About Texas PTA
Texas PTA Advisory Council
2009 Texas PTA Advisory Council Members
Larry Ascough
Public Relations Counsultant
Larry spent more than four decades managing communications for large public school systems in Texas and Illinois, as well as for the chief state school officers of New York and West Virginia. Although he’s officially retired twice, Larry stays busy working on projects and ideas he didn’t have time for in the 24/7/365 world of school PR.
Larry started in the school public relations business as an assistant in the publications office of the West Virginia State Department of Education. His last full-time assignment was as assistant superintendent of school/community relations in School District U-46, the second largest public school system in Illinois. During the 41years between, Larry directed public affairs for the New York State Department of Education and spent nearly three decades managing communications for the Dallas Public Schools, coincidentally Texas’ second largest system.
In a career that spans more than four decades, he has been widely recognized and cited for his work. A sociometric poll conducted by the PR Reporter newsletter named him one of America’s most respected PR practitioners.
Larry has served as a trainer, speaker and consultant throughout the country and Canada, and authored numerous articles, publications and audiovisual productions on school PR. He is a past president of the National School Public Relations Association and a recipient of NSPRA’s Presidents Award, the organization’s most prestigious honor for contributions to the profession. He also received NSPRA’s first Mentor Legacy Award for outstanding efforts in supporting professional development of colleagues.
A long-time supporter of PTA, Larry served as a board member of Texas PTA for eight years and a National PTA board member for two years. He is honored to be a life member of both Texas and National PTA.
His current passion is work on establishing a university-based center for the study of school public relations, as well as a PR service for school districts without public relations staff. Larry is also writing a book about the public relations role of school superintendents, and is reworking the first draft of a movie script about public education and PR.
He has also found time to continue promoting the value of public education as an active member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Texas Public Schools.
Larry is married to Kay Slater who he met in 11th grade English class. They have four grown children and recently (finally) became grandparents.
Jesus Honorio Chavez
Superintendent of Round Rock ISD
Jesus Honorio Chavez was born in Brownsville, Texas. In 1976, he entered Texas Southmost College in Brownsville, Texas, where he received an Associate of Arts degree in 1977. He attended The University of Texas at Austin in 1977-1978, and received the degree of Bachelor of Science with Highest Honors. He attended Pan American University, Brownsville, Texas and received a Masters of Education in August 1981. In June 1983, he registered at the University of Texas at Austin to pursue full time studies at the doctoral level. Dr. Chavez received his doctorate degree in May 1989.
Dr. Chavez was employed as a third grade teacher and school administrator in Brownsville ISD from 1979 to 1981. From 1981 to 1983 Dr. Chavez was Assistant Principal at Reynaldo Garza Elementary School in Brownsville. He was employed by the Round Rock Independent School District in January 1985 as a central office administrator, director, and assistant superintendent.
In 1995 Dr. Chavez was named Superintendent for Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District. The district was Recognized four years in a row, and 20 of 21 schools were designated as Recognized.
Dr. Chavez served as Superintendent of Schools for the Corpus Christi Independent School District in July 2001, then on February 1, 2006 was hired as Superintendent of the Round Rock Independent School.
Dr. Chavez believes that “Equity, Efficiency, and Excellence” are hallmarks of a successful partnership among families, staff, and patrons in any educational system. In his first year as Superintendent of Round Rock ISD, he will focus on creating exemplary schools where students come first.
Dr. Chavez has been married to Martha Ruth for 25 years. Dr. Chavez and his wife have two children, Jesse (20) and Jaime (11).
Robert Floyd
Executive Director, Texas Music Educators Association
Robert Floyd was selected as Executive Director of TMEA in September, 1992 and he assumed the position full-time in June, 1993. Prior to moving to Austin, he taught instrumental music at L.V.Berkner High School in the Richardson I.S.D. He is married to Melinda Floyd and they have a son, Michael and a daughter, Lauren. Robert’s hobbies include music, golf, travel and playing with his children.
Michelle Humphreys
Texas PTA Immediate Past President
Michelle Humphreys began her PTA career over twenty years ago as a Kindergarten mom. In that time, she has held numerous offices including Local, Council and District/Area President, Region IV Vice President, Texas PTA Treasurer, Second and First Vice President and Texas PTA President. She currently serves as President of Star Spangled PTA and serves on the National PTA Membership Committee. Her PTA knowledge and enthusiasm have helped her in presenting numerous workshops to PTA leaders.
Michelle and her husband Vernon have one daughter, Amanda. In her “spare” time, Michelle works as a corporate manager, and enjoys a variety of hobbies.
Dr. Rebecca Huston, MD, MPH
Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
Dr. Rebecca Huston is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) in the Division of General Pediatrics. She is the Medical Director of the Continuity Clinic in the Children’s Health Center, which is staffed by the General Pediatrics faculty and pediatric residents of the UTHSCSA. She is also the Medical Director of the Children’s Health Center’s Reach Out and Read Program which promotes early literacy by educating parents about the importance of reading to their young children. In addition, Dr. Huston is the Medical Director of the Childhood Feeding Program, a multidisciplinary clinic for infants and young children with feeding problems and/or failure-to-thrive. She is active in the Texas Pediatric Society and has been the Co-Chair of the Parenting Committee since 1999. She is married to John H. Huston, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Economics Department at Trinity University. She has two sons: Joseph, a freshman at Dartmouth College, and Jacob, a 7th grader at Hobby Middle