combined total of 21 years teaching in higher education and public school settings. Ikegulu’s other terminal degrees are in biblical counseling and a doctor of philosophy.

Ikegulu has published journal articles and is presently authoring three texts and co-authoring another one. In addition to his statistical consulting experience, Dr. Ikegulu’s research interest spans a wide range of statistical computing and educational statistics.

Ikegulu’s organizational involvement includes memberships in the American Statistical Association (ASA), Association for Educational Communication & Technology (AECT), Louisiana and National Associations for Developmental Education (LADE/NADE), National Association of Regional Media Centers (NARMC), National Council of Measurement in Education (NCME), life memberships in the National, Texas, and Beaumont Area Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE, TABSE, and BAABSE), and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).

Dr. T. Nelson IkeguluProgram Evaluator, Curriculum Department

Janie Jackson has given her best working years in the best school district for more than 30 years. She has served as a teacher, assistant principal, and now as Title I supervisor for elementary schools. Jackson wears many hats in her current position. Some of her responsibilities include keeping District representatives current with best practices and STAAR updates.

Jackson loves being called “GiGi,” the name given to her by one of her granddaughters. She feels the depth of her personal responsibility. It makes her want to do things the best she can so that she can leave a legacy for her children and grandchildren. Jackson believes that as people age, they tend to look back on their lives and remember where they have been and what they have done, “We should be

glad to be in a position to determine how many more years we can continue to be effective,” she says. She cherishes the level of recognition she sees in the eyes of her eight grandchildren that call her GiGi.

Janie JacksonTitle I Supervisor for Elementary Schools

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Ron Jackson is a native of Beaumont and a product of the Beaumont Independent School District. He began his educational career at Martin Elementary and graduated from Central High School. At Central, he was a student athlete who played basketball, often receiving local and state awards for his performance. Jackson received an athletic scholarship for basketball to Lamar University and played for the team from 1991-1994. He graduated from Lamar University in 1994 with an undergraduate degree in kinesiology.

He began working in the Beaumont ISD as a teacher and coach at Vincent Middle School. While working at Vincent, he attended Prairie View A&M University and completed his Master’s degree in educational administration. Jackson has been in education for 15 years as a teacher and coach and now loves his profession as an administrator. He has received several awards during his educational career, but he is most proud of the “Good Apple Award” he received in 2000. This award was voted and bestowed upon him by his peers for his devotion, support and professionalism in education and the efforts he contributed to the academic success of his students.

Mr. Jackson has been married for 15 years to his wife Stefanie. They are the proud parents of two children, Peyton and Keithan.

Ronald JacksonAssistant Director, Athletics Department

Joy James is the coordinator of education partnerships in Beaumont ISD and the loaned administrator for the Beaumont Public Schools Foundation, Inc. James manages more than 4,000 school partners representing parents, business and the community. She serves as a liaison between BISD and the Beaumont Public Schools Foundation, which has an endowment of $500,000, gives grants and scholarships to staff and students, holds two major fundraisers each year and secures corporate grants.

James serves on local nonprofit boards such as the United Way and Leadership Southeast Texas, Inc. She continues to work with the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce on many committees and is a member of the Golden Triangle Business Roundtable and Southeast Texas Press Club. She is also a winner of several state and

national partnership awards and state and local public relations awards.For the past 21 years, James has worked both state-wide and nationally training others in school partnership

development. She has been president of the Texas Association of Partners in Education Board of Directors and has served on the Texas Association of Partners in Education Board since 1991. She has also been a member of the Texas Business and Education Coalition Board of Directors. Her work has often taken her to Washington, D.C., to work with the National Association of Partners in Education and the National Coalition of Community and Education Partnerships.

James is an advocate of the “Developmental Assets,” a common sense approach to raising kids that thrive. She is a certified asset trainer and collaborated in creating a state award-winning mentor program at Austin Middle School. She has worked with local business to build assets.

James holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a major in history and minor in English. She earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and has a mid-management/principal’s certification.

Joy JamesEducation Partnerships Coordinator, Communications Department

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Rachel Jones has spent her entire career in Beaumont ISD. Having worked for 44 years, she has been a teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal and principal; she is currently director of staff development for the District. A graduate of Lamar University, she earned her bachelor’s in mathematics, master’s in guidance and counseling and certifications in supervision and mid-management administration. She also attended public schools in BISD and graduated from Charlton-Pollard High School.

Over the years, Jones has obtained many professional honors. She was BISD Employee of the Month and has been inducted into Lamar University’s Educator Hall of Fame. Jones received the Texas Association of Black School Educator’s Distinguished Principal Award and the NAACP’s Exemplary Principal’s Award. She is listed in America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals, and named Beaumont Area Association of Black School Educator’s Outstanding Worker.

Mrs. Jones became the instructional leader at the first magnet high school in the District – Ozen. Her focus was on curriculum and instruction. Partnering with Lamar University, dual credit and distance learning programs were established at Ozen. These programs gave students the opportunity to earn college credits while in high school.

She assumed the role of instructional leader at Price Elementary at a time when performance was at a low point. With her leadership and a staff willing to turn the school around to one of excellence, academic performance began to soar. She holds the largest back-to-back record of exemplary ratings in the District.

The wife of Reverend A. Louis Jones, she is very active in all departments of her church where her husband is pastor. “I am just proud to be a part of the BISD family,” she says.

