About Us

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.

Perdue is a native West Virginian and a graduate of Nitro High School in Nitro, West Virginia. Although she did not realize it at the time, her grandparents were sowing the seeds of her life’s work when they taught her about the importance of education and community. She regularly helped her grandparents on their farm in Boone County, West Virginia, where she learned how to grow and preserve food.

“What I have learned through my travels and through school is if you want to make impactful change in an increasingly interconnected world, it starts at home.” Perdue views her role as an agricultural educator as an opportunity to pass on the lessons she learned as a child and build on them to help today’s youth become engaged, proactive participants in their communities through in-school 4-H and early college programs.

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.

Dr. Johnny L. Veselka has served public education for nearly 50 years. He retired in June 2018 as Executive Director of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), a position he held for more than 32 years.

A former classroom teacher in the North East Independent School District (San Antonio) from 1969-1974, Veselka joined the TASA staff in 1974, and was appointed as Executive Director in January 1986. From 1979 to 1981, he participated in the Cooperative Superintendency Program, the doctoral superintendency preparation program jointly sponsored by The University of Texas at Austin and the Texas Education Agency; he earned his PhD in educational administration from The University of Texas at Austin in 1982. He earned his BA and MA degrees from St. Mary’s University and a Master in Educational Administration degree from The University of Texas at Austin. Under his leadership, TASA became a major voice for school administrators on legislative issues and state policy matters, and became the leading provider of professional development programs for school system leaders in the State of Texas.

Since the formation of the Public Education Visioning Institute in 2006 by 35 public school superintendents who were inspired to come together to create a new vision for public education in Texas, and the subsequent publication of “Creating a New Vision for Public Education in Texas” in 2008, TASA’s mission has focused on promoting, providing, and developing leaders who create and sustain student-centered schools and develop future-ready students.

Veselka has received numerous awards during his career, including the Key Communicator Award (2009) from the Texas School Public Relations Association and the Golden Deeds for Education Award (2003), presented annually by Texas A&M University and TASA. Upon his retirement, the TASA Executive Committee recognized him as Executive Director Emeritus.

Veselka currently chairs the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Art and Science of Learning and consults with organizations that provide professional development and other services to public schools.

The Honorable John D. Perdue is West Virginia’s 24th State Treasurer. As State Treasurer, Perdue has modernized the office, creating a transparent, secure, and state-of-the-art operation. As the banker of state government, Treasurer Perdue manages more than $16 billion of state money annually. His office has set records in the Unclaimed Property Division by returning millions of dollars to rightful owners over the course of his administration. He established the WVABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) program for people with disabilities and the SMART529 college savings program. In addition, he oversees the state’s Board of Treasury Investments and the West Virginia Retirement Plus deferred compensation plan and has hosted dozens of workshops to help West Virginians better manage their financial assets.

Treasurer Perdue’s commitment to education is unparalleled; his nationally recognized NetWorth financial education program received the Excellence in Financial Literacy Education Award in 2009. The NetWorth program was also selected as a regional finalist for the Council of State Government Innovations Award for two consecutive years. Treasurer Perdue is the only West Virginia State Treasurer to serve as president of the National Association of State Treasurers. He was honored as the organization’s Treasurer of the Year in 2007. He is also past president of the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators and received the organization’s Unclaimed Property Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.

Treasurer Perdue has been elected to serve a record six terms. He holds the title of longest-serving State Treasurer in West Virginia and is the second longest-serving State Treasurer in the nation. Treasurer Perdue started his public service career with the Department of Agriculture. During his time there he held several positions, including the title of Assistant Commissioner. In 1989, he became Executive Assistant to former Governor Gaston Caperton and served as a member of his executive staff for eight years.

John Perdue is a 1972 graduate of West Virginia University and a native of Boone County, WV. He and his wife Robin have two adult daughters.

