Governance & Oversight
The Fund is strengthened by its 19-member Board of Trustees, which provides leadership and direction to ensure exceptional service and value to members.
The Fund is strengthened by its 19-member Board of Trustees, which provides leadership and direction to ensure exceptional service and value to the more than 1,000 Fund members in Texas.
Those appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees are Fund members — typically school board members, superintendents, or administrators. The board is tasked with meeting quarterly and is responsible for policymaking, strategic planning, and carrying out the Fund’s mission to provide comprehensive risk solutions to Texas public schools.
Appointments to the Board of Trustees are made by the Board with the goal of providing representative and experienced leadership from across the state. Under Fund bylaws, board member terms are for three years with a cap of no more than five full terms.
Board Leadership
About Ted
Ted Beard was elected to the Longview ISD board in 1998 and has served in various capacities, including assistant secretary, secretary, vice president, and president. He is also the 2021-22 president of the Texas Association of School Boards.
Beard is a retired sergeant major from the United States Army and a combat veteran of Desert Shield/Storm and Iraqi Freedom. After leaving the army, he served as a technical expert and an equal employment opportunity counselor for the Social Security Administration.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in human services from Letourneau University and is a 2012 graduate of Leadership TASB. Beard is also a past president and current member of Texas Caucus of Black School Board Members.
About Jo Ann
Member since 2008
Jo Ann Bludau has been serving as the superintendent of Halletsville ISD since 2007 and brings nearly 30 years of experience to her role, having previously served as superintendent of Sweet Home ISD, as well as an educator and administrator in Austin ISD.
She earned her bachelor's degree at Texas A&M University, followed by her master's at The University of Texas at Austin, and later received her doctorate in education administration from Texas A&M.
In addition to serving Hallettsville ISD as superintendent, Bludau is a member of the Hallettsville Rotary Club. She is also an active member of the Texas Association of School Administrators and is serving her third term on the UIL Legislative Council.
About Dan
Dan Troxell is the executive director of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). He has more than 30 years of experience as a public school leader and was named the TASB Superintendent of the Year in 2008.
Troxell began his career in public education in 1987 as a middle school social studies teacher at Round Rock ISD. He quickly moved on to administrative roles, serving as assistant principal and grade-level principal at Round Rock ISD, principal at Allen ISD, principal and assistant superintendent at Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, and superintendent at both Kerrville ISD and Leander ISD.
Holding a doctorate in education administration from The University of Texas at Austin, Troxell has taught university-level courses as an adjunct professor and authored several journal articles, including an article on multicultural competencies and one on board president-superintendent collaboration.
At TASB, Troxell is responsible for advancing the association’s mission of promoting educational excellence for Texas schoolchildren through advocacy, visionary leadership, and high-quality services to school districts.
Board Members
About Steve
Member since 2017
A native of Odessa, Steve Brown dedicated 35 years to Ector County ISD (ECISD) as a teacher and administrator. After retiring from the district in 2011, he decided to continue serving ECISD by running for the Board of Trustees. He assumed office in 2013 and has been on the board ever since.
Brown is a Leadership TASB graduate and a master trustee. He was actively involved in education and community organizations, including the United Way of Odessa, West Texas Educators Credit Union, Texas Association of Secondary Principals, Greater Opportunities of the Permian Basin Head Start, and Medical Center Hospital Advisory Board. He also serves on the TASB Board of Directors for Region 18.
He received his doctorate in education administration, Master of Education in guidance and counseling, and a bachelor’s in political science from Texas Tech University. He also earned a Master of Education in education administration from Sul Ross State University.
About Scott
Member since 2017
Scott Campbell has served as superintendent of East Chambers ISD in Winnie, Texas, since 1997. After graduating from East Chambers High School in 1979, Scott earned his bachelor's degree in English and master's degree in school administration from Lamar University.
He serves on the board of directors and as treasurer of the Education First Federal Credit Union and on the advisory committee of Ascender Computer Cooperative. His wife, Gena, is an elementary school librarian, and their daughter, Carson, is a theatre teacher and director.
About Bridget
Member since 2019
Bridget Chustz's career in education includes more than a decade at Fort Bend ISD, where she currently serves as the director of Risk Management.