Rachel JonesStaff Development Director, Curriculum Department

Jessie Kibbles, Jr. is the proud principal of Pathways Learning Center. Kibbles is a native of Buna, Texas. He is married to the love of his life, Michelle. They are the proud parents of two adult children, Demond and Jessica. Kibbles is a faithful member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church where he serves in the marriage, teach, and sunday school ministries.

Jessie graduated from Buna High School in 1975, attended Lamar University on a four-year football scholarship. He was a member of the track team at Lamar University. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education and his master’s in education and mid-management administration from Prairie View A&M University.

Kibbles recognized early in his career the need to assist youth going in the right direction as well as motivate them to excellence. His career began in the teaching and

coaching profession in Kountze ISD in 1979 and for the past 31 years, he has been employed by Beaumont Independent School District as a health and physical education teacher, coach, assistant principal and currently as the principal of Pathways Learning Center.

Kibbles received many athletic honors in football and track and field at both the high school and collegiate levels. As a result of his athletic awards, in 1999 Kibbles was inducted in the Lamar University Hall of Honors in track and football.

Kibbles has the motivational ability to encourage students academically, socially, and mentally. He is a true source of inspiration and endeavors to help all discover their true purpose in life.

Jessie KibblesPrincipal, Pathways Learning Center

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Vickie Michelle Kibbles is a Texas City native and coordinator of Beaumont ISD’s nationally recognized Parent Involvement Program. She graduated from Texas City High School and attended Lamar University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education with certifications in early childhood, kindergarten and special education. Kibbles later received her Master of Science degree in educational administration and certification in mid-management from Prairie View A&M University.

In her 32 years as an employee of Beaumont ISD, Kibbles has taught early childhood, second and fourth grades, gifted and talented and was a curriculum coordinator. She has been the parent involvement coordinator for the last 15 years. Also a certified “I Care” Parental Involvement trainer, Kibbles trains parent facilitators, teachers and community members in the area of parental involvement and family engagement. She is currently serving on program advisory boards and has partnered with numerous community organizations to fully engage families for student success. Her dedication was crucial in the District being nationally recognized by the Department of Education for having a model parental involvement program.

Michelle is married to the love of her life, Jessie Kibbles, Jr. They are the proud parents of two adult children, Demond and Jessica and the proud grandparents of a granddaughter, Madison Michelle. She is a faithful member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church where she serves in the marriage, teach, and Sunday school ministries under the spiritual leadership of her pastor, Dr. John R. Adolph. But most importantly, Michelle Kibbles truly believes, “Only What You Do For Christ Will Last!”

Michelle KibblesParent Involvement Coordinator, Title Programs, Annex Building

Belinda Klock is a product of the Beaumont public schools system. She graduated from French High School in 1974. Klock began working for Beaumont ISD in 1986 as a substitute clerical worker and soon was hired full-time in the Payroll Department. She was promoted to special programs clerk in 1988 and worked in the business office computer room until grant funding increased. Then her position was changed to grant specialist, handling grant funds in excess of $31 million annually. In 2006, she was promoted to be the first budget supervisor for the District, working with all budget, general fund, grants, debt service, capital projects and bonds. She has been responsible for more than $308 million during the last budget years.

Belinda KlockBudget Supervisor, Business Office

Laura Klock is the supervising manager of business support services at Beaumont ISD. She has an associate’s degree and a bachelor’s degree from Lamar University, and a masters of business administration with a concentration in human resource management. Klock is also a Texas Association of School Business Officials certified texas school business specialist with a concentration in accounting. She has over 25 years of experience in accounting and insurance. Klock has been employed with BISD since 2001.

Laura KlockSupervising Manager/Business Support Services

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Dr. Kimber Knight began her educational career at Caldwood Elementary School in 1994. She was a dyslexia specialist and also served as technology liaison. While teaching at Caldwood, she earned her master’s degree in education, as well as her principal, technology applications, and information processing technologies II certifications. She taught at Caldwood for almost nine years then moved to Homer Drive Elementary as the curriculum coordinator. While at Homer, she was responsible for changing the item analysis program from paper and pencil to spreadsheet, then to an Intranet program. After only a year and a half, she moved to the position of Title I supervisor for reading and math. While in Title, Knight earned her superintendent’s certification and was accepted into the second cohort of Lamar University’s Educational Leadership Doctoral Program. Her next move three years later was as assistant principal of Regina-Howell Elementary School. While at Regina, she was fortunate enough to

donate her kidney to her dad, which gave him and extra three years and nine months to live. Her current position as director of performance management and instructional technology was created through a grant

from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and Edvance Research. The grant helped to create the Performance Management Department which includes a director, data programmer and secretary. The department manages the student benchmarking and test data within the District. The second part of the department is the Instructional Technology department, which is responsible for all instructional technology in the District. This includes, but is not limited to, data projectors, document cameras, interactive whiteboards and tablets, software programs and professional development. Although the grant ended, an additional grant was given to continue funding the data programmer position. The Performance Management and Instructional Technology Department continues to maintain an integral role.