Eric Reeves is a native Texan who spent five terms in the North Carolina State Senate where he chaired the Senate’s technology committee and served as an Appropriations Chair on the Education Oversight Committee. Prior to working in the Senate, Reeves served on the Raleigh City Council for two terms and on the Board of Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, NC. He has spent most of his professional life focused on public policy issues.

Reeves has helped start numerous technology companies in the education market, most notably Dude Solutions based in NC. Recently, Reeves started GreenLight Credentials, which enables students to own and share their academic records with colleges and employers. The goal is to streamline college admissions and employment processes. Currently, Reeves serves on the board of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the board of the Region 10 Education Service Center. He is also Chairman of the Dallas Independent School District’s P-TECH Industry Advisory Board.

Reeves received his BA from Duke University and his JD from Wake Forest University.

Dr. Craig Rotter graduated from Texas A&M University in August 1992 with a BBA in Business Administration. Coming from the small town of Poth (yes, it rhymes with “both”), and graduating in a high school class of 43, College Station was one of the largest places he had ever seen.

Rotter worked in retail bank management at Frost Bank in San Antonio until 1995, when he moved back to College Station, to earn three more degrees: a BS in Agricultural Economics in 1996, an M.ED in Agricultural Leadership Education in 1998, and a Ph. D. in Agricultural Leadership Education in 2004.

Starting in 2001, Dr. Rotter worked in Student Affairs (Department of Residence Life – Texas A&M University), directing student leadership development programs as Coordinator of Leadership Education until 2004, serving as Coordinator of Residence Life until 2012, and Assistant Director for Academic Support Initiatives until March 2019.

In 2005, Rotter returned to teaching leadership education in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications at Texas A&M University through the Leadership Living Learning Community (L3C), an award-winning high-impact learning experience for first-year college students through May 2018. Rotter taught 80-160 students in ALED 202, the introductory course for students seeking a degree in leadership education from 2017-2019. He also has served on the Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Development Council since 2013.

In 2018, Rotter was named Executive Director of Texas Rural Leadership Program (TRLP). TRLP is a program within Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and has maintained 501(c)3 status. Its mission is to create positive change through the delivery of engaging and effective adult leadership and community development programs in rural Texas and for underserved communities. Traveling across rural Texas and doing all he can to build a better future for rural Texans has been the next big journey for this homegrown leadership educator.

Mr. Tiemann earned his undergraduate degree in Agricultural Science from Texas A&M University and his Master’s Degree in Education from Abilene Christian University

Tiemann taught agricultural science at Roscoe High School for six years. He also held positions as Director of Early College High School of Roscoe Independent School District, Grant Manager, and STEM Director for Roscoe Independent School District

Mr. Tiemann also oversaw the Roscoe Collegiate High School, building relationships with local businesses and industries to provide students with opportunities for internships and job-shadowing activities.

His work includes managing a cumulative total of over $700,000 in grant funds. Tiemann currently serves as a sales executive for an agricultural company.

Dr. Cynthia Ann Miller is an independent consultant in talent and workforce development. She serves in an intermediary role to facilitate collaborative community initiatives supporting college and career readiness, workforce preparation, and economic development. Cynthia earned her Ph. D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at Arlington in October 2014. She also holds a B. A. in French and an M.B.A. in Human Resources.

From 2001 to 2017, Cynthia directed workforce and talent development initiatives at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. She collaborated with business, education, government, and community colleagues in the 16-county North Texas region to address issues of workforce supply and demand. Cynthia played a key role in writing grants, securing more than $2 million in funding for talent development initiatives.

Cynthia began her business career at Bechtel Corporation in San Francisco, California. She directed Bechtel’s company-wide Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action function prior to joining Bank of America in California in 1984. Upon the Bank of America’s entry into Texas in 1993, the bank moved Cynthia to Texas to launch a cause-related marketing campaign to align the bank with education. She directed the Bank of America Foundation for Texas, placing $5.5 million annually in education, community development, health and human services, and arts and cultural charitable grants.

