Board of Directors

Officers

Jon H. Fleming, Chairman
Jon is Chairman of Shepherd Creek Enterprises, an educational and health care consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and capital formation. His career also includes service as Professor of Psychiatry and Ethics in The University of Texas Medical School at Houston (1971-76 & Adjunct 1976-1984); Executive Director of Health Science Center Relations - The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (1974-76); Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Executive Vice President of Texas Woman's University (1976-78) and Professor of Psychology and President of Texas Wesleyan University from 1978-1984. In 1983, Jon was appointed to the Governor's Select Committee on Public Education resulting in House Bill 72 (Academic - Chair; School Finance; Textbooks; Teaching Profession - Vice Chair and Curricular Reforms - including “No Pass - No Play”). In 2003, he was appointed co-chair of the Steering Committee of the Texas eLearning Initiative, charged with identifying and making recommendations to the Legislature for technology's rapid and effective integration in Texas' schools.

Torrence Robinson, Vice Chairman
Torrence is the Director of Public Affairs for Texas Instruments Inc.  He provides leadership to TI education priorities by promoting quality science, technology engineering and math education programs in Texas public schools and higher education priorities.  He co-founded The Infinity Project, a national program that has created and is delivering a math and science-based engineering curriculum for high school students.  Torrence has served on numerous school district initiatives to improve math instruction and student achievement and directed a technology workforce committee that oversaw a competitive grant program awarding $8.2 million to 29 Texas university departments of engineering and computer science.

David Webb, Treasurer
David is the CFO for Deer Park Independent School District. He is responsible for managing the budget and leads the business office operations. David has served as the CFO for LaPorte Independent School District, Executive Director for Business & Finance for the Alief ISD, Director of Accounting & Payroll for Pasadena ISD, and Controller/Internal Auditor for Alvin ISD. He has served as the President of the Texas Association of School Business Officials. David is a member of the Texas Association of School Boards and the Texas Business and Education Coalition.

Board Members

David G. Anthony, Superintendent, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District

Arthur L. Baird, Former Vice Chairman, Mrs. Baird’s Bakeries, Inc.

Gretchen M. Bataille, Former President, University of North Texas

Susan Bonesteel, Director, State Services, National Center for Educational Achievement

Dan Branch, State Representative and Chair, House Committee on Higher Education

Darlene Brown, Director Alternative Certification, University of Texas at El Paso

Gene Buinger, Superintendent, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District

Patti Clapp, Vice President Workforce Development, Greater Dallas Chamber

Bill Daggett, Advisory Director, President, International Center for Leadership in Education

David E. Daniel, President, The University of Texas at Dallas

Robert Duron, Superintendent, San Antonio ISD

Rob Eissler, State Representative and Chair, House Committee on Public Education

Karl Eschbach, State Demographer of Texas

Gayle Fallon, President, Houston Federation of Teachers

Mike Feinberg, Co-Founder of the KIPP Foundation

John Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, Texas High School Project

John Folks, Superintendent, Northside Independent School District

Terry N. Ford, Executive Director, East Dallas Community Schools

Lorenzo Garcia, Superintendent, El Paso Independent School District

Jeanne Gerlach, Dean of the College of Education, The University of Texas at Arlington

Terry B. Grier, Superintendent, Houston Independent School District

John D. Hofmeister, Founder/CEO Citizens for Affordable Energy

Dianne Johnson, Trustee, Houston Independent School District Board of Education

Melody A. Johnson, Superintendent, Fort Worth Independent School District

Susan C. Kellner, President of the Board of Education, Spring Branch independent School District

Daniel P. King, Superintendent, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District

Duncan F. Klussmann, Superintendent, Spring Branch ISD

Susan H. Landry, Director, Children's Learning Institute, UT Health Science Center at Houston

Vidal G. Martinez, Partner, Franklin, Cardwell & Jones (Former Chairman, 2003-2007)

Don McAdams, President, Center for Reform of School Systems

Harvin C. Moore, Trustee, Houston Independent School District Board of Education, Head of Operations, Space Services, Inc.

Geanie W. Morrison, State Representative and Chair, House Committee on Higher Education

Jim Nelson, Executive Director, AVID

Cynthia Pearson, Executive Director, Day Nursery of Abilene

Diane Rath, COO, Arbor E&T

Pedro Reyes, Ashbel Smith Chair in Education Policy, The University of Texas at Austin

Richard Rhodes, President, El Paso Community College

Randle Richardson, President & CEO, Community Education Partners

David Russell, Vice President, Verizon (Former Chairman)

John Sawyer, County School Superintendent, Harris County Department of Education

Jake B. Schrum, President, Southwestern University

Florence Shapiro, State Senator and Chair, Senate Committee on Education

David Thompson, Partner, Bracewell & Giuliani, L.L.P.

Johnny Veselka, Executive Director, Texas Association of School Administrators

Robert Wimpelberg, Dean, College of Education, University of Houston

Justin Yancy, Executive Director, Governor's Business Council

Winona Schroeder, Executive Director, TERF

Why We Have Come Together

The Texas Education Reform Foundation (TERF) is a not for profit 501c3 corporation established in 2001. TERF is committed to planning a long-term strategy for change in public education so that Texas is better prepared for the economic development of the 21st century which will require technological innovation and a highly skilled workforce.

Our mission is to strengthen the Texas public education system through:

Communication and education efforts that build recognition of the importance of a quality PK-16 public education system to economic and workforce development: Our work is premised on the belief that broad public awareness and an understanding of school improvement efforts is critical to helping all students achieve at high levels.

Through interactive statewide forums, we bring together key education stakeholders to discuss and debate the most pressing issues facing our schools and to motivate one another with the sharing of ideas and solutions. We help these stakeholders become better decision makers as they develop and refine strategic school improvement plans.

Serving as a common voice for school improvement efforts, the Foundation collaborates with educators, business leaders and representatives of statewide agencies and associations in the development and delivery of a statewide media message that educates all Texans on the value of education reform.

TERF believes the components of a successful education system are:

1. high standards in curriculum that clearly define 21st century expectations for student success in school, the workplace and life;

2. an assessment system with diagnostic and comparative capabilities focused on results;

3. an accountability system that measures educators and students on performance with corresponding rewards and sanctions;

4. professional development and continuous learning for teachers and administrators;

5. student success tools and innovative efforts to keep students interested in learning and in the classroom.

Research & Data Publication and Distribution: TERF is a credible source for education-related data and its interpretation. Our research provides guidance and recommendations to statewide education organizations, educators and policymakers in their efforts to maintain and build on the progress achieved by the education reform movement. Rigorously reviewed data must be gotten into the public domain so that key stakeholders can be aggressive and honest with the data in order to identify strengths, weaknesses and priorities from which to make resource allocation and policy decisions.

Forging partnerships among stakeholders in order to stimulate and support local school improvement initiatives and public-private partnerships: The future of Texas depends on the success of our education system. The responsibility for the continuous improvement of student and school achievement must be shared by educators, business leaders and policymakers. TERF is a driving force for improved collaboration and communication among these stakeholders as they build and implement a plan to improve public education in Texas.