Dr. Kimber KnightPerformance Management/Instructional Technology Director,

Research/Planning and Evaluation

Patricia Lambert hails from New Orleans, Louisiana. She’s served in public education for more than 36 years. Lambert received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Southern University, and a master’s in curriculum and administration from University of New Orleans. She earned another master’s plus 30 hours in Administration from Loyola University in New Orleans and Urban Superintendent’s certification from Harvard University in Boston. Lambert has been a teacher, curriculum coordinator, testing coordinator, staff developer, elementary and secondary principal, early childhood director, and associate director of curriculum instruction and professional development. She’s held the office of president of the Principal’s Association of New Orleans and coordinated several statewide Management Conferences.

Lambert became a citizen of Beaumont 10 years ago and began her career as assistant principal at Vincent Middle School. Two years later, as principal of French Elementary, she led that campus to its first Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills “recognized” status. In 2006, as principal of Central High School, she led Central to several firsts, beginning with changing its name to Central Medical Magnet High School while initiating the District’s first Medical Prep Program, where she partnered with several local and state medical facilities and universities to prepare students for medical professions. Under her leadership, Central became the District’s first TAKS “tecognized” High School in BISD and the first high school with exemplary performances. She increased the campus graduation rate to 90% and Central became the first high school in BISD to be named one of the top 10% performing campuses in Texas. Central was also an ACT-NCEA Model Campus for two consecutive years. Lambert has been named elementary and secondary Principal of the Year in Louisiana and Texas. Central is also recognized by US News & World Report as one of the nation’s best high schools.

Patricia A. LambertPrincipal, Central Medical Magnet High School

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Dr. Jackquelyn Lavergne is a native of Silsbee who was raised and educated in Beaumont. She has had many careers (banking, respiratory therapist and business owner), but found her niche while working as a secretary at Fehl Elementary in 1989 under the leadership of Cathy F. Chavis. Chavis encouraged Lavergne to complete her degree. She received a scholarship in speech pathology at Lamar University, but later changed her major to education. Lavergne received her bachelor’s degree from Lamar. She taught third and fourth grades at Fehl Elementary and was chosen as a “Good Apple Teacher” in 1998. During her tenure as a classroom teacher, she was certified in gifted/talented education, wrote grants, presented at state meetings as well as at the district and campus levels, served as afterschool coordinator, mentor teacher and grade level chairperson. Lavergne matriculated

at Prairie View A&M University where she received her master’s of educational administration. She was promoted to curriculum coordinator at Martin Elementary in 1998 and chosen by the faculty as Martin Elementary’s “Educator of the Year” in 2000. She became elementary language arts supervisor from 2000 until 2004. During her tenure, reading and writing scores were recognized and exemplary. She served at Homer Drive Elementary in 2005 as assistant principal. In 2006 she was chosen as principal of French Elementary School, where the school earned “exemplary” status five times. In 2011, Jackquelyn was chosen as the principal of the newly combined campuses of French and Field, now known as Dr. Mae E. Jones-Clark Elementary School.

Lavergne received her doctorate in educational leadership with a concentration in multicultural education in 2011 from Lamar University. She is very active in the community and church.

Dr. Jackie Lavergne Principal, Dr. Mae E. Jones-Clark Elementary School

Bendy Lee is a native of Kountze. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business education and a master’s degree in education with emphasis in generic special education from Prairie View A&M University.

Lee has worked in the Beaumont Independent School District as the autism and parent coordinator in the Department of Special Education since 2009. Overall, she has 24 years of educational experience. Her experience includes being a principal, teacher and parent advisor, a supervisor of children services and an education specialist with the Mental Health/Mental Retardation system. She was an education specialist with the Texas Education Agency and program coordinator with the Region 5 Education Service Center.

Her areas of specialization are autism, parental involvement, behavior, understanding children from impoverished homes and diversity.

Her certifications include business education, special education, Texas Mental Health Mental Retardation Diagnostic Evaluation, Dr. Ruby Payne’s Culture of Poverty (trainer of trainers), Nonviolent Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) master level trainer, state of Texas leadership training, front-line leadership trainer and inclusion specialist.

Bendy LeeAutism & Parent Coordinator, Special Education Department

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Naomi Lawrence-Lee is a native of Louisiana with more than 20 years of public government procurement experience. She earned a business administration degree from Dillard University and a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in finance from the University of Phoenix’s New Orleans campus. Lawrence-Lee is a proud veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.

She has held various positions with the City of New Orleans as a buyer and budget analyst. The military veteran also worked for the State of Louisiana as the procurement officer at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. She became the first African American to be hired as Jefferson County’s director of purchasing.

Lawrence-Lee is currently active with with several professional state and national associations. She has presented “How to Do Business with Beaumont ISD” workshops and continues to host school business training workshops for staff.

Over the years the business executive has been with the District, she has been instrumental in assisting with the District’s “Go Green” and Direct TV Goes to School program. She is also known for guiding others in the right direction, assisting others to find the correct answers and most of all, providing support to find ways for schools to operate more efficiently and effectively.

Naomi Lawrence-LeeAssistant Director of Purchasing and Finance

George Luke is a Beaumont native and a 1975 graduate of French High School. He began his career with Beaumont ISD in 1986 as a carpenter. Luke is now assistant director of maintenance. He played a significant role in getting the students back into school in a timely fashion in the aftermath of hurricanes Ike and Rita. Luke continues to work toward getting Beaumont ISD’s facilities back in working order.