Cynthia has served on nonprofit boards and advisory groups in California, Texas, Washington, D.C., and New York. She has been active in partnership work with the Texas Association of School Administrators for many years and served on their Texas Leadership Center Board of Directors from 2014-2019.

Cynthia is an accomplished pianist. In recent years she has had more time to teach piano lessons, perform for events, and volunteer for community and charity gatherings.

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.

Marsha Alexander grew up on a farm 20 miles south of Sweetwater, Texas, and has been a co-owner and partner with her husband Dr. Kim Alexander in their farming and ranching business since 1976. They have two children Roddy Alexander and Kari Su Olcese. Roddy manages the farm and ranch operation in Roscoe and Kari Su is a Speech Pathologist in El Paso, Texas.

Mrs. Alexander received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Angelo State University in 1976 and her Master of Education degree in Guidance and Counseling from Abilene Christian University in 1986. Upon completion of her degree from Angelo State University, Mrs. Alexander began her first job in banking as a mortgage loan officer and remained in that position from 1976 – December 1980. She began her education career at Roscoe High School as a math and business teacher in January 1981. In 1986, she became the Guidance Counselor for the district and in 2010 was named the Dean of Academic Affairs at Roscoe Collegiate ISD. In her role as Dean of Academic Affairs she was the chief liaison between the district and higher education partners, created and implemented degree plans for students, not only for high school completion but also the Associate’s degree, industry-recognized certifications, and entrance into four-year universities and/or the workforce, and was over the creation of the master schedule, as well as, overseeing the implementation of curriculum standards.

Currently, she serves as Chief Operations Officer of Collegiate Edu-Nation.

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.

Dr. Nelson Coulter has held a lot of titles: rancher, educator, author, musician, entrepreneur, coach, mentor, consultant, and professor. He has coached, taught, and been published in many settings.

As a first-generation college completer, Coulter earned a BS degree from Angelo State University in 1980, a MA degree from Sul Ross State University in 1998, and an EdD. in Educational Leadership from Texas Tech University in 2006.

Coulter has served in public schools of all shapes, sizes, and contexts. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at Louisiana State University – Shreveport.

However, his most cherished titles are those not attached to career identity: son, husband, dad, and granddad.

Nina Jones is a Certified Public Accountant and is the President/CEO of Nina Jones CPA PLLC. Her firm’s mission is to outsource Chief Financial Officer (CFO) functions to small business (for profit & nonprofit) that do not need a full-time CFO. Her list of clients she serves ranges from entertainment, sports, and nonprofit industries, and has been in the accounting industry for over 30 years.

Nina began her career with nonprofits at the age of 20 where she was the Office Manager for the Airport Area YMCA. At the YMCA Nina oversaw a staff of 3, trained and received certification as a lifeguard, and taught swimming lessons and aerobics. But eventually became the first in-house Director of Finance for The Urban Alternative (a worldwide outreach of Dr. Tony Evans) by the age of 30. Being TUA’s first in-house Director, Nina developed all the policies & procedures for the organization, oversaw a staff of 5 and managed to reduce the outside auditors’ time from 2 weeks to 3 days on-site. Nina’s last position in corporate America was the Chief Financial Officer for Goodwill Industries of Dallas where she managed a staff of 10 with an organizational budget of $20 million in revenue and over $50 million in assets. As Goodwill’s CFO, Nina was over Finance/Accounting, IT, Human Resources and the Work Injury Program.

Nina is an active member of her church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and for 12 years she was the Commander of the AWANA program for kids from ages of 3 years old through the 6th grade. She managed a volunteer workforce of over 60 individuals that taught kids scripture and participated in local competitions where the kids excelled in many of those Bible competitions.

During this time, Nina’s CPA firm was growing, and in 2014 Nina left corporate America to focus on her firm full-time. As stated above, her firm works with various clients and industries which affords her firm the diversity to handle not only finance/accounting matters but also be involved in risk management, investments, legal, human resources, taxes, budgeting, strategic planning, and IT.

