Starting July 1, TASA’s superintendent-in-residence and member service representative programs are being combined into a new program designed to provide TASA members with access to an extensive and diverse cadre of experienced former superintendents — “TASA Executive Superintendents” — with an array of combined expertise. TASA Executive Superintendents will serve and support members both locally and across the state in a variety of areas of specialty and in a manner that ultimately helps actualize the aspirations and long-term strategies of the TASA Strategic Framework.
The program is designed to:
- engage membership
- provide guidance, mentoring, and support to members
- enhance the member experience by facilitating relevant, meaningful connections to association initiatives, networks, and consortia
TASA Executive Superintendents — resident experts on public school leadership and the faces of the superintendency in Texas — will serve as an extension of the TASA Headquarters staff by being a natural “go-to” for TASA members on matters related to public school leadership, career pathways, and the transformation of Texas public education in accordance with the articles of the TASA visioning document, Creating a New Vision for Public Education in Texas. TASA Executive Superintendents goals will be to expand membership, provide support to individual association members, promote TASA programs and services, and ultimately enhance the member experience.
Each of the following TASA Executive Superintendents will primarily serve as a member engagement and support liaison in the two regions that are listed below, but they can also serve as a resource and informal mentor to members across the state on a variety of matters and areas of preferred expertise:
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Art Cavazos (starting July 1, 2021) Primary Support: Regions 1 and 20Art Cavazos, who recently retired as superintendent of Harlingen CISD, is a well-regarded former superintendent with a long list of awards and accomplishments, including being recognized as 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. Contact Art at 956.453.6754 or acavazos@tasanet.org. |
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Alton Frailey (previously served as a TASA Superintendent-in-Residence) Alton Frailey, former TASA and AASA president, is a well-known and highly regarded superintendent in Texas and across the nation. He was a founding member of the Public Education Visioning Institute and co-author of the TASA visioning document. Contact Alton at afrailey@tasanet.org or 832.748.0602. |
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Thomas Randle (as of June 1, 2021) Thomas Randle, who recently retired from his position as superintendent of Lamar CISD, joined TASA in June 2021. 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. He is also a co-author of the TASA visioning document. Contact Thomas at trandle@tasanet.org or 713.898.7380. |
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Mary Ann Whiteker (previously served as a TASA Superintendent-in-Residence) Mary Ann Whiteker is a strong advocate for a reduction in the emphasis on standardized testing and a supporter of digital learning and local accountability. She served as a member of the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium Steering Committee and TASA School Transformation Design Team, and more. In 2015, Mary Ann was the Texas Superintendent of the Year and TASA’s nominee for National Superintendent of the Year. Contact her at mawhiteker@tasanet.org or 936.635.2317. |
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Amy Jacobs (starting July 1, 2021) Amy Jacobs, the former superintendent of Coahoma ISD and CEO/executive director of Hill Country Educational Leadership, will join TASA July 1. 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. Amy 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. Contact her at 830.265.0060 or ajacobs@tasanet.org. |
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Karen Rue (previously served as a TASA Superintendent-in-Residence) Karen 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. Karen 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. Contact Karen at krue@tasanet.org or 817.681.9553. |
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Kelli Moulton (previously served as a TASA Member Service Representative) Kelli Moulton, who recently retired as Galveston ISD superintendent, now lives near Corsicana, 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. Contact Kelli at kmoulton@tasanet.org or 806.676.2942 |
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Stephanie Arterbury (previously served as a TASA Member Service Representative) A pioneer among Texas school leaders, Stephanie Arterbury served as Sheldon ISD’s first female superintendent — a position she held for the final 10 years of her 30-year career with the district. Stephanie takes her job supporting TASA members seriously, encouraging you to call her day or night when you need to talk through a new program or just need to vent. Contact Stephanie at sarterbury@tasanet.org or 713.851.9663. |
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Larry Coffman (previously served as a TASA Member Service Representative) Larry Coffman served as superintendent of Borger ISD for 17 years before his retirement. His 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. Contact Larry at lcoffman@tasanet.org or |
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Sherri Bays (starting July 1, 2021) Sherri Bays, who recently retired as superintendent of Floresville ISD, will join TASA July 1. 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. Sherri 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. Contact her at 210.825.4397 or sbays@tasanet.org. |
Long-time TASA member service representative Roel Peña will continue his current work with TASA through his August 2021 retirement date.
