Leadership Support for TASA Members

TASA members may call on our team of executive superintendents — highly regarded former superintendents who are experts on public school leadership. They are your “go-to” on matters related to public school leadership, career pathways, and the transformation of Texas public education.

These executive superintendents serve as an extension of the TASA staff and are on hand to support TASA members in a variety of ways, with an emphasis on helping new superintendents navigate the role. As seasoned administrators, these superintendents are able to listen and provide support based on their own experiences.

Read the spring 2024 INSIGHT article on TASA’s Executive Superintendents Program to learn more about how they can help you.

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TASA Executive Superintendents

Art Cavazos

Regions 1 & 19

Art Cavazos retired as superintendent of Harlingen CISD in 2021 with more than 30 years of education experience and numerous accolades under his belt. A native of the Rio Grande Valley, Cavazos began his career as a math teacher before becoming a counselor, principal, and finally, administrator. Besides serving TASA as an executive superintendent, he is also a superintendent-in-residence for The Holdsworth Center and a member of the UIL Executive Committee. Cavazos was named Region 1 Superintendent of the Year in 2017. In 2016 Gov. Greg Abbott selected him to serve a five-year term on the State Board for Educator Certification. He was also appointed to the Legislative Council of the University Interscholastic League.
Read more about Art.

956.453.6754

Alton Frailey

Regions 2 & 4

A well-known public school administrator, Alton Frailey retired in 2016. In his 33-year career in education, he served as a superintendent in Spring, Katy, and DeSoto ISDs and in Cincinnati, Ohio, and as an administrator in Spring Branch ISD and Goose Creek CISD. After his retirement, he filled in as interim superintendent in Nacogdoches ISD. Frailey is a TASA veteran. He previously served as a TASA superintendent-in-residence and has not only served as TASA president but also as president of AASA, The School Superintendents Association. He was a founding member of TASA’s Public Education Visioning Institute and a co-author of TASA’s visioning document. Read more about Alton.

832.748.0602

Thomas Randle

Regions 3 & 6

Thomas Randle retired from his position as superintendent of Lamar CISD in 2021, an office he held for 20 years. He is a former TASA president (2007-08) with a long list of accomplishments and awards. In 2017, the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators named a statewide award in his honor. Randle is also a co-author of the TASA visioning document. “Having the opportunity to serve the members of TASA is an honor,” he says. “Coaching and working with superintendents is rewarding and gives me an opportunity to share some of my experiences from 26 years in the chair. We are fortunate to have dedicated professionals who truly believe in the children they serve. Our future is truly in good hands.” Read more about Thomas.

713.898.7380

Mary Ann Whiteker

Regions 5 & 7

Mary Ann Whiteker began her professional career in 1973 as a first-grade teacher in Corrigan ISD. She spent a total of 44 years working in public education before retiring as superintendent of Hudson ISD, a post she held for 23 years. Whiteker served as a member of the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium Steering Committee and TASA School Transformation Design Team, and more. In 2015, she was the Texas Superintendent of the Year and TASA’s nominee for National Superintendent of the Year. “I think it’s very important that you never forget where you came from,” she says. “A lot of times, historical perspectives can help you in developing the direction you want to go.” Read more about Mary Ann.

936.635.2317

Amy Jacobs

Regions 8 & 9

Amy Jacobs was hired into the superintendent role in Coahoma ISD, holding the post from 2012 to 2019 before changing gears to lead a nonprofit education organization. She still leads the nonprofit, Hill Country Educational Leadership, which offers school programs and summer camps and is launching a teacher-training program. She previously served TASA as a study group chair for Region 18, and she was an active participant in TASA’s Future-Ready Superintendents Leadership Network (FRSLN), participating on the FRSLN Design Team. Jacobs also chaired TASA’s School Boards Awards Committee the school year after the Coahoma ISD Board of Trustees was selected as the 2017 Outstanding Texas School Board. “Whether it is to connect our superintendents to a resource, lend a listening ear, or offer support in the role, it is a pleasure to work alongside so many outstanding leaders in our state,” she says. Read more about Amy.

830.265.0060

Doug Williams

Region 10

Doug Williams began his career as a teacher and coach, and most recently spent 15 years as superintendent in Sunnyvale ISD. He served as TASA president in 2021-22, president-elect in 2020-21, vice president in 2019-20, and as TASA’s Legislative Committee chair from 2017 to 2019. Williams has not only been a strong and vocal advocate on behalf of Texas public schools, but also a leader in the movement to restore agency to districts and campuses through community-based accountability. “I can connect TASA members to great professional development opportunities, various benefits to enhance their well-being, and tools to advocate for their school and community,” he says. “I enjoy continuing to stay connected with an association that has meant so much to me during my career and engaging with school administrators that I respect so much for the service they provide to students.” Read more about Doug.