Nina has also taught Accounting courses for For Profit and Nonprofit businesses at the University of Texas at Arlington Continuing Education department. She has also assisted Intuit Software company in helping many individuals and small businesses in the preparation of their tax returns.

Nina graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Business Administration specializing in Accounting, a Master of Business Administration from Dallas Baptist University, and has her Certified Public Accountancy license. Nina is a member of the American Institute of Public Accountants, a deaconess at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, and sits on the board of the Oak Cliff Christian Federal Credit Union, Downtown Arlington Management Group, and the Levitt Pavilion in Arlington.

Dr. Dromgoole began his career with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in 1984 and has held numerous positions with the agency. He spent 13 years as a County Extension Agent-Agriculture in Victoria, Crosby, Calhoun and Collin counties. In 1997, Dr. Dromgoole was promoted to District Extension Director – Agriculture in Extension District 10 in Uvalde Texas. In 2002, Dr. Dromgoole assumed the position of District Extension Administrator in Extension District 11 in Corpus Christi. In 2007, he assumed the Regional Program Director for Agriculture position in the North Region. From 2008-2014 Dr. Dromgoole served as Associate Director for County Operations. In 2014 Dr. Dromgoole left the administrative ranks to assume a position as an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

Dr. Dromgoole received his EdD in Agriculture Education from Texas A&M and Texas Tech Universities. He also holds an MS in Agriculture Education from Texas Tech University and a BS degree in Agriculture Economics from Texas A&M University.

Dr. Dromgoole’s area of focus during his 36-year career is the design and implementation of innovative educational programs for both youth and adult audiences that result in positive community change. He is the author of a number of Extension publications and provides weekly educational content to Extension educators related to program development.

Dr. Dromgoole has been honored during his career with numerous awards including two Superior Service Awards from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and was twice honored with the Vice Chancellor Award in Excellence.

Dr. Dromgoole is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Alpha Zeta Honor Fraternity, and Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension Professional’s society.

Dr. Susan Ruiz-Grove grew up in a small rural town in Northwest Indiana and lived there with her family until she graduated high school. As a first-generation college student, Susan attended Purdue University to earn her undergraduate degree in Political Science. Shortly after college graduation, she married her husband, Joseph Grove, who was a member of the US Navy. After eight years of military service, Susan, her husband, and her children decided to relocate to the Dallas area to be close to family.

In 2011, Susan earned her master’s degree in Management from Texas A&M University-Commerce. Then in 2019, she earned her Ph. D. in Human Resource Development from the University of Texas at Tyler. Susan has over 16 years of experience in the field of higher education. Most recently, she served as the Associate Dean of Student Services, and prior to this position, she was the Grant Manager for two federally funded programs.

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.

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.

Dan Boren was born and raised south of Detroit, Michigan. The son of a Ford Motor Company supervisor, Dan learned from his father a love for understanding how things work. After receiving his associate’s degree at Rochester College in Rochester Hills, Michigan, he moved to the southeastern United States to earn his bachelor’s degree at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.

While teaching at Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, GA, Dan began his master’s degree in teaching physics at Georgia State University. In 1997 he completed his degree at Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, Michigan. In 2007, Dan made his way to Roscoe, Texas, when he accepted a ministerial position after having completed a master’s in Christian ministry. While serving as the pulpit minister at the Roscoe church of Christ, Dan began teaching again as a part-time instructor at the newly designated Collegiate school in Roscoe. That part-time position developed into a full-time position as an adjunct College Physics instructor, First Robotics coach, Director of Engineering, and Director of Edu Make-it, a student-run business that offered internships for students in the engineering pathway. The First Robotics Competition team he helped create was considered by some in the First Robotics organization as the “Model” of how to have a competitive FRC team in a small rural district.