A former diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Barbados in public affairs, Chustz served as president of the American Embassy Employees Association for two years. Prior to living overseas, she worked for Entergy and Gulf States Utilities, where she served several years as a steward for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. She began a career in school business upon her return to the U.S. in 2009.
Chustz is a member of the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO), where she serves as chair of the Safety and Risk Management Committee and Mentor. She is the immediate past president of TASBO Gulf Coast Regional Affiliate. She volunteers for various functions in her church community and supports local efforts to address and combat domestic violence.
She attended Louisiana State University and acquired a bachelor’s degree and master's degree from Columbia College.
About Sylvia
Member since 2019
Sylvia De La Garza was elected to the Plainview ISD Board of Trustees in May of 2008 and represents Precinct 7. She previously served as board president and secretary. She is a graduate of Wayland Baptist University with a master's degree in counseling, and she has a bachelor’s degree from West Texas A&M University.
De La Garza works at Central Plains Center as the Coordinator of Adult and Children Mental Health and Supervisor of the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team. She is passionate about her job and enjoys working closely with Plainview ISD and several other surrounding school districts to help students who are dealing with mental health challenges.
De La Garza also serves on the board of directors of Compassionate Care Pregnancy Center, a community support organization that meets the needs of local women and men facing unplanned pregnancy decisions.
About Carole
Member since 2024
Carole Dickey has dedicated 35 years to Texas public education. She began her career as a middle school English teacher and later served as an associate principal with Huntsville ISD. Dickey's leadership journey continued at Centerville ISD-Leon County, where she served as a high school assistant principal, elementary principal, and assistant superintendent before embracing her current role as superintendent.
Dickey is a member of the Texas Association of School Business Officials and Texas Association of School Administrators. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in educational administration from Sam Houston State University.
About Felicia
Member since 2024
Felicia Donaldson is a 27-year educator who has a passion for removing barriers to student success. During her diverse career, Donaldson has served as a teacher, assistant superintendent, principal, campus administrator, executive director of human resources, and director of professional and community development.
Donaldson earned her bachelor's degree in science from the University of Texas at Arlington, her master's degree in education from Texas Christian University, and her doctorate in education leadership from Tarleton University.
About Wes
Member since 2013
Wes Eversole has more than 30 years of experience in public school finance, having worked since 1991 at Lake Dallas ISD, where he has managed all aspects of district finances and operations.
Eversole is a member of the Association of School Business Officials, the Texas Association of School Business Officials, the Texas Association of School Boards, the Texas Association of Federally Impacted Schools, and the Government Treasurers’ Organization of Texas, where he also serves as president. He has also served as board member and president of the DFW TASBO Affiliate Board of Directors. He is a Certified Texas School Business Official.
Eversole currently serves as treasurer of the Texas Association of Federally Impacted Schools, on TASBO’s Governmental Relations Committee, and on TASBO’s Coordinating Task Force. He graduated from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) with a bachelor of business administration in accounting.
About Larry
Member since 2007
Larry Hawthorne has served on the Hubbard ISD Board of Trustees for more than 30 years in multiple capacities, including vice president, advocacy member, and in his current role as president. He is a member of the 2007 Leadership TASB class and a previous TASB Employee Benefits Joint Account (EBJA) Trustee. He has served as a TASB delegate for more than 20 years, representing Hubbard ISD at the TASA/TASB Delegate Assembly.
Hawthorne retired from ExxonMobil in 2017 with 43 years of service and is currently a Senior Specialist Emergency Response for Energy Transfer in his continued 49th year of service. He obtained a bachelor’s degree from Dallas Baptist University in 1994, followed by his master’s in 1997. He serves his community as a member of the Wheatley Recreation Center Advisory Board, president of the C.M. Blanks Civic Club, and member of St Paul AME church, where he serves as Steward Pro Temp and Finance Chair.
About Anthony
Member since 2014
Anthony Hill began serving on the Coppell ISD Board of Trustees in May 2007 and has held various officer positions, including president.
