Robin Berkley – Ann Kimball Johnson Director of Education, George W. Bush Institute

Robin Berkley is the Ann Kimball Johnson Director of Education at the George W. Bush Institute, where she develops and oversees research and policy work in the Institute’s opportunity portfolio. She is particularly focused on K-12 literacy, statewide longitudinal data systems, district accountability, and post-secondary readiness so that students are prepared to become successful members of their communities. In this position, she also administers the awarding of grants by the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries and announces titles selected for the Laura Bush Book Club.

Berkley has spent two decades focused on improving opportunities for children and families. She has worked in leadership roles at the Texas Education Agency as well as EducationCounsel, a national, mission-based education consulting firm that combines policy, strategy, law, and advocacy to improve the U.S. education system.

She served as the Executive Director of Horton’s Kids, a site-based organization in southeast Washington, D.C., from 2014 to 2020. It supports 500 children and families living in an under-resourced U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development housing community by providing education, mental health, basic needs, career preparation, mentoring, and enrichment programs. The graduation rate of children in Horton’s Kids rose to 100% from 65% during her tenure.

Berkley’s passion for children extends to all aspects of her life. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Educational First Steps and has been an active volunteer with Reading Partners, Junior Achievement, and KIPP DC. She has also served as a Board Member of Many Hands Washington, D.C., and Board Chair of the Blue Igloo Early Childhood Cooperative. She is a proud “mom” to two godsons, who became permanent members of their family several years ago and who graduated from Jesuit College Preparatory of Dallas in 2023. Both now attend Loyola University in New Orleans. 

Berkley is married and lives in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas with her husband, their 7-year-old twins, and two King Charles cavaliers. She is an active member of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church and Board Member for the parents’ associations for the Lamplighter School and the Hockaday School. She is a graduate of the Hockaday School and has a bachelor’s in finance from Wake Forest University and a master’s in public policy from Duke University.

Shelly Slaughter – Superintendent, Cumby ISD

Shelly Slaughter has served as Superintendent for the last eleven years in Cumby Collegiate ISD. She has been in education for twenty-six years and has served small and large districts in various roles of Special Education Teacher, Middle School Counselor, Elementary Principal, High School Principal, and Superintendent. Shelly is the Past President of the Texas Council of Women School Executives and she has served as the Region 8 Regional Advisory Committee Chairperson. She is involved in TASA as a member of the TASA Professional Learning Committee as well as a member of the Small Schools Network Design Team. Shelly also serves on the Membership Committee for TACS. She has a wonderful support system of family and friends at church, home, and school; and in her personal time she enjoys spending time with her husband, Burt, of 34 years, two daughters, son in law and seven grandchildren.

Shelby Saragosa – 13-14 Student, Cumby ISD

Shelby Saragosa is a 14th-year student at Cumby Collegiate and a proud graduate of East Texas A&M University. As a first-generation college graduate, Shelby has dedicated her career to education and service, giving back to the academic community that supported her journey. Now in her second year as an AmeriCorps service member, she serves Cumby as an Instructional Support Specialist for 1st and 2nd grade math and Montessori. Shelby is currently pursuing alternative certification in 4-8 math and science through ETAMU, along with a Master’s in Secondary Education. With a deep passion for teaching, she believes in the transformative power of education to change lives—both hers and her students.

Madison Carson – 13-14 Student, Cumby ISD

Madison Carson is a dedicated special education teacher at Cumby Collegiate ISD, having recently completed her 13th and 14th year in education. A December 2024 graduate of East Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership, Madison is set to further her education by pursuing a Master’s degree in special education and obtaining her alternative certification beginning in March 2025. Her journey in education has not only transformed her own life but also inspired her mother to continue her education. With a deep passion for special education, Madison is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of her students.

Rick Rhodes – Chair, Texas Workforce Investment Council

Rick Rhodes is the Chair for the Texas Workforce Investment Council bringing a wealth of experience from both public and private sectors. He has held senior positions with the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Texas Governor, and has been a small business owner and commercial banker.

Rick served four terms as Mayor of Sweetwater, Texas, and was instrumental in creating the Texas Midwest Community Network, an alliance of 52 communities across 32 counties focused on economic growth.

In 2023, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Rick as Chair of the Texas Workforce Investment Council, recognizing his commitment to workforce development and rural advancement.

