UT Elementary

UT Elementary

Teaching to the Spirit of Every Child

The University of Texas Elementary School Governing and Management Boards

The Sponsoring Entity and Charter Holder of the University of Texas Elementary School (UTES) is The University of Texas at Austin. The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System is the Governing Body for UTES. The members of the Board of Regents are listed here.

Responsibility for oversight and supervision of the charter school has been delegated from the President to the Dean of the College of Education.

Members of the Management Board

  • Bill Lasher, Ph.D.- Chair
  • Kathy Armenta, – Member
  • Laura Estep, Ph.D. – Member
  • Alexandra Eusebi, Ph.D. – Member
  • J.E. Johnson – Member
  • James Kallison, Ph.D. – Member
  • Jolie Kinyamahanga – Member
  • Eddie Lopez – Member
  • Yulanda McCarty-Harris, Ed.D., J.D. – Member
  • Starla Simmons – Member
  • Jennifer Smith, Ph.D. – Member
  • Katie Tackett, Ph.D. – Member
  • Laura Torres, Ph.D. – Member
  • Mark J. Williams – Member
  • Sarah Woulfin, Ph.D. – Member
  • Nicole Whetstone, Ph.D. Superintendent – Non-Voting
  • Melissa M. Chavez, Ph.D., Executive Director – Non-Voting

About the Management Board:

The Management Board of the University of Texas Elementary School is appointed by the President of the University of Texas at Austin to advise and make recommendations to the Dean of the College of Education on matters related to the management, operation, and accountability of UTES that include but are not limited to:

  • Implementation and evaluation of long and short term policy and programs of UTES to assure its continuous improvement and educational excellence;
  • The annual operating and capital budgets;
  • Recruitment and selection of Superintendent candidates; recommendation of finalists to the CEO;
  • Generation of Management Board nominees; recommendations of new Board appointees to the CEO;
  • Monthly monitoring of budgets to identify and explore significant variances;
  • Facility contracts, Student Information Guide, and the Student Code of Conduct;
  • The annual external audit of UTES financial statements;
  • Review and make recommendations concerning the annual report submitted to the President of The University of Texas at Austin;
  • Review parental grievances that the Superintendent is unable to resolve at the school level;
  • Review and/or make recommendations concerning any other reports or items required by state or federal law.

All members of the Management Board are expected to attend Management Board meetings. All members of the Management Board are required to participate in training as required by Chap. 100, Sec. 100.1102 of the Commissioner’s Rules.

UT Elementary Board Bylaws

UT Elementary School Bylaws Updated 10/2024

Board Meetings

The Management Board shall meet every other month unless the Management Board Chair, in consultation with the Superintendent, determines a meeting is unnecessary. Written notices of all meetings stating the date, place, agenda, and time shall be sent by UTES administrative staff to each member of the Board prior to such meetings. All Management Board meeting occurs at 8:30 am at The University of Texas Elementary School on the following dates:

  • August 26, 2025
  • October 28, 2025
  • January 20, 2026
  • March 24, 2026
  • April 28, 2026

Citizen Comment instructions:
Email requests to make comments to: rmicks@austin.utexas.edu no later than  11:00 AM on the day of the meeting.

Parent or Guardian Comments

In accordance with Education Code 26.0071, parents and guardians of enrolled students may submit comments or concerns to  campus administration for the board through the internet portal below.

Parent Portal Feedback Form

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas will be posted 72 hours prior to meetings as required by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code § 551.056(b). The only exception is for emergency meetings when notice must be posted not less than 2 hours prior to the meeting, Texas Government Code § 551.045.

In compliance with Senate Bill 413, draft minutes will be posted within 72 hours of the board meeting. Final minutes will be posted within 72 hours of board approval.

Past board meeting agendas and minutes are archived in The University of Texas Box and are available via this link.

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