Leadership TASB Class of 2025 Members Announced

AUSTIN— The Texas Association of School Boards is pleased to announce the 34 school board members selected to participate in the Leadership TASB Class of 2025. A committee made up of LTASB Alumni recommended the class members and presented the selections to the Member Services Committee of the TASB Board for approval during its July meeting. 

“We are excited to welcome the members of the Class of 2025 and want to congratulate them on this achievement,” said Dan Troxell, TASB executive director. “LTASB has made a significant impact in the lives of more than 1,000 school board trustees over its more than 30-year history. We look forward to watching this new group as they begin the challenging work that allows them to grow and expand their board leadership skills in the service of public school students.” 

Leadership TASB was developed and designed by school board members for school board members in 1993 as part of TASB's ongoing commitment to provide visionary leadership to Texas school boards. The program arose from a request from the TASB Board of Directors to increase trustee involvement and provide advanced educational training and leadership opportunities to members. Since then, Leadership TASB has developed into the premier school board training program in the state with more than 1,000 alumni Master Trustees.   

Each year, a cohort of experienced board members are selected based on demonstrated leadership in their local school district and communities. The trustees represent districts from across the state that vary in size and the student populations they serve.  

TASB Board President Armando Rodriguez, a Canutillo ISD school board trustee, graduated with his Master Trustee title as a member of the Class of 2012. 

“Every board member who participates in LTASB knows going in that there will be a lot of hard work required but what they may not anticipate is just how life changing the experience will be,” Rodriguez said. “Even the most experienced trustees walk away from LTASB having gained a greater understanding of board governance, leadership, and advocacy, which in turn has a direct impact on their districts, their students, and school communities.” 

Timed with the launch of the new class, is a refresh for the LTASB brand. The new LTASB design honors the program’s history and the Master Trustees it has served, while it continues to focus on making a positive impact in trustees’ lives for years to come. 

The design update also coincides with the TASB 75th anniversary celebration happening in 2024. The Association not only modernized its logo and branding this year but has also sought to refresh each TASB department’s branding. With its update, the LTASB design now has a direct connection to the Association. 

The LTASB Brand Story 

• The crest symbolizes the Master Trustees who have shown their strength as advocates for Texas public schools and students.  
• The LTASB green represents the growth that each trustee experiences as they collaborate with other members of their cohort.  
• The light blue represents TASB’s collective optimism about the power of public education, which is as vast as the Texas sky. 
• The vibrant yellow symbolizes the bonds and friendships that are forged during the yearlong program. This fellowship binds every cohort creating lifelong connections.  
• The center star is inspired by the 5.5 million Texas schoolchildren across our diverse state. Students are always at the center of the TASB mission to promote educational excellence, and the navy blue is a tribute to TASB’s members, whose good governance is the cornerstone for thriving school communities. 

The new brand design will begin appearing on materials and displays as the new cohort kicks off at txEDCON24 being held Sept. 27-29 in San Antonio. The year-long program includes educational visits to districts and communities across Texas and concludes in June 2025 at the Summer Leadership Institute. The members of the Leadership TASB Class of 2025 are: 

• Jennifer Alfaro, Rio Hondo ISD  
• Robert Anderson, West Rusk County CISD  
• Sara Burleson, Midland ISD  
• Emilio Carrasco, East Central ISD  
• Dawn Champagne, Katy ISD 
• Ginger Collier, Lake Dallas ISD  
• Carmen Correa, Spring ISD  
• Sylvia De La Garza, Plainview ISD  
• Conception (Connie) Esparza, Aldine ISD  
• Amber Feller Landrum, Round Rock ISD  
• Melody Fowler, Arlington ISD  
• Rick Garcia, Fort Bend ISD  
• Melissa Gonzales, Gregory-Portland ISD  
• Courtney Gore, Granbury ISD
• Elvia Guadian, Del Valle ISD  
• Jean Hichen-Williams, Henderson ISD  
• Russ Johnson, Lorena ISD  
• Lisa Kallies, Crosby ISD  
• Amanda Kington, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD  
• Jeff Larson, Clear Creek ISD  
• Lloyd Lietz, Three Way ISD  
• Lisa Lobb, Irving ISD  
• Kimberly McAdams, College Station ISD  
• Francisco (Harvey) Oaxaca, McKinney ISD  
• Marco R. Ortiz, Taylor ISD  
• Bill Parker, Allen ISD  
• Ranna Raval, Coppell ISD  
• Lauren Rothe, Lumberton ISD  
• Janet Spurlock, Alief ISD  
• Mary L. Thomas, Manor ISD  
• Mary Belle Unger-Robles, Southside ISD  
• Michael Valdez, Edgewood ISD  
• Viola Z. Vela, Lyford CISD  
• Alex (Alejandro) Ybarra, Channelview ISD 

Learn more about the LTASB brand update.