Luke continues to work toward the District’s hundreds of facilities and hundreds of areas of property that are among the nation’s best in their maintenance, efficiencies and overall appearance. Several thousands of dollars have been granted back to BISD via Entergy’s energy efficient program where Luke represents BISD. In his spare time, Luke works even harder for BISD students, helping them to compete for thousands of dollars in Houston Rodeo scholarships.

George LukeAssistant Director of Maintenance

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Patsy Magee has been the Beaumont ISD science supervisor for 19 years. She is a graduate of BISD and a proud “French High School Buffalo.”

Magee attended Lamar University as a Biology major on a music scholarship. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology and a teaching certificate to teach science in grades 6-12. She was also a member of the famous “Front Line” with the Big Red marching band. She returned to Lamar later and received her master’s degree in educational supervision.

As the BISD science supervisor, she has worked to build a quality science program that is seamless and equitable in its transition from elementary through high school.She has built an outstanding science team in BISD.

She is a past president of STAT – the Science Teachers Association of Texas – an organization with 10,000+ members. As a past president, she organized the state conference in Houston with Dr. Bob Ballard as the opening ceremony speaker. There were 9,000 science teachers in attendance - the largest conference in the history of the organization.

She has received the Texas Council of Elementary Science Teachers Outstanding Science Administrator award, the Virginia Woods Award for Exceptional Contributions and Leadership in Science Education from STAT and The Lawrence Buford Award twice for membership contributions to STAT. She participates with Exxon Mobil’s Mickelson Teaching Academy, the Sally Ride Academy in Los Angeles, the Master Science Teacher Program with Lamar University, the JASON Project, and the Exploratorium’s Inquiry Institute In San Francisco.

Magee has been married to her husband Ernest for 39 years. They have three children, all of whom are BISD graduates.

Patsy MageeScience Supervisor, Curriculum Department

Tamraka Manuel was raised in Beaumont and attended the schools of Beaumont ISD. She is a 1999 graduate of Central High School. Tamraka is proud to admit that she is a product of Pathways, as well as Paul Brown, because she is proof that the students who may appear to be headed down the wrong path can turn it around. Manuel has been with the Beaumont ISD Transportation Department since August of 2000. She started as one of the youngest substitute bus drivers, worked as a bus aide, and was later promoted to a full-time driver. She maintained this position while working as a full-time substitute teacher. A single mother who worked two and three jobs, she managed to graduate from college with a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Lamar University in 2007. Upon earning her degree, Tamraka continued driving buses while pursuing her teacher’s certification. She passed both

parts of the TEXES exams on the first try before even completing the class and was the first student in her class to meet the requirements of being “Highly Qualified” to teach English Language Arts 4-8. After eight years of driving school buses for Beaumont ISD, Tamraka was promoted to assistant director of transportation. She is currently in pursuit of a master’s degree in public administration, as well as becoming certified by the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation. Although her life has had plenty of adversity, Tamraka manages to keep a smile on her face because she knows in her heart that with her faith in God, every negative situation has a positive outcomes.

Tamraka ManuelAssistant Director for Transportation

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Devin McCraney, director of finance and business operations for Beaumont ISD, is a Louisiana native. The Eagle Scout is a proud alumnus of McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He earned Bachelor of Science degrees in accounting and management, along with a Master of Business Administration degree. As the former community development administrator for the City of Lake Charles, McCraney was one of a handful of community development professionals in the State of Louisiana to complete and pass the HOME Certification Program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C.

A lover of American History, McCraney has been awarded the Woodsmen of the World Life Insurance Society Award along with the Conoco Award of Excellence for his proficiency in American history. Additionally, McCraney has taught accounting and business courses at the post secondary level. He is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where he serves as the financial secretary to the Zeta Psi Lambda Chapter.

Devin McCraneyDirector of Finance, Business Operations

Randall B. Maxwell is the principal of Vincent Middle School and has been an educator for the last 23 years. He is a 1980 graduate of Beaumont Charlton-Pollard and attended Austin Junior High and French Elementary schools. Maxwell taught sixth and seventh grade science for seven years and became an assistant principal at Central High School. After leading Dishman Elementary for five years as its principal, he went on to Vincent Middle School, where he has been Principal for the last six years. Maxwell earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and his superintendent’s certificate from Lamar University, and a master’s degree in education administration at Southwest Texas State University. His goal is to continue helping the students, teachers and community of Beaumont.

Randall MaxwellPrincipal, Vincent Middle School

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Jim Melanson is a Louisiana native who graduated from McNeese State University in 1973. He taught and coached at several different schools during the early years of his career. He coached one of his boys’ basketball teams to the state finals, and coached a girls’ team to the state semi-finals. Melanson was an assistant principal and principal for 10 years in Louisiana. Overall, he spent 22 years in education in Louisiana.

He has now been a part of Beaumont ISD for 17 years, serving as a teacher, assistant principal and principal during those years. Currently, Melanson is principal at Caldwood Elementary. He has held that position for the past 11 years.

He and his wife Liz have been married for 39 years and have three daughters and five grandchildren. Both Melanson and his wife, along with two of his daughters, are BISD employees. He also preaches the Word of God at several Church of Christ congregations in the Louisiana and Texas area.

