August 7, 2007

News Release

Tyler ISD Foundation Announces

2007-2008 Board of Directors

The upcoming academic year will bring changes with the Tyler ISD Foundation Board of Directors as new officers, new directors as well as returning directors begin their terms of office, according to Larry Goddard, Executive Director of the school district’s non-profit supporting organization.

“Last year, we experienced tremendous increases in community support for the Tyler Independent School District through charitable donations to the Foundation.  The Board creates relationships in the community which provide contributions to help our public school system, its teachers and staff, and the students and families in the community,” Goddard said.

Thirteen newly elected Directors will join eighteen of the returning Directors to comprise the Tyler ISD Foundation Board of Directors for the academic year.

Mike Thomas, CPA with Bailes and Company, P.C., will begin his second term as President of the Board of Directors.  During Thomas’ tenure as President, the Foundation restructured its organization and redesigned its mission in relation as a development board.

“The TISD Foundation looks forward to taking another step forward this year in helping our school district provide the exemplary education our students deserve,” stated Thomas.  “We have seen the dedication the teachers and administrators have toward the students in this district, and we at the Foundation believe that with the help of the community, TISD will be the district everyone in the state will look to as the example for what is right in public education.”

Dawn Franks, Program Officer for Fourth Partner Foundation, will serve as her second consecutive term as Vice President-Governance.  In this position, Mrs. Franks will oversee policy, procedures, goals and plans for the Foundation. 

Ross Conner, President of Conner Communities, Inc., will serve as Vice President-Development and he will oversee the Foundation’s annual fund drive.  The drive, which will kick off in October is a three month solicitation campaign named the “I Love Tyler ISD Campaign.”  Last year, the drive raised more than $200,000 in support of the programs of the Tyler ISD Foundation.

Larry Bolton, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Austin Bank, Texas NA, will serve as Treasurer and chair the finance committee.

Lynette Birdsong, Office Administrator for Birdsong and Armstrong Law Firm, will serve as Secretary for the 2007-2008 academic year.

Executive Committee Directors At Large will include:

Kathey Comer, Executive Director of the Tyler Area Builders Association.  Comer is responsible for membership of the Foundation Board.

Tom Slack, CEO, Vice President of Managed Care, HealthFirst TPA., East Texas Medical Center.  Slack has been the chair of the Gil Hitt Memorial Golf Tournament which is the largest single day fund raising event for the Foundation.

Returning Directors include:

Tab Beall, Attorney, Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott, LLP;

Dr. Lou Ann Berman, Assistant Vice President for Student Success, The University of Texas at Tyler;

Betty Bower, retired journalist/marketing and advertising (college and high school faculty);

Dr. Jack Davidson, Life Loyal Director, retired Tyler ISD Superintendent;

Gary Howell, President, Hibbs Hallmark and Company;

Doug Hunsley, Director of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, TRANE;

Phil Hurley, President and General Manager, CBS 19 KYTX, Max Media of Texas;

Felicity Reedy, President, The Genecov Group;

Mary Lynn Smith, Community Volunteer;

Lonny Uzzell, Executive Vice President, Southside Bank;

Ron Vickery, Attorney, Ramey and Flock, PC, Tyler ISD Board of Trustees representative.

Incoming Directors serving first terms include:

Blake Armstrong, Attorney, Birdsong and Armstrong, P.C.;

Jason Balser, Owner, Balser Homes;

Bill Coates, Sports Anchor/Account Executive, Gleiser Communications, LLC;

Paul Fisher, Business Leader, Tyler Operations, TRANE;

Dr. Gary Gross, M.D., Owner, Blood and Cancer Center of East Texas;

Catherine Harrison, Community and Campus Volunteer;

Chris Jones, Branch Manager, East Texas Professional Credit Union;

Micheal Lavender, Officer Commercial Relationships, Capital One Bank;

Mark McDaniel, Deputy City Manager, City of Tyler;

Dr. Randy Reid, Superintendent, Tyler ISD;

Carroll Roge, Corporate Director of Marketing, ETMC Regional Healthcare System

Kristen Seeber, Community and Campus Volunteer;

Ed Wallace, Real Estate Manager/Community Volunteer

Two retiring board directors, Nancy Wrenn, Executive Director of the Tyler Symphony Orchestra, and Bob Evans, Administrator/CEO of ETMC, will be honored at the Foundation’s Kickoff Luncheon in October.  Both served nine consecutive years.

The Tyler ISD Foundation was created in 1990 to provide funding resources in support of Tyler’s public school system.  The Foundation provides a grant program for individual teachers, teams of teachers, campuses, and district wide proposals. 

Also, the Foundation is responsible for the funding of special events in the district such as the Convocation (beginning of school year session for all Tyler ISD employees), the Teacher of the Year banquet, A Night of Shining Stars (academic recognition for top graduates of Tyler ISD) and other programs. 

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