Hill currently serves as director on the North Texas Area Association of School Boards, where he has held various officer roles, including president. He has shared his expertise on several district-level committees, including the District Educational Improvement Council, Student Health Advisory Council, Long-Range Technology and Planning, District Safety and Security Design, and Career and Technical Education Advisory. Hill has also served on the Coppell Education Foundation as a director and as a member of the Super Star Program (character recognition) and Robotics Camp Committees.
For more than a decade, Hill has worked as a director at Mobility Credit Union in Irving, where he currently serves as vice-chairman after serving the last four years as chair. He is also a former board member of Metrocrest Services in Carrollton and acts as a liaison to Coppell ISD, as a member of the Finance Committee, and chair of the Technology Committee.
Hill holds a Bachelor of Accounting from Wittenberg University, a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Atlanta University, and a Certificate of E-Commerce Management from the University of Dallas. He is a master trustee from the 2013 Leadership TASB class.
About Paul
Member since 2023
Paul McLarty was named Chief Financial Officer at New Braunfels ISD in 2023. He previously served as a senior financial and operational executive at four school districts across Southeast Texas for 22 years.
McLarty is a member of the Texas Association of School Business Officials and the Association of School Business Officials, International. He spent the first 16 years of his career in private industry before launching a career in public entity service as Budget Director for Galveston County, where he served as chief financial executive for Commissioner’s Court.
McLarty earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Texas A&M University and his master’s degree in finance from the University of Houston.
About Hugh
Member since 2023
Hugh Piatt was named superintendent of Pampa ISD in 2021. He previously served as Pampa High School principal for six years.
Piatt’s public education career spans more than three decades. He held teaching and coaching positions before earning his master’s degree in educational leadership from Stephen F. Austin University.
He went on to serve as principal at Buffalo High School as well as assistant and associate principal at Bryan High School. In 2008, Piatt helped open Bryan ISD’s second high school: James Earl Rudder High.
About Marina
Member since 2020
Marina Quilantan-Rivera has served on the Lyford CISD Board of Trustees since 2007 and currently holds the position of board president. She is a master trustee from the 2010 Leadership TASB class.
Quilantan-Rivera has worked for Justice Gina M. Benavides for the past 35-plus years and for Justice Jaime E. Tijerina for the past four years. She worked for a private defense firm for 20 years, and she has spent the past 16 years working for the Thirteenth Court of Appeals. She earned a paralegal degree from Texas State Technical College.
Quilantan-Rivera is very active in her community and church. She currently serves as the secretary for the Lower Valley Cotillion Club Executive Board and is the religious education coordinator for Prince of Peace Parish in Lyford.
About Velinda
Member since 2019
Velinda Reyes currently serves as president of the San Isidro ISD Board of Trustees. She is a graduate of the Leadership TASB program class of 2017 and a master trustee.
Reyes has also served in various leadership positions within the Region One School Board Association (ROSBA) from 2015-2018. Since 2019, she has worked as the chief administrator for Hidalgo County Precinct 4.
Reyes earned a master’s degree from the University of North Texas and a bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas Pan-American. She has worked in higher education in various roles of leadership, management, and programming. She currently serves as the assistant vice president for community programs and operations under the Division of Governmental and Community Relations at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
About Rolinda
Rolinda Schmidt has served on the Kerrville ISD Board of Trustees since 1996, holding various officer positions, including president, vice president, and secretary.
Schmidt is actively involved in local youth education programs, including the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, Rotary Club Foreign Exchange Student Program, Head Start, and the Kerrville ISD sixth-grade outdoor education program. In 2014, she was named Families & Literacy’s Champion of Education.
Schmidt has a bachelor’s degree in social services from San Jose State University. She is a managing partner in her family-owned and family-operated commercial real estate development and management company.
She is a graduate of the Leadership TASB program and a member of the School Board Advocacy Network.
About Ramsey
Member since 2024
Ramsey Starks began his public education career in 2018 after working in public accounting for more than 15 years. Before joining Bullard ISD, he served as coordinator of purchasing and risk management at Tyler ISD.
Starks holds certifications as a Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified School Risk Manager, and Certified Texas School Business Official. He earned his bachelor's degree in science degree from The University of Texas at Tyler and continued his education through post-graduate work in accounting.