James MelansonPrincipal, Caldwood Elementary School

Dr. Lona Alexander-Mitchell has helped to take the BISD after school programs to a whole new level. Managing a multi-year grant that totals $5 million, the Afterschool Centers for Excellence (ACE) located across the school district is not only helping students maximize on and shore up their academic potential, the program helps parents improve, too. Alexander-Mitchell is at the helm of the program that has gain national and state recognition and honors for its success.

The longtime educator earned her Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership from Texas Southern University, a master’s in education supervision from Lamar University and a bachelor’s in elementary education from Wiley College. She is certified in mid-management, supervision, professional development and appraisal system and in teaching. Her career includes working in BISD as a curriculum coordinator and an elementary school principal, in Port Arthur ISD as director of special programs, as an assistant principal in West Orange-Cove and as director of consolidated federal programs in Aldine.

Alexander-Mitchell is a member of Phi Delta Kappa and a host of professional and civic organizations. She is one of the founding members of the Beaumont Area Alliance of Black School Educators and a recipient of the Professional Business Women’s Award.

Dr. Lona Mitchell-Alexander Project Director, Texas 21st – BISD ACE Program

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Odis Norris was born in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he starred in high school football and received a scholarship to attend Stephen F. Austin State University.

Norris was a four-year letterman and an All-Conference linebacker for two of his four collegiate years. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin with a bachelor of science degree and received certifications in English, kinesiology, and health. He later attended Prairie View A&M University and received his master’s degree in education and mid-management certification.

Norris started his teaching career in Port Arthur and was one of three assistant coaches who coached with the legendary James Gamble through five state basketball championships. In 1989 Norris became the first African American head basketball coach in Buna, Texas,

and the only African American educator in Buna ISD from 1989 – 1995. Norris’ teams were highly successful, being ranked in the top five a number of times and reaching the regional tournament competitions.

Norris was Coach of the Year three of the six years he coached. He finished his coaching career with a 760 game winning percentage.

In 1997, Norris was one of four administrators to open Ozen High School. He is now the principal of South Park Middle School and proud to say that he and his staff were able to move South Park from stage one of school improvement to recognized status in the 2007 – 2008 and 2009 – 2010 school years.

Odis NorrisPrincipal, South Park Middle School

Terri O’Neal grew up in New London, Texas, and graduated from West Rusk High School. She went to Kilgore Junior College and was in the Ranger Band and Stage Band. O’Neal received her bachelor’s degree online from Grand Canyon University.

She began working for the Beaumont Independent School District at West Brook High School in 1982. O’Neal then transferred to the personnel office in 1990 and became its office manager in 2003.

Terri O’NealOffice Manager, Personnel

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Jarod Parnell began his career with Beaumont ISD in 1994 as an English language arts teacher at South Park Middle School. He served in that capacity until the fall of 1998, when he left the classroom to pursue an opportunity to work with his lifelong passion of technology. Parnell joined the Information Services Department for BISD as a computer technician. He currently serves as the computer systems administrator with oversight of the District’s many computer systems.

Parnell has been married to his wife Stephanie for 14 years. They have a daughter, Hannah, who is 11.

In his life beyond his career with BISD, Jarod is very active in church ministry. For the last 18 years, he has served as a youth minister, a music minister, an associate

pastor, and a pastor. He is currently serving as the Pastor of River of Life Worship Center in Vidor, Texas.

Jarod ParnellComputer Systems Administrator, Information Services

Dr. Gabrielle Polk, as anyone who knows her will attest, is “all about the children.” Although a career in education was not her first choice, after seeing “a little light come on,” Polk cannot think of any field she would rather work. Polk has worked in the field of mental health for more than 13 years. Prior to entering the field of education she worked as a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional, and was a program director for mentally challenged adults. Over the last 10 years, Polk has served the Beaumont Independent School District in several capacities, including: adaptive behavior teacher, diagnostician, curriculum coordinator, and as the special education compliance monitor. she holds a bachelors degree, two masters degrees (counseling and special education), and a doctoral degree in educational leadership – all from Lamar University. She also holds seven Texas Education Agency (TEA) certifications including superintendent, principal, counseling, diagnostician, elementary self contained, special education K-12, and reading 1-8. Polk also holds leadership positions in several organizations. She is the vice president of the local alumni chapter of Zeta Phi Beta, secretary of the Beaumont Area Alliance of Black School Educators and also serves on the usher board of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Polk has a passion for music, and is trained in both violin and piano, (She became an assistant superintendent in DeSoto ISD in May 2012).

Dr. Gabrielle PolkResidential Facilities and Compliance Monitor

(Appointed to Assistant Superintendent of DeSoto ISD in May 2012)

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Connie Richard, RN, BSN, MEd., is the Health Services director for Beaumont ISD. She has been in the field of nursing for more than 40 years and has instructed vocational nursing for more than 15 years. She was the first black instructor in the vocational nursing program at Lamar Tech, which later became known as Lamar University.

Richard has taught many energetic students who have become licensed nurses, some of whom have gone on to become registered nurses (RNs). All of the District’s nurses are RNs - professional nurses as defined by the National Association of School Nurse Organization. Several of Richard’s former students are actually school nurses now, and while she may have not been instrumental in hiring them, Richard believes

that any school district would be in good hands with the caliber of nurses she has instructed.Richard was football sweetheart of the Hebert High School class of 1964. As a poor a child who lost her

mother at an early age, her father instilled in his children that they would go to college. He often said such things such as, “when you go to college, I want you to be a school teacher.” Despite limited funds, higher learning was an expectation for her and her siblings. While in high school, Richard took classes that allowed her to become a nurses’ aide. This helped her to work her way through college.

