Excited by the opportunity to represent Seminole at the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Dr. Tabitha Coffman looks forward to learning and networking with school leaders across the world. "My role as a leader is to model the way, grow staff and students, create a pipeline for future transformational leaders, give individuals a voice, and transform those that I serve," stated Dr. Coffman. "I am blessed to have the best job in the world, and I want all to be led by the best version of me."
AUSTIN, TX (April 28, 2023) – The Charles Butt Foundation, a nonprofit pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships, announced today it will sponsor 50 educators from 35 district and charter schools across Texas to attend weeklong summer institutes at the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
With these new cohorts, the Charles Butt Foundation will have paid for more than 1,500 educators to attend training at Harvard through the Raising School Leaders program, an initiative designed to develop stronger school leaders who will enhance the quality of education across Texas. The Charles Butt Foundation covers expenses for the attendees including tuition, travel, hotel, and other discretionary costs for a total investment of more than $10 million since the program’s inception.
Attendees, including individual principals as well as campus teams, will participate in one of two weeklong workshops on leadership development, coaching, or school turnaround led by Harvard faculty and other national and international experts. Each program is designed to inspire, challenge, and empower school leaders to bring lasting impact to their campuses and communities, the entire state of Texas, and beyond.
“Great teachers, along with strong school and district leaders, represent the most significant influencers of academic achievement and supportive culture,” said Tim Miller, Director of Leadership Development at the Charles Butt Foundation. “Our alumni often report that their Harvard experience is the best professional development they have ever experienced and that they return to their campuses energized, inspired, and empowered to make meaningful change that benefits all students.”
For this summer’s institutes, preference was given to school leaders from districts that were considered rural or had a student enrollment of less than 5,000. “As demographics shift in Texas, we recognize that the needs of schools in rural and smaller districts are unique. Creating a space for school leaders in rural and smaller districts to find commonalities, problem solve, and build a network of support is an important component of this year’s Raising School Leaders program,” added Miller. Two participants (Patricia De Luna Garza and Melinda Gardner) were selected last year but were not able to attend the institute.
Following the Harvard Institutes, attendees remain a part of the program’s statewide network of school leaders and are empowered to work together to create change at the campus and district levels. Alumni are sponsored to attend the organization’s biannual leadership symposium and receive continuous support and professional development.
Below is a list of all cohort members from across Texas.
Archer City ISD
John Sherrill, Principal, Archer City High School
Austin ISD
Patricia De Luna Garza, Executive Director, Austin ISD
Bangs ISD
Candace Wilson, Principal, J.B. Stephens Elementary School
Buna ISD
Katy Hicks, Principal, Buna Junior High School
Burkburnett ISD
Kevin Hunter, Principal, Overton Ray Elementary School
Canadian ISD
Jeffrey Quisenberry, Principal, Baker Elementary School
Columbia Brazoria ISD
William Jeffery, Principal, Columbia High School
Corsicana ISD
Jessica Gist, Assistant Principal, Corsicana Middle School
Karen Kopp, Dean of Teacher Support, Corsicana Middle School
Audrey Marx, Teacher, Corsicana Middle School
Bradley Thomason, Principal, Corsicana Middle School
Crandall ISD
Matthew Besherse, Principal, Martin Elementary School
Crockett County CCSD
Erica Cruz, Principal, Ozona Elementary School
Fabens ISD
Edgar Rincon, Principal, Fabens High School
Floresville ISD
Heather Brooks, Principal, North Elementary School
Gainesville ISD
Amy Allen, Assistant Principal, Chalmers Elementary School
Taylor Dudenhoeffer, Reading Interventionist, Chalmers Elementary School
LaCreasha Stille, Assistant Superintendent, Gainesville ISD
Brandon Whiten, Principal, Chalmers Elementary School
Gonzales ISD
Ariana Hernandez, Principal, Gonzales Primary Academy
Hamlin Collegiate ISD
Michelle Jones, Dean of Academics, Hamlin Collegiate Elementary School
Rachael McClain, District Coordinator of School Improvement, Hamlin Collegiate ISD
Katy Sepeda, Reading Interventionist, Hamlin Collegiate Elementary School
Bambi Teaff, Principal, Hamlin Collegiate Elementary School
Hawley ISD
Jacob Cox, Principal, Hawley Elementary School
Hereford ISD
Linda Finch, Principal, Hereford Junior High School
Christian Garza, Teacher, Hereford Junior High School
Jennifer Jolly, District Coordinator of School Improvement, Hereford ISD
Erin Warrilow, Instructional Coach, Hereford Junior High School
Lasara ISD
Alexandria Lupercio, Principal, Lasara Elementary School
Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD
Amber Hawk, Principal, Little Cypress Elementary School
Mineral Wells ISD
Jaycee Roach, Principal, Houston Elementary School
Paris ISD
Kristi Callihan, Principal, Paris Junior High School
Port Aransas ISD
David Swartwout, Principal, Port Aransas High School
Poth ISD
Laura Kroll, Principal, Poth High School
Riesel ISD
Stacey Dieterich, Principal, Riesel School
Rosebud-Lott ISD
Jonathan Shaw, Principal, Rosebud-Lott Elementary School
Runge ISD
Esther Cardin, Teacher, Runge Elementary School
Hector Dominguez, Superintendent, Runge ISD
Angelina Torres, Principal, Runge Elementary School
Allison Wells, Assistant Principal, Runge Elementary School
San Augustine ISD
Jeremy Small, Principal, San Augustine High School
San Elizario ISD
April Marioni, Principal, San Elizario High School
San Vicente ISD
Jessi Milam, Principal/Superintendent, San Vicente/San Vicente ISD
Seminole ISD
Tabitha Coffman, Principal, F.J. Young Elementary School
Shepherd ISD
Alisa Lott, Principal, Shepherd Primary School
Tornillo ISD
Myrna Lopez-Patti, Principal, Tornillo Elementary School
Venus ISD
Kimberly Buck, Principal, Venus Middle School
Waller ISD
Melissa Crosby, Principal, Fields Store Elementary School
Wayside Schools
Melinda Gardner, Principal, Altamira Academy
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tessa Benavides-Cooper
ABOUT THE CHARLES BUTT FOUNDATION
The Charles Butt Foundation is pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships. The Foundation is working toward a future in which all Texas children and families live in vibrant communities supported by a world-class education system. To learn more, visit CharlesButtFdn.org.