In 2019, at the beginning of the pandemic, Dan received a call from his nephew who is in Human Resources at local hospital, asking if “Roscoe would be able to print some N-95 level masks in their Edu Make-it shop.” After finding a file of a newly created design at the Medical University of South Carolina, Dan’s team of students created a prototype that passed a FIT test by a certified Respiratory Therapist. The masks efficacy led to more that 750 masks and 1500 filter cartridges being 3D printed and distributed to 5 local hospitals in four different counties in West Texas.

In 2021, Dan and his wife Shannon relocated to Lubbock, Texas, for family reasons. Dan joined the staff at Hale Center High School and started dual-enrollment courses in physics and astronomy. He also started a successful First Technical Challenge (FTC) robotics team. He concluded his 32-year teaching career having spent 28 of those years in rural STEM education.

Dan knows first-hand the impact and importance of the P-20 Collegiate Model. All four of his children graduated from Roscoe Collegiate and have benefited from the opportunities that were presented to them during their experience there.

Kendall Guynes serves as CEN’s Finance Director, bringing a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to our mission. She previously held the role of AmeriCorps Program Director during the 22-23 academic year, overseeing the placement of service members within network districts to bolster the implementation of the CEN model.

Kendall’s personal journey as a first-generation college graduate informs her dedication to our work. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, specializing in Finance, from the University of Arizona in 2006. After relocating to Snyder, Texas in 2007, Kendall earned her teaching credentials and began her career in Snyder ISD. Her passion for education led her to earn a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Abilene Christian University in 2011.

Kendall’s professional path seamlessly blended her finance background with her love for public education. She progressed from a classroom educator to a campus administrator and eventually transitioned into district administration, where she worked in the Business Office. This unique background equips Kendall with a profound understanding of the distinct challenges that rural communities face when it comes to providing quality education and preparing students for meaningful roles within their communities.

In addition to her extensive experience in education, Kendall’s perspective is enriched by her experience as a business owner. Her holistic understanding of rural communities, paired with her belief in CEN’s mission and methodologies, fuels her dedication to improving student outcomes and breaking the cycle of generational poverty.

Kendall is currently pursuing her MBA in Finance at Louisiana State University at Shreveport and is expected to graduate in December 2023. Her blend of educational expertise, financial acumen, and firsthand knowledge of rural communities make her a valuable asset to the Collegiate Edu-Nation team, driving our commitment to enhancing opportunities for all students.

Kelly Springfield comes to CEN with a desire to ensure all students are given the support, encouragement, and guidance to graduate high school with an industry certification and/or associate degree. Growing up in a missionary family, Kelly saw first-hand the levels of poverty in other countries that stem from the lack of education and opportunity. Thus, she is motivated to work with rural students and make sure they are provided ample opportunity to lift themselves out of the poverty cycle that exists in many of their communities. Kelly earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Sul Ross State University.

Her desire was to enter the world of politics and she served as a legislative assistant and campaign treasurer for Representative Pete P. Gallego before switching her focus to education. Throughout her diverse teaching career, Kelly has taught in districts in west, central and south Texas where she taught all core subjects, coached multiple sports, served as an academic coach, taught dyslexia classes, and served as the program director for an Early College High School. She also served as a counselor after completing her Master of Education in School Counseling. In addition to serving in public education, Kelly has worked in the realm of non-profit through Educate Texas where she was a Leadership Coach for the CCRSM campuses in the west Texas area.

Kelly uses her knowledge as a classroom teacher, counselor, and CCRSM coach to provide support and guidance to teachers and administrators in the CEN network to ensure that districts are providing the necessary resources for ALL students to break the poverty cycle.

Tracy Rickerson joined CEN as a Math Specialist, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to support educators and administrators in their professional development endeavors. Her role encompasses a diverse array of responsibilities, including curriculum enhancement, pedagogical strategies, the latest educational trends, and data analysis. Additionally, Tracy plays a crucial role in lesson and unit planning, further enriching the educational experience for students.