Rick and his wife, Pam, are blessed with two married sons and six grandchildren.

Dustin Breithaupt, Superintendent, Lytle ISD

Dr. Dustin Breithaupt brings 24 years of experience in public education and has served as a bilingual elementary teacher, assistant principal, secondary campus principal, and Director of Curriculum & Instruction, primarily in large urban and suburban districts. The past three years he has served Lytle ISD as Assistant Superintendent. Being a Lytle Pirate is a dream come true for Dr. Breithaupt, as he can interact with incredible teachers, staff and students daily, visiting classrooms and supporting campus and district leaders. During his free time he enjoys spending time at his hill country farm and travel adventures to places near and far!

Chandra Eggermeyer – Texas Economic Development & Tourism, Office of the Governor

Chandra Eggemeyer currently represents the 35 county West Texas Region for the Texas Economic Development &Tourism Office, within the Office of the Governor. She assists economic development organizations, city and county officials, and businesses in helping grow the Texas economy.

Prior to the Governor’s Office, Chandra worked as an economic development specialist for the Texas Department of Agriculture and as a Local Government & Business Advocate for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Chandra began her public service career as a congressional aide in the U.S. House of Representatives. She also spent time in the private sector in economic development and construction project management.

Chandra graduated from Abilene Christian University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and received her Master of Public Administration from Angelo State University.

Ryan Fitzgerald – Dean of Enrollment Management, South Plains College

Ryan Fitzgerald was recently selected as the Dean of Enrollment Management at South Plains College, where he serves as the institution’s chief enrollment officer and oversees college processes related to admissions, student on-boarding, and academic advising, among other enrollment functions. Ryan has served on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Political Science Discipline-specific subcommittee and served as a statewide 60x30TX Data Fellow for community and technical colleges. Ryan has served as a Co-PI for a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant and was a member of the 2022-2023 Texas Educational Policy Fellowship program cohort. Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Stephen F. Austin State University, a master’s degree in political science from Texas Tech University, and is currently a doctoral candidate in Texas Tech University’s higher education program. He is a member of the Association for the Study of Higher Education, as well as both the American and Texas Associations for Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers.

Prior to the Governor’s Office, Chandra worked as an economic development specialist for the Texas Department of Agriculture and as a Local Government & Business Advocate for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Chandra began her public service career as a congressional aide in the U.S. House of Representatives. She also spent time in the private sector in economic development and construction project management.

Chandra graduated from Abilene Christian University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and received her Master of Public Administration from Angelo State University.

Alton Frailey, a native of Nacogdoches, Texas, is a veteran professional educator of more than 35 years.

Frailey retired in 2016 after serving as superintendent of the nearly 74,000-student Katy Independent School District near Houston, Texas for nine years. He has served as superintendent of the DeSoto Independent School District near Dallas, Texas and as Superintendent of Schools for Cincinnati Public Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio. From March 2018 through March 2020 he served as Interim Superintendent for the Nacogdoches Independent School District.

Frailey has held numerous professional elected leadership positions including President of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), President of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), President of the Urban Superintendents Association of America (USAA), President of the Texas Association of Suburban/Mid-Urban Schools (TAS-MUS), and Chairman of the University Interscholastic League Legislative Council.

Frailey has also served on various civic boards. In 1999, he was elected to the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District Board of Trustees, which was selected as the 2002 Texas Honor Board. In 2015, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott appointed Frailey to the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents for a six-year term. He currently serves as Chair of the board. He works with the Flip Flippen Group as one of three members of the LeadWorthy Board and is Chair of the Capturing Kids’ Hearts Foundation Board. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Battelle for Kids. Additionally, he has served on the board of directors for the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce, Katy Area Economic Development Council, Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, West Houston Association, and The Bible Seminary.

He is currently President of Alton L. Frailey & Associates, LLC, specializing in leadership development, community engagement, school board team building, and executive coaching.

He and his wife, Anissa, have been married thirty years and live in Fulshear, Texas.

Andy Wilson is passionate about school transformation, college access for all students, the defeat of generational poverty, and the economic prosperity of Texas and the United States. He has been an educator for 22 years serving in Cleburne, Albany, and Roscoe Collegiate ISD’s. He was the superintendent of Roscoe Collegiate ISD for two years, and he is currently the Program Director for Collegiate Edu-Nation. He earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education degrees at Abilene Christian University in 1992 and 2001. He is writing a dissertation on college access through distributed learning as he completes his Doctor of Education degree from Texas A&M and Texas Tech Universities.