Richard is an advocate for BISD’s students and employees. Although she is not a “teacher” in her current position, Richard considers it ironic that her profession is one that requires her to teach others things about themselves.

Connie RichardHealth Services Director, Administration Annex

Dr. JoAnn Rucker is a curriculum specialist who constantly seeks effective, instructional approaches and leadership practices to incorporate those methods within the District. She has provided countless workshops and trainings throughout the District to enhance classroom instruction, drive student performance, and develop leadership skills. Rucker organized and constructed a three-day leadership academy designed to enhance the management skills of department heads and assistant principals.

She has been at the forefront in the transition from the TAKS test to STAAR. Choosing some of the most informed members of the District to develop a team, Rucker structured STAAR institutes for two consecutive years. The most recent institute served more than 200 participants in a conference format.

Recently, Rucker researched, planned and implemented the District’s transition to a more comprehensive student performance and item analysis program, “Eduphoria! Aware.” She truly epitomizes the philosophy of “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime.”

She was appointed assistant superintendent for DeSoto ISD in May 2012.

Dr. JoAnn RuckerTitle I Supervisor for Secondary Schools, Administration Annex

(Appointed to Assistant Superintendent of DeSoto ISD in May 2012)

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Rodney Saveat boasts more than thirty years of experience with Beaumont ISD as a professional educator. He launched his career with BISD in the late 70s and wound a successful path through Crockett Middle School, Beaumont Charlton-Pollard and Central high schools as a dynamic teacher and coach. He moved into the administration area in the mid-80s and served as an assistant principal at Austin Middle School, Ozen High School and South Park Middle School. He would later serve as principal. In the summer of 2004, Saveat seized the opportunity to combine his administrative skills with his passion for sports. That’s when when he was named BISD’s director of athletics.

As the Athletic Director, Saveat oversees one of the state’s most successful programs. It includes 29 sport programs for both female and male athletes at the middle and high

school levels. More than 1,000 student-athletes compete for BISD’s athletics teams, garnering success at the local, state, and national levels. An ardent believer in academic excellence as well as athletic success, Saveat has worked tirelessly in his efforts to ensure student-athletes are provided with the structure, support and opportunities needed to further their education and to showcase their athletic talents at the collegiate level. Under his leadership, BISD student-athletes have garnered millions of dollars in scholarships to numerous colleges and universities all over the United States, with many being drafted into professional sports leagues.

A Beaumont native, Saveat holds his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Lamar University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Prairie View A&M University.

Rodney SaveatAthletics Director, Thomas Center

After a successful 10-year career in the corporate arena, Senecia Saveat joined the Beaumont Independent School District in the summer of 2004 as a secondary educator. Joining the BISD family, she was able to combine her life-long passion for teaching with her real-world business experience and professional pedagogy skills to make the college and career connection more meaningful to students as a business management teacher at Taylor Career Center. She was successful in helping her students earn top awards, scholarships and launch their careers in the world of business.

After earning her Master of Education degree in school administration, Saveat quickly advanced in the ranks of BISD by being promoted to the position of supervisor of the District’s Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) for Student Records. Since accepting this role, she has been instrumental in using data analysis and data mining techniques to recover funds and to help ensure the District maximizes its funding for the annual budget, as well as minimize any possible sanctions in accountability as related to coding of and proper utilization of PEIMS data.

A native of Brazoria, Texas, Saveat earned both her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance and Master of Education degree in school administration from Lamar University. Skilled in the science of technology and the art of delivery, she has made multiple presentations at the local, state and national level on a variety of educational topics. Saveat also serves on numerous local and state advisory committees and has most recently been selected by the Texas Education Agency to serve on the Student Attendance Accounting Panel.

Senecia SaveatPEIMS Supervisor, Information Services

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Greg Schumacher is Beaumont ISD’s Information Services director. He hails from the great state of Oklahoma and arrived in Southeast Texas in the fall of 1984. Schumacher attended Nederland High School where he was not only a good student, but also the drummer in the local show choir band.

Schumacher attended Lamar University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in computer and information sciences in 1992. Two weeks after graduation from college, he married his high school sweetheart Elaine. Schumacher began work as a database specialist for a non-profit organization and at the same time went back to school to begin work on a degree in electrical engineering. In the fall of 1993 he joined the District as an AS/400 programmer.

Over the years, Schumacher has been promoted to various positions in technology. He currently serves as the department’s director. He has had an opportunity to work with the latest and greatest technologies and has played a key role in implementing many innovative computer systems throughout BISD. In 2008, Schumacher was interviewed for an article in Security Magazine concerning his work with network video surveillance in K-12 schools. This article led to an invitation to attend the International Security Systems (ISC) West Conference to participate in a panel discussion concerning security and the transition to network-based security systems. Schumacher has served on various committees including the Lamar Institute of Technology’s Network Advisory Committee as well as the South East Texas Telecommunications Education Network ( S.E.T.T.E.N.) technology committee. This self-proclaimed “super geek” has a never-ending appetite for technology and can’t wait to see what new innovations lie ahead.