Tracy boasts an impressive 17-year tenure in the field of education, having dedicated her service to communities in Odessa, Midland, and Sweetwater. Her journey began in the classroom, where she spent a decade as a math teacher, imparting knowledge to students ranging from 8th grade mathematics to pre-calculus. Her dedication to student success led her to a new path, with 3 ½ years as a secondary counselor, followed by 3 ½ years as an assistant principal. This diverse background equips her with a unique perspective on the educational landscape.

Tracy’s academic foundation is solidified by her degree from The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Mathematics and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership. Additionally, Tracy is certified in counseling, adding another layer of support and expertise to her skillset. Looking ahead, she is set to embark on a doctoral program in the near future, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to professional growth and excellence.

A proud native of Odessa, Tracy currently resides in Midland, reinforcing her deep-rooted connection to the West Texas region. Her passion and dedication revolve around equipping teachers and administrators with the tools and knowledge essential to provide exceptional instruction to students in rural communities.

Tracy Rickerson’s extensive background and commitment make her an invaluable asset in our ongoing pursuit of educational excellence. We are fortunate to have her on our team, and her contributions will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the educational landscape in our region.

Kimberly Mouser is a dedicated educator with over 30 years of experience in the Texas public school system, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to student and teacher development. Her career highlights include roles as a teacher in grades 6-12 and as a college adjunct instructor, AVID campus coordinator, instructional coach, and administrator in various school settings. Kimberly has been instrumental in implementing and managing two STEM academies, showcasing her skills in instructional coaching and academy model design. As a National Board Certified Teacher and NBCT Candidate Support Provider, Kimberly’s dedication extends beyond classroom teaching to mentoring and supporting educators, reinforcing her commitment to educational excellence and innovation. She joins Collegiate Edu-Nation as an Instructional Coach, bringing her extensive expertise to assist rural school districts on their path to P-20 transformation. She is a graduate of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas, where her love and dedication as an educator was instilled. Kimberly is deeply committed to fostering educational excellence, supporting educators, and enhancing student learning experiences in rural communities.

Katie Daugherty joins CEN as the AmeriCorps Program Coordinator, which will allow CEN to build prosperous relationships within school districts by placing members on site to support the implementation of the CEN model.Katie grew up in the “snowbelt” of the North, in a small town near Cleveland, Ohio where her love of the outdoors and agriculture began. She was very involved with her county 4-H program, raising just about every type of livestock animal her parents would let her have, as well as the camping program and many leadership clubs. This led her to pursue her passion for youth and community development to the mountains of West Virginia where she achieved her Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural & Extension Education, followed by her Master’s degree in Agriculture, Natural Resources & Design at West Virginia University. For her Master’s project, she completed a study on early college high school programs, inspired by her graduate assistant duties to research and collaborate with the West Virginia P-20 program team. Coincidently, because of the first CEN district started in Roscoe, Texas.Katie has been a 4-H Program Assistant in Pennsylvania, a Program Manager at a camp in central Texas, an Outdoor Educator / Adventure Guide in central Texas, and now is thrilled to be the new AmeriCorps Program Coordinator for CEN. As a lifelong learner and advocate for agriculture, her experiences have prepared her to share her passion for education to rural communities far and wide.

Camden Boren was raised in Roscoe, Texas, where he graduated from Roscoe Collegiate High School and Western Texas College with both a high school diploma and an AA. While there, he was also able to participate in student-directed research and accrue nearly a decade of competitive robotics experience. Both of these opportunities greatly benefited him while he completed a double BS in Computer Engineering and Mathematics at the University of Texas at Dallas, where he developed formal expertise in subfields ranging from circuit design and software development to machine learning and data analysis. He seeks to combine this technical background with a familiarity with rural areas to help students explore and excel in STEM fields they may otherwise have limited exposure and access to.

Dr. Frances Perez received her doctorate degree from Texas A&M University at Kingsville in Educational Administration and is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Academics at Freer ISD.  Dr. Perez has over 23 years of varied experience in education to include Early Childhood Director, Teacher, Principal, DAEP Administrator, Teacher Incentive Allotment Coordinator, Curriculum & Instruction Director, Chief Academic Officer, and Adjunct Professor.  Additionally, growing up in a rural setting fuels her passion for rural schools-she has been at Freer ISD for twenty years. 

