Gov. Perry Appoints Five to State Board for Educator Certification

Office of the Governor • Austin, Texas
Monday, May 16, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed five members to the State Board for Educator Certification. The board develops certification, continuing education requirements and standards of conduct for public school teachers.

Curtis Culwell of Garland is superintendent of the Garland Independent School District. He is a member and past chairman of the University Interscholastic League Legislative Council, a member of the American and Texas associations of School Administrators, and the Select Committee on Public School Finance Weights, Allotments and Adjustments. He is also past president of the Texas School Alliance, a past member of the Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform, and a volunteer for the March of Dimes and United Way of Dallas County. Culwell received a bachelor's degree from Sam Houston State University, and a master's degree and doctorate degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University at Commerce. He is reappointed for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2017.

Kathryn Everest of Arlington is director of guidance and counseling for the Fort Worth Independent School District. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and American School Counselor Association, and a member and immediate past director of the Texas Association of Counselor Education and Supervision. She is also co-founder and co-coordinator of the Tarrant County Trauma Response Team in Schools, past vice president of the Texas School Counseling Association, and a past board member of the Texas Counseling Association. Everest received a bachelor's degree, a master's degree in educational counseling, and an educational administrator certification from the University of North Texas. She is appointed for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2015.

Suzanne McCall of Lubbock is an elementary school teacher in the Slaton Independent School District. She is president of the Slaton Classroom Teacher Association, director of District 17 of the Texas Classroom Teacher Association, and a sustaining member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She is also a past coach of the Slaton Little Dribblers and a past volunteer with the Lubbock Food Bank. McCall received a bachelor's degree from Texas Woman's University. She is appointed for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2017.
Christie Pogue of Buda is an editorial assistant for the Texas State University Armed Forces and Society Journal. She is a member of the American Society of Public Administrators, Hays Consolidated ISD Parent/Teacher Association, and Hays Consolidated ISD Athletic and Band Booster clubs. She is also a past trustee of the Texas Association of School Boards, past vice president of the Hays Consolidated ISD School Board, and a founder and past chair of the North Hays Leadership Council. Pogue received a bachelor's degree and is pursuing a master of public administration from Texas State University. She is reappointed for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2017.

Grant W. Simpson of Gainesville is dean and a professor at St. Edward's University School of Education. He is a member of the American and Texas associations of Colleges for Teacher Education, former chair of the Region 9 P-16 Council, and a past member of the Texas Professors of Educational Administration. Simpson received a bachelor's degree from Trinity College, a master's degree in special education from the University of Texas, and a doctorate of educational administration from Texas A&M University. He is reappointed for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2017.

These appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.