Greg SchumacherDirector, Information Services

Michael Shelton was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is a caring and committed professional known for his devotion and service to the community and to the children of Beaumont, Texas. The list of honors and awards Shelton has received are an indication not only of his achievements, but also his passion for improving the education for all children.

Shelton received a Bachelor of Biology-Education degree from McNeese State University and a Master of Education Administration degree from Prairie View A & M University.

In 1993, Shelton became a science teacher at Central High School. He taught ninth grade Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) and 10th grade Biology. He soon began his administrative career in as an assistant principal at Ozen Magnet High School. Subsequent to his 10 year stint at Ozen, Shelton was assigned as principal of Dr. Martin Luther King,

Jr. Middle School. In his short tenure at King, overall student achievement has improved by at least 20% in several areas including math, science, writing and social studies. Under his leadership, King received national recognition from the National Center for Educational Achievement and ACT, Inc., as a 2010 NCEA Higher Performing School.

Shelton has been married to his wife Elizabeth for 22 years. Their son Karmichael is a freshman attending Southern A & M University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and their daughter Lillie is a seventh grade student at King Middle School. Shelton’s educational belief is that “students can prepare for and do anything that they put their minds to...anything is possible.”

Michael SheltonPrincipal, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School

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Dr. Paul Shipman grew up in the Fort Worth area and graduated from Boswell High School in 1990. After graduation, he moved to his mother’s hometown of Nederland and started attending Lamar University. In 1994 Shipman graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with a teacher certification in mathematics. He received a Master of Education degree in 1999 from Lamar University. By that time, he had teaching experience in Bridge City ISD, Port Neches-Groves ISD, and with the Texas Youth Commission. Shipman began working for the Beaumont Independent School District in 1999 at Ozen High School. In the fall of 2002, He became an assistant principal at West Brook High School, where he remained until his promotion to principal at Dishman Elementary. He received his educational doctorate from Lamar University in May of 2008. Shipman has

eight years of experience as a teacher and ten years experience in administration. Shipman’s parents instilled in him the strong belief that education is the building block for future success and he is working diligently to pass that same belief on to the students of Dishman Elementary.

Dr. Paul ShipmanPrincipal, Dishman Elementary School

Hoyt Simmons was born in Orange and attended Stark High School. He attended Lamar University where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He also served in the United States Army. Simmons started teaching at Austin Middle School, moving up to serve as assistant principal at Austin Middle School, Lincoln Middle School and French High School. He was co-principal at French High School and is now principal of Roy Guess Elementary School. He has served in this post for the past 32 years.

Mr. Simmons and his wife Joan have been married for 43 years and are the parents of two children and seven grandchildren. His hobbies are traveling, hunting and watching old western movies.

Simmons is considered the “dean of principals” in BISD with the most tenure of service a an elementary principal. He announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

Hoyt SimmonsPrincipal, Roy Guess Elementary School

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Dr. Carrol A. Thomas is renowned for his work in inspiring people in communities and government to achieve the best for those who depend on public education. He excites youth to learn, teachers to teach, staff persons to support and administrators to lead. Thomas is charismatic, passionate and committed to the educational development of children.

He served as superintendent of schools for the Beaumont Independent School District since 1996.

He came to Beaumont from North Forest Independent School District in Houston. His work there earned him the title of Superintendent of the Year. Under Thomas’ leadership, North Forest ISD was the first and only Texas school district to move from “Accredited Warned,” the lowest level the State places on a district, to “Fully Accredited” in one year.

In 1996, Beaumont ISD was one of the lowest performing districts in the state. BISD is now ranked among the top school districts in the nation for improving student performance.

In addition to Thomas’ duties as superintendent of schools, he finds time for civic and community involvement. He is a member of numerous professional and civic organizations and has received nearly every honor bestowed upon an educator in Texas. Thomas is also president of the National Alliance of Black School Educators, an advisor for several education and government organizations and a national spokesperson for a number of educational initiatives.

He worked on the education section of President Barack Obama’s transition team and was a guest at the White House on the president’s historic revision of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Thomas led BISD through a $100+ million hurricane recovery operation and is completing a $389 million bond issue for facilities improvement. BISD is one of the most fiscally fit districts in Texas and continues to garner millions of dollars in grants to compliment its budget for its nearly 20,000 students and more than 3,000 employees. He is author of a book inspiring educators: “T-Notes, Nuggets of Wisdom for Educators.” He recently announced his retirement plans, effective January 2013.

Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&I University, his master’s in education, superintendent’s certificate from Texas Tech and his doctorate from Texas Southern University.

He and his wife Linda have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Dr. Carrol A. ThomasSuperintendent of Schools

Steve Tatum, energy/safety supervisor of Beaumont ISD’s Maintenance and Operations Department, is a lifelong resident of Southeast Texas. He graduated from Lumberton High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Lamar University. Tatum joined the BISD maintenance department in 1991, and assumed the role of safety/energy coordinator in November of 2011.

Tatum is a faithful community volunteer, and has served 25 years in emergency medical services. He volunteers and is an officer at his church.

Steve TatumEnergy/Safety Supervisor, Maintenance and Operations Department

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Cynthia Washington is a native of Beaumont who attended the public schools in Beaumont. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Lamar University. Before joining Beaumont ISD in 1981, she worked for two years at Texas Eastern Products Pipeline in Nederland as a lab technician for 2 years.