Dr. Chantel Schulz, is a long-time resident of Woodsboro, Texas along with her four children; Jaxyn, Tynzli, Pyper, and Chandler.

Dr. Schulz began her career in education as a 7th grade Texas History teacher for Alice ISD where she taught for two years before moving on to teach 5th grade American History and Language Arts for Goliad ISD for four years. She then transitioned into university education and served in various roles including, Education Specialist for the Texas State Aquarium, Literacy Specialist for the Corpus Christi Literacy Council, and Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant for Texas A&M University -Corpus Christi where she oversaw the TAMUCC College of Education Master’s level capstone projects. Dr. Schulz then served as the College, Career, and Military Readiness and CTE Coordinator at Woodsboro High School for three and a half years and the Assistant Principal for two years where she established the seven CTE Programs of Study that WHS offers.

Dr. Schulz attended Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in History (2005), Master of Science in Educational Administration (2009), and a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum & Instruction with several areas of specialization including; Curricular Studies, Educational Leadership, Research Methods, and Educational Technology & Instructional Design (2016).  She also holds a Texas Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent certification.

To complete her PhD, Dr. Schulz competed and in-depth study of Career and Technical Education programs across the state of Texas from Brownsville to San Antonio that included Education Service Center Regions 1,2,3,& 20 and published her findings in her dissertation titled, “Dual Credit and Certification Programs in High School Career and Technical Education: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Inquiry”.  She has presented her research and findings at several conferences across the state of Texas and was awarded the 2017 SERA Dean’s Award for Exceptional Graduate Student Research and the Texas A&M Award for Outstanding Doctoral Presentation.

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.

Katy Cade, a native of rural Texas, has dedicated her career to serving students and educators in various capacities, with a strong foundation in both academic and administrative spheres. Her extensive experience includes teaching math and science for grades 6-8 and serving as a campus principal and assistant principal in districts of varying sizes. Katy’s passion for supporting the needs of students and teachers in rural communities aligns perfectly with CEN’s mission.

Victor has dedicated his career to the field of higher education, drawing upon both his own academic background and professional experience to make a meaningful impact. With a strong foundation in college education and further studies, Victor has cultivated a deep understanding of the educational landscape. His career has been marked by roles that emphasize student success and holistic development, with a particular focus on supporting underserved populations. Victor’s commitment to equitable education and empowering students from diverse backgrounds has driven him to continuously advocate for accessible, quality education, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Angela comes to CEN with a passion for encouraging and supporting rural adult students and success coaches through their higher education journeys. She has an honest desire to help others reach their full potential as they aspire to reach new heights in their education.  As a first generation college student, and then a later returning student juggling a family with four young children, a job and all the challenges rural life presents, she knows the challenges students face when working towards furthering their education as an adult.  She grew up in Southeast Texas in a family whose entrepreneurial roots run deep and along the way was able to blend her love for business and education by completing secondary certification for teaching. She has been an educator for the last 13 years. She taught high school Business Technology courses and was the Career Preparation coordinator in the public sector; she  has also worked in the homeschool arena.

Angela graduated from Lamar Institute of Technology with an Associates degree in Business Computer Information Systems specializing in accounting and graduated from University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science in Management.

Over the last 30 years, Angela has owned and operated multiple businesses in different industries. Her family still currently owns a local business which brings experience and understanding about what current skills employers need in today’s workforce.  Angela’s entrepreneurial background has also helped her understand the importance of community support and involvement in building successful and obtainable pathways for higher education.

Angela has a servant’s heart for helping others become the best version of themselves and loves being on the sidelines to cheer them on and support them through to completion. She is excited to work one on one with local businesses and area leaders as they join forces to help all rural students have access to higher education and the resources necessary to complete certifications, apprenticeships, degrees and more through the efforts of CEN.