The UT Elementary Management Board held its first meeting on August 20, where it welcomed four new members:
Jolie Kinyamahanga is a parent of a first grader and a third grader at UT Elementary. She brings a parent voice to the Board.
Eddie Lopez is the Executive Director of the Texas Cowboys Alumni Association. The Texas Cowboys have been an active partner in supporting the school through volunteerism and philanthropy. A former music teacher, Eddie is a successful entrepreneur in the travel, tech, music, investment and non-profit areas.
Dr. Yulanda McCarty-Harris is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Educational Leadership and Policy Department of the UT College of Education. She is an accomplished and dedicated senior leader and attorney who has 21 years in the public/private sector, including 15 years in higher education.
Dr. Jennifer Smith is the Associate Co-Director for UTeach in the College of Natural Sciences. She is passionate about helping pre-service K-12 teachers learn to teach meaningful STEM content in innovative, student- and community-centered ways.
As a Texas public charter school, UT Elementary is required to have a board, which is responsible for ensuring a robust academic program and sound financial management. Due to its affiliation with “Big UT,” UT Elementary benefits from a board that counts many current and emeritus university faculty as members.
“School boards play an important role in the oversight and governance of school districts. We are excited about this year’s new crop of Board members, as they will bring fresh perspective and invaluable expertise,” says Dr. Bill Lasher, UT Elementary Board Chair and College of Education faculty emeritus.
The new Board members have already been hard at work doing their part to ensure a successful start to the new academic year. On September 6, they joined returning members for a day-long training and planning retreat. This gathering included hours of instruction on topics including school law and finance, health and safety, and public accountability – an integral part of the compliance required by the Texas Education Agency. The retreat also included hands-on break-out sessions for committees to set goals and strategies for areas critical to the school’s short-term and long-term success, including fundraising, safety plans, and five-year strategic visioning.
“I am thrilled to join such an illustrious group of leaders that are passionate about public education and want to give back. I hope to use my experience as a lawyer, professor, mother and community member to ensure that UT Elementary is successful for generations to come,” says Dr. McCarty-Harris.
To learn more about the UT Elementary Management Board, please visit our Board page.