Washington has always enjoyed working with young people. Her love for learning and imparting knowledge drew her to the education field. Washington spent 15 years as a science teacher in grades six through nine, and served as assistant principal at South Park Middle School and Odom Academy. Currently, Washington is principal of Fehl-Price Elementary School, a newly built campus that merged the former Fehl and Price schools.

Washington is active in the community and is involved in many religious events. She serves on the board of Beaumont Community Partners (Rainbow Room).

Cynthia WashingtonPrincipal, Fehl-Price Elementary School

Wayne D. Wells is a Beaumont native who has lived in Southeast Texas for over 40 years. He attended Beaumont ISD schools, beginning with Dick Dowling Elementary, Austin Middle School, and then graduating from Beaumont Charlton-Pollard High School in 1986. He completed his undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Lamar University and his graduate degree in education administration from McNeese State University. Wells began his career in Beaumont ISD in 1996, where he started working as a teacher at Lucas Elementary. He has taught second, third and fifth grade levels at both Lucas and Homer Drive elementary schools. His résumé includes teaching music as well as physical education. Curriculum coordinator was Well’s first administrative position. Not long afterward, he accepted the position of assistant principal and later moved into principalship.

Before entering the education field, Wells worked as an assistant operator for E.I. DuPont de Nemours, Beaumont Works Plant. Some of his accolades include serving as committee member on the State Board of Educator’s Standard Setting Committee, Revalidation of Test Items Committee, 2010 National Blue Ribbon School principal, three-time exemplary school principal, three-time recognized school principal, 2010 Title I Distinguished School Principal, 2010 National Center for Education Achievement of Higher Performing Schools, and a member of the Education Summit Steering Committee.

Wells is a member of various social organizations and he is a proud member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. John R. Adolph. Currently, he is the proud principal of Charlton-Pollard Elementary School. He believes the mission of Charlton-Pollard Elementary is to create and establish a learning environment whereby students can reach their maximum potential. Moreover, Wells believes in “One Team, One Dream, Exemplary-Commended” in all aspects. Most importantly, he instructs all students, staff and parents to “Dream, Plan, Achieve!”

Wayne WellsPrincipal, Charlton-Pollard Elementary School

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Debra Cartwright Williams, special education supervisor, joined the BISD family in June of 2009. She has been an educator for 26 years. Williams previously served as director of special services, director of special education, interim principal, special education supervisor, assistant principal and teacher.

In addition, she has presented during the BISD Special Education Summer Academy, New Teacher Orientation, BISD STAAR Institute, BISD Education Summit, and several District assessment trainings. She received both her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and Master of Education degree in administration from Lamar University. Williams is currently working on attaining her doctorate in higher education and adult learning at Walden University. Her

research interests include alternative teacher preparation programs and academic support for students with disabilities in post secondary education.

Debra WilliamsSupervisor, Special Education

Jim Wilson is a Forest Park High School graduate. The first of five children born to parents, who were both BISD educators and he himself is married to a BISD teacher. Grade school years for him meant athletics, orchestra and scores of math competitions. He is the founder of BISD’s summer Math and Science Academy.

Ever a mathematician and problem-solver, Wilson won awards at various competitions through the years. Two of his biggest achievements came as a senior in high school. He was the first American to solve Rubik’s Cube! Months later, he attended a math contest with competitors from multiple countries. There were two parts in the contest. He won the real-time part of the international competition despite never being exposed to it before … and going up against state champions in the event.

Years of football, baseball, basketball and golf inspired a life-long love of sports. Currently, that love shows up in table tennis and golf, when his time allows. Wilson has played at a high level in table tennis tournaments throughout the country. He has also coached many students who became tournament players. More than a player, he has organized and ran numerous local and regional tournaments. The largest tournament that he was in charge of included more than 800 international players at the U.S. Open in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

His love of music has evolved as well. Despite playing cello in an orchestra that won State Honor Orchestra, he traded in strings for vocal chords. Some now call him “Ike” (as in Turner), in reference to his love for singing. Wilson has also used his voice for radio and television commercials, stage productions, announcing football games and spelling bees for the District.

Wilson is a skilled database manager, sharing his expertise to facilitate many local organizations and their competitions, including local UIL contests, EDA Drama competitions, and TMSCA math/science meets. He is principal of the largest elementary school in Southeast Texas – Pietzsch-MacArthur.

Jim WilsonPrincipal, Pietzsch-MacArthur Elementary School

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Robert Zingelmann was born in Anaheim, California. He moved to Beaumont in 1970, where he attended Amelia Elementary, Vincent Middle School, Forest Park, “Baby Brook” and finally West Brook. Zingelmann went on to work at General Dynamics, painting F16 fighter jets. After two years, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served for six years. Zingelmann was involved in several military operations, including Southern Watch and Restore Hope in Somalia. He then went to Texas Christian University, then subsequently transferred and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Texas.

Zingelmann was hired as the business manager of Warren ISD and worked there for three years. He later worked at Lago Vista ISD for five years as its chief financial officer.

Zingelmann earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Texas State University in 2010. He met his future wife on a cruise and married her a year later. The Zingelmanns have a six-year-old son

who is the light of their lives. He keeps Zingelmann centered in a “sometimes stressful world.”Zingelmann enjoys scuba diving and all types of hunting. He has several family members in Beaumont

and enjoys life here.

Robert ZingelmannChief Business Officer, Business Office