903.969.0402

Karen Rue

Region 11

Karen Rue retired from education after a 37-year career, with 14 of those years spent at the superintendent’s desks in Tuloso-Midway and Northwest ISDs. She got her start as a classroom teacher in Port Arthur, to help children have the kind of lives they dreamed of. Rue is a leader on the local, state, and national levels in creating transformation in education, with a focus on preparing future-ready students, encouraging innovation and creativity, and developing more meaningful assessment and accountability measures. She served as TASA president in 2015-16 and was a founding member of the Public Education Visioning Institute and co-chaired the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium. “I think as executive superintendents, we can help grow what is sorely needed: a really strong pool of superintendents who are focused on systems and system redesign,” she says. “We can help promote and develop and support the next generation of superintendents. They’re the ones who will step in, and we need them so desperately.” Read more about Karen.

817.681.9553

Kelli Moulton

Regions 12 & 15

Kelli Moulton retired as Galveston ISD superintendent in 2021 after navigating the district through the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey. She didn’t take more than a weekend off before stepping into her executive superintendent position at TASA, along with another school-supporting role at Raise Your Hand Texas. Moulton was in the first group of the Future-Ready Superintendents Leadership Network (FRSLN), has made presentations at various TASA conferences over the years, and has gone the extra mile to advocate for public education in Texas. “In addition to working alongside superintendents, I also have contact with other district leaders who continue to grow in their own career path,” she says. “Working with school boards has also popped up as a need across Texas and I am fortunate to be an experienced voice to guide next steps in superintendent evaluation and board advocacy. I enjoy the connections I have with educational leaders across the state. I am delighted to help others shape their connections to make the most of their TASA membership.” Read more about Kelli.

806.676.2942

Steve Flores

Regions 13 & 14

Steve Flores served as superintendent in Harlingen CISD for five years, before taking the position in Round Rock ISD for more than seven years, retiring in 2021. With a 37-year career in education, Flores is an award-winning school leader, who has been named the Texas PTA Superintendent of the Year and the Central Texas Superintendent of the Year. He was honored with the Meritorious Leadership Commendation from The University of Texas at Austin’s Cooperative Superintendency Program, through which he earned his doctorate in 2001 while interning on the TASA staff. “I learned with TASA that as a superintendent, you’re never out there alone,” he says. “For me, this was a call to give back to TASA and its members what TASA gave to me. I really feel like I am coming home. I want to be a person TASA members can feel comfortable with to help make their work not only doable, but impactful.” Read more about Steve.

956.244.0768

Larry Coffman

Regions 16 & 17

Larry Coffman served in Borger ISD, a 4A district nestled in the Panhandle. It was there that he served as a principal for three years, then deputy superintendent for one year, followed by an 18-year stint as the superintendent before retiring in 2003. During his time as superintendent, the district received the Outstanding Board Award from TASA, something that makes him proud to this day. Coffman’s main goal in his role with TASA is to share the benefits of the organization with new superintendents, to assist them in any way he can, and provide information on how TASA can make their jobs easier. “Hopefully in some way we can be an encouragement and help TASA members during difficult times,” he says. “We’re available for them when they need a lift, or a shoulder, and I hope they know that.” Read more about Larry.

806.231.8065

Sherri Bays

Regions 18 & 20

After more than 30 years working in Texas public school districts, Bays retired from the superintendency in Floresville ISD in 2021, a position she held for the last eight years of her career. She has served TASA as a study group chair for Region 20, been part of TASA’s Future-Ready Superintendents Leadership Network (FRSLN), and was appointed to serve on TASA’s Higher Education Committee. Bays has worked closely in the past with the Go Public, a nonprofit with the mission of promoting the great things happening in traditional public schools. “Not only do we need to find new superintendents, but we need to support them so that they’ll stay in the role because we know students, in the long run, are going to be more successful when we have superintendents who have some longevity in the seat,” she says. “I do whatever I can to help them meet the challenges that they’re facing and survive rough spots while thriving in the important work that they do. It’s an honor to be able to support them in that way.” Read more about Sherri.

210.825.4397