Dr. Chapa is a Consultant. Since July of 2019, she has worked to prepare and write grants in collaboration with partners, leading to over 4.5 million dollars in awards. She has also worked with district staff and the community to ensure both campuses were granted in-district charters to work with external non-profit partners. Additionally, she serves as a lecturer with UTRGV in the Organizational Leadership graduate program. Previously, she worked as an educational consultant with Educate Texas to expand the Early College High School (ECHS) model in the Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Chapa also has experience as an assistant superintendent, campus principal, assistant principal and elementary teacher. She and her husband, Martin, have a 16-year-old son, Martin II. In their free time, they tailgate and support the TAMU-Kingsville Javelinas, hang out at the beach and travel.

Aaron Waldrip is currently starting his 16th year in education, and his 4th year as the Superintendent of Abernathy ISD. He is married to his wife, Ashley, and they have three kids, Elli Kate (7th grade), Maddox Jack (5th grade), and Myla Mae (3rd grade). He loves competition and being outdoors and can still enjoy a half court basketball game, but nowadays prefers to mostly lean to golf and pickleball. Aaron spends most of his free time watching or coaching his kids in youth sports, which is quite a blessing!

James Stevenson is entering his 22nd year in education. James is currently the Assistant Superintendent in Kountze ISD and has been in educational leadership for the past 19 years as an Athletic Director, Assistant Principal, Principal, and Assistant Superintendent. His wife Mandy is also in education and serves as the Director of the Big Thicket Special Education Cooperative. They have been married for 22 years.

Donna Pugh has served in Levelland ISD for over 30 years and still has much to learn and do. After a stint with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service (now Texas Agrilife Extension) in Lynn and Hockley Counties, Donna began teaching in Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS). Since then, she has worked as the principal at Levelland Academic Beginnings Center and now Director of Curriculum and Special Programs. She and husband, LD Pugh, recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Enrique Ruiz, Jr. is the Assistant Director of Special Education at Tuloso-Midway ISD. In the last 15 years, he has served as an Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, a secondary campus principal and Dean of Student Services. During his time as an Executive Director, Enrique was closely involved in the process that led to the creation of the Rural School Innovation Zone, which involved three separate ISDs coming together to share students to provide them with opportunities to attend academies that resulted in industry based certifications at each district. Enrique participated in and completed the Executive Education Academy from the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University. Enrique currently resides in Alice, TX and is the proud father of his 11 year old daughter Sophia.

Lawana Pulliam is the Assistant Director of Innovative Solutions for Canadian ISD. Canadian ISD is a small rural 3A district in the northeast part of the Panhandle. Lawanna has served in Canadian ISD for 7 years. Prior to this, she served in Amarillo ISD and Texline ISD. She grew up in rural Miami, Texas and graduated with 15 other students back in 1994. Lawna has a passion for collaboration and specifically collaboration that supports rural schools and communities. She currently serves on the Economic Development Board, Chamber Board, Canadian Education Foundation Board, and is a Raise Your Hand Texas Harvard Alumni.

Elizabeth Calk is the principal at Dodson Primary School in Denver City, TX, a small town in West Texas near the New Mexico state line. She has been in public education since 1999, beginning her career as a first grade teacher. Elizabeth is beginning her 9th year as an administrator for DCISD. She loves working in public education and believes that by working together we can create a system that not only educates our children, but builds stronger families and communities.

Robin Graves is a Director at the Education Service Center Region 15 in San Angelo, TX, where she has worked for the past six years supporting campus and district leadership. Robin is a former secondary math teacher, a former secondary principal, and a current adjunct for Angelo State University in the College of Education. Robin is married to Jared, a high school teacher and tennis coach, and together they have two children, Katelynn (19) and Peyton (16). The Graves family has lived and worked in small, rural communities for over 20 years, and they are passionate about what these schools have to offer.

Heather McGregor currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director at Region 8 Education Service Center and is in her 25th year working in education. Prior to her work at the ESC, she served as a high school teacher, school counselor, and principal for 20 years, primarily in rural communities. Throughout her career, she has been a champion for rural education. In her role at ESC8, working with 46 small districts, she has had the opportunity to work directly alongside school counselors, principals, administrators, and superintendents in strengthening the region's rural education by leading efforts to implement practices and systems that focus on student learning and well being. Heather lives in Daingerfield, a rural community in Northeast Texas. Heather's daughter is an active member of her school's FFA and shows lambs across the state.

Nicole Colvin is the Director of Deep East Texas College and Career Academy which includes Jasper ISD, Burkeville ISD, Kirbyville CISD, Newton ISD, Spurger ISD, and Woodville ISD. This collaboration helps increase college and career educational opportunities to high school students. She is a Jasper High School alumni and graduate of Texas A&M University. Her career for the last 22 years has been in education, and she is starting her third year at DETCCA. She and her husband call Jasper, TX home, and they have five wonderful boys.

Dr. Amelia Reeves is the Director of Career Education at Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas and fervent advocate for rural schools and communities. She currently leads several initiatives aimed to increase the number of students engaged in a career pathway that leads to family-sustaining wages. Current projects include career awareness campaigns for 6th-12th grade students, postsecondary education and training access programs for rural students, work-based learning opportunities, and career and technical education alignment to regional labor market needs.

Jeffrey West is a bilingual business professional with experience across various industries and disciplines. Currently serving as the Executive Director for Education to Employment Partners, Mr. West works to bring people, information, and resources together to improve the quality of educational attainment and career development services being offered in our community. Mr. West holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Business Administration & Management from the University of the Incarnate Word and a MBA from the University of Texas A&M - Corpus Christi.