TASB Recognizes 32 Leadership TASB Graduates

Fort Worth- The Texas Association of School Boards is pleased to announce the 32 school board members from the Leadership TASB Class of 2026 who have successfully completed the yearlong program.

The class members celebrated their graduation from LTASB on June 19 at a ceremony held in conjunction with TASB's Summer Leadership Institute in Fort Worth. Each member of the graduating class earned the title of Master Trustee.

"We congratulate these outstanding board members who, over the last year, have explored and expanded their knowledge of best practices in board governance, advocacy, and leadership," said Dan Troxell, TASB executive director. "Since its founding more than 30 years ago, LTASB has continued to be a transformative program, and we are proud to offer this experience to trustees. Through their participation, the class members have shown their dedication to serving their students and communities."

LTASB is the premier trustee leadership training program of its kind in Texas. It connects school board leaders to their purpose in serving Texas' 5.5 million public school students. More than 1,000 trustees have completed the year-long program since its founding in 1990.

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.

The cohort kicked off in October 2025 in Houston with visits to Lamar CISD and Royal ISD. In November 2025, the class headed to the Rio Grande Valley, where they explored schools in Lyford CISD and Brownsville ISD.

At the halfway point, in February, the class traveled to Amarillo, where they visited Amarillo and Highland Park ISDs (Potter County). The last trip, prior to graduation, was to Texarkana, where the cohort made in-district visits to Pleasant Grove and Texarkana ISDs.

The members completed their yearlong journey at SLI, meeting for the final time and presenting their capstone projects.

Each member of the Class of 2026 was recognized for completing all of the requirements, including attending the five required sessions.

"As an LTASB alum, I want to congratulate the Class of 2026 and say how thankful I am that these trustees chose to commit to this work that will have a positive impact in the lives of public school students," said Tony Hopkins, TASB Board President, Friendswood ISD trustee, and LTASB Class of 2014. "As we celebrate this cohort's success, we remain focused on the positive impact LTASB continues to have on leaders who believe in, and strive to achieve, educational excellence for all Texas students."

The graduates from the Leadership TASB Class of 2026 are:

• Matthew Aguilar, Pearsall ISD
• Lynn Boswell, Austin ISD
• Ester Cardoza-Wade, Monte Alto ISD
• Jason Choate, Cooper ISD
• Ariel Cruz, San Benito CISD
• Ron Franklin, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD
• Ginger Friesenhahn, East Central ISD
• Becky Gonzales, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD
• Katherine Goodwin, Plano ISD
• Diane Hern, Eanes ISD
• James Hernandez, Edgewood ISD-Bexar County
• Jacqueline Jean-Baptiste, Stafford Municipal School District
• Jose Jimenez, Galena Park ISD
• Albert Johnson III, Alvin ISD
• Kathryn Knotts, North Zulch ISD
• Kristi Littleton, Port Aransas ISD
• Lorenzo Luevano, San Elizario ISD
• James Matlock, Hutto ISD
• Chasiti McKissic, DeSoto ISD
• Amber Moffitt, Grand Prairie ISD
• Alex Payson, Marble Falls ISD
• Benita Reed, Mansfield ISD
• Mary Richarte, Irving ISD
• Priscilla Ruiz, Bastrop ISD
• Monica Ryan, Judson ISD
• Meagan Sullivan, Sharyland ISD
• Anji Taylor, Greenville ISD
• Clinton Temple, Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD
• Dolly Trolley, Corpus Christi ISD
• Jessica Ward, Midlothian ISD
• Denishea Williams, Cedar Hill ISD
• Tommy Wilson, West Orange-Cove CISD