As the director of the Thoma Scholars Program, Kambra K. Bolch brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to academic excellence and student success. With nearly three decades of higher education administration experience, she has consistently advocated for underrepresented students, created and expanded educational opportunities, and supported programs that ensure equitable student success.

Most recently, Bolch served as Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Advising and Transitions at Texas State University, where she led strategic efforts to enhance academic advising, advance transfer initiatives, and support first-year and transfer students using a data-informed, student-first approach. Under her leadership, Texas State launched its new Transfer Center in 2022, offering student transfer navigation services and guidance for faculty and administrators seeking to establish partnerships that support seamless transfers.

Prior to her arrival at Texas State University, Bolch made significant contributions at Texas Tech University as Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Programs and Policy. In this role, she led the university’s first Undergraduate Research Task Force, which led to the creation of TTU’s first center for undergraduate research. While Associate Dean in the Honors College, she spearheaded the creation of two interdisciplinary degree programs, early admission pathways to law and medical schools, and international study programs for high-ability students.

Bolch earned her Bachelor of Arts in Honors Studies, summa cum laude, from Texas Tech University, majoring in English with a specialization in Technical Communication. She then pursued her Doctor of Jurisprudence at The University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1994.

Michelle Carroll Smith is a seasoned educational leader with over 30 years of experience in public education. Her career began in 1986 as a teacher in Southwest ISD, followed by a distinguished 37-year tenure at Lytle ISD. Rising through the ranks, Michelle served as Assistant Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and eventually Superintendent, leading the district to significant academic improvements and stronger community partnerships.

Throughout her distinguished career, she has presented at numerous national conferences, including the American Association of School Administrators National Conference on Education. She has also served on the Executive Committee of the Texas Association of School Administrators from 2018 to 2022 and contributed as a member of the Friends of Texas Public Schools Superintendent Advisory Council from 2015 to 2024.

In August 2024, Michelle joined CEN as Chief of Schools, where she continues to influence educational practices across the state. She holds a Master of Science in Education from Texas A&M University, Kingsville, and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Michelle is actively involved in professional organizations and has presented at national conferences, demonstrating her commitment to advancing education.

Jesus Perales joined Trellis Foundation in 2024 with more than ten years of experience in policy and advocacy. Prior to his arrival at the Foundation, he served as the Immigration Policy and Programs Coordinator at the Texas AFL-CIO, the state federation of labor unions. Jesus’ previous experience in higher education includes research, advocacy, and policy work at United We Dream and Young Invincibles and as a legislative staff member at the Texas Senate.

Jesus earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Lamar University and a master’s degree in government and public service from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, focusing on state and local government.

Brittany Williams grew up on a farm in Haskell, Texas, where she developed a deep-rooted passion for agriculture and a high regard for FFA and 4H. She has always been interested in exploring opportunities and bringing them back to cultivate in the rural communities of Texas.

Brittany earned a B.S. in Biology from Texas Tech University in 2003, completed an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership in 2015, and is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in the Agricultural Education program at Texas Tech University. As both a professional educator and a business owner, she has learned, firsthand, the challenges educators face in battling the dilemmas of lack of specialization, the need for impactful role models, and the life-limiting effects of generational poverty.

As a first-generation college graduate and partner alongside her husband (who broke the chain of generational poverty in his family through a welding career), Brittany knows that it just takes one in a family to set the expectation for the future. As Director of Strategic Partnerships for CEN, Brittany seeks to revitalize rural Texas and America by working to align rural school districts, higher education institutions, and businesses to instill a will to be lifelong learners in students and produce a more viable workforce while helping to sustain rural communities and helping folks serve a valuable purpose.

In her role as the Director of Strategic Partnerships for CEN, Brittany is a dedicated visionary with a mission to reinvigorate not only rural Texas, but also rural America as a whole. Her role centers on fostering meaningful connections between rural school districts, higher education institutions, and local businesses, all working in harmony to instill in students a deep-seated passion for lifelong learning. This collaborative effort is underpinned by a shared goal to foster the growth of a more sustainable and skilled workforce, while simultaneously breathing new life into the heart of rural communities.

Ashley Chohlis is a seasoned professional with 28 years of experience in the field of education. Currently serving as the superintendent of Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, a rural district, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. Ashley holds a Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Family Relationships from the University of Texas at Austin, as well as a master’s degree in educational administration from Texas A&M-Kingsville. In 2014, she completed the superintendent certification program at the University of Texas at Tyler, further enhancing her qualifications. Known for her dedication and mentorship in the education sector, Ashley is a respected figure who is committed to supporting and guiding individuals in the field. Her involvement in The Holdsworth Center has equipped her with a solid foundation in leadership programs, emphasizing the importance of team building and prioritizing the needs of students above all else. Alongside her husband Shaon, with whom she has shared 19 years of marriage, Ashley is the proud parent of four children who have all benefited from the advantages of public education. Her personal experiences as a parent further inform her professional endeavors, driving her passion for creating positive educational experiences for all students.

Dr. Rachael McClain comes to CEN with a passion to see all students have opportunities for future success in college, career, or military pathways. From rural North Georgia, Rachael grew up within a family of farmers and blue-collar workers and saw how barriers to college can prevent young people from accessing the resources to achieve their goals and dreams.

Rachael earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree focusing on marketing and management from the University of North Georgia. She entered the business world gaining experience in marketing, management, and human resources. She had an opportunity to use her real-world experience to teach high school students and opted to enter the education field. She earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Georgia. She continued her education with a Ph. D. from the University of Georgia specializing in Workforce Education. Her research focus reflects her passion for supporting students facing barriers to college and career success.

Rachael moved with her husband, Mark, and their children to West Texas in 2013. Rachael has worked in a rural ISD as the Chief Academic Officer supporting instructional design, monitoring attainment of student outcomes, securing grants for program initiatives, creating professional development programs, and coaching principals as academic leaders. Most recently, Rachael has worked with innovative programs to support school improvement with the intention of providing educational environments for all students to succeed. These innovative programs include launching P-TECH and T-STEM school models and creating charter partnerships to restart an academically failing campus.

Ellen Williams is an attorney and registered lobbyist who has worked at the Texas Capitol for twenty legislative sessions: Three as a Texas Monthly reporter, two as a Senate general counsel (including the 1995 Education Code rewrite), and fifteen as an advocate for education, nonprofit, and business clients. Her family has ranched in the Concho Valley since 1864.

Dr. Kim Alexander grew up on a farm near Roscoe, Texas, and has farmed and ranched in that area since graduation from college in 1976. He was employed by the Roscoe Independent School District in 1988, where he served as superintendent from 2003 to 2019. Since 2019, he has served as CEO of Collegiate Edu-Nation.

Dr. Alexander received his BS in Education from Angelo State University in 1976, his Master of Education in Educational Administration from Abilene Christian University in 1985, and his EdD in Agricultural Education in 2007 from Texas A&M and Texas Tech Universities, through a joint doctoral program. Dr. Alexander is a member of the Texas Association of School Administrators, the American Association of School Administration, and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.

During his doctoral research, Dr. Alexander became involved in a study investigating differentiated instruction for economically disadvantaged learners. This spurred additional, extensive research into understanding generational poverty and educating students in the cycle of generational poverty more effectively. As a result of that research, Roscoe Collegiate Independent School District became a school-wide Early College High School in 2009 and a school-wide STEM Academy in 2012, which evolved into the first rural school-wide P-TECH in 2017.

Dr. Susan Holley received her EdD in Educational Administration from Baylor University in 1991. For 34 years, Dr. Holley served in public schools in the roles of teacher, counselor, principal, central office administrator, and superintendent. She received the Texas Council of Women School Executives State Leadership Award and served on the state board for both the Texas Rural Education Association and the Texas Association of Rural Schools. Dr. Holley was Associate Executive Director for School Transformation and Leadership Services at the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) for nine years before joining the Department of Educational Administration and Human Resources (EAHR) at Texas A&M University in 2017 as Clinical Associate Professor. Dr. Holley teaches courses in principalship, superintendency, and organizational change, and supervises the principal practicum experience.

At Texas A&M University, Dr. Holley is the director of the John R. Hoyle Memorial Administrative Leadership Institute (ALI) and serves on the Council for Educator Preparation Programs and the department’s Executive Committee.