HR Services Team

Jennifer Barton joined HR Services in 2018. She manages employee engagement surveys and assists with compensation planning, training, and other HR projects. Prior to joining TASB, Barton served for 19 years in Texas public schools as a principal, assistant principal, teacher, and coach.

Barton earned master’s degrees in education and educational leadership from The University of Texas at Austin and Lamar University. She holds a Texas superintendent certificate and is a SHRM-CP.

Ashley Broughton joined HR Services in 2023 as an HR and compensation consultant. She has dedicated the last 10 years to supporting Texas public education and its various business operations.

Broughton earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Phoenix and a master’s degree in business administration from Prairie View A&M University.

Shannon Burns joined HR Services in 2023 as an HR consultant. She has 22 years of experience in public school districts serving as an executive director of human resources, special programs coordinator, campus administrator, and teacher.

Burns earned her master’s degree from Texas A&M in Kingsville and her superintendent certificate from The University of Texas at Tyler.

Luz Cadena has been an HR and compensation consultant with HR Services since 2006. Before TASB, she worked for a Central Texas ISD for eight years in the positions of compensation analyst, compensation coordinator, and director of compensation.

Cadena earned an associate degree in business administration from New Mexico State University, holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Concordia University in Austin, and is a certified compensation professional (CCP).

Christine Gallardo joined the HR Services team as an HR and compensation consultant in 2022. She assists with compensation plan development, training, and other HR projects. Prior to TASB, Gallardo worked in the public sector for state and city government entities in human resources roles specializing in staffing and compensation.

Gallardo holds a bachelor’s degree in international business from St. Edward’s University and is a PHR.

Nicolle Gee-Guzman joined the HR Services team as an HR and compensation consultant in 2022. She has more than 28 years of experience working in various roles in human resources within the public sector. Most recently, Gee-Guzman was the director of human resources for a Texas public school district.

Cheryl Hoover joined HR Services in 2018. She assists with staffing and HR reviews, training, and other HR projects. During Hoover’s public school career, she served as an executive director of curriculum and principal leadership, executive director of human resources, principal, assistant principal, teacher, and coach.

Hoover earned her bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin and obtained her master’s degree from Texas State University. She is a certified PHR.

Erin Kolecki joined the HR Services team as an HR and compensation consultant in 2018. Kolecki assists with compensation planning and development, training, and other HR projects. She has nine years of experience consulting in support of Texas public schools.

Kolecki holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus in human resource management from Texas A&M University. She holds a SHRM-CP and a compensation analyst credential (CAC).

Keith McLemore joined HR Services in 2015 and assists districts with compensation planning and development. He has 17 years of experience traveling the state supporting public education employees.

McLemore received a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern University and a master’s degree from Texas Tech University, both with a focus on research analysis and design. He is a SHRM-CP.

Lauren Wurman joined the HR Services team as an HR and compensation consultant in 2023. She assists with compensation plan development, training, and other HR projects. Prior to TASB, Wurman spent 18 years working in education. Most recently, she was the executive director of human resources for a Texas public school district.

Wurman holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of North Texas. She also has a pHCLE certification.

Kyla Brandenberg joined the HR Services team in 2024. Before joining TASB, she worked in public education as a middle school teacher. She assists with the analysis of salary and employee survey data and provides analytical support for consulting services.

Brandenberg attended Iowa State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education. 

Jennifer Forrester joined TASB HR Services in 2022. She has six years of experience with a Central Texas school district, both as a substitute teacher and as part of the front office staff for an elementary school. Before her move into education, Forrester supported executives and sales teams in the technology industry. She provides first-line customer assistance to TASB members as well as support for training services, including technical support for online training.

Forrester has a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University.

Sarah James joined HR Services in 2019. Prior to that, she worked at a Central Texas school district for 11 years. She is responsible for managing web content, HR Services articles, HRX newsletter, social media accounts, and marketing efforts.

James has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Concordia University Texas in Austin.

Email Sarah if you have a story idea for the HRX.

Jose Martinez joined the HR Services team in 2023. Before joining TASB, he worked as a data analyst in the tech industry. 

Martinez attended the University of Texas at Austin graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. 

Mariah McLelan joined the HR Services team in 2024. Before joining TASB, she worked at a Central Texas school district for 5 years as a middle school teacher. She assists with the analysis of salary and employee survey data and provides analytical support for consulting services.

McLelan attended Texas State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education. 

Kathie Randolph has worked with HR Services since 2006. Before coming to TASB, she worked at the Teacher Retirement System and Association of Texas Professional Educators. Randolph provides technical, administrative, and program management support for HR Services. She plans and directs the annual membership renewal process  and assists customers with TASB HRDataSource™ and member login.

Randolph attended The University of Texas at El Paso.

Troy Richardson joined HR Services in 2022. Before joining TASB, Richardson worked as a financial analyst in the telecom industry.

Richardson received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from the University of Alabama.

Catherine joined the HR Services team in 2015. She leads the analyst team, oversees the analysis of salary survey data, and provides analytical support for consulting services. Catherine taught high school math, including AP statistics, for 12 years in Florida prior to joining HR Services. Catherine has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in statistics from Florida Atlantic University. 

Garrett Ward joined HR Services in 2023. Before joining TASB, he worked as a data analyst and a personal trainer. He attended Texas State University majoring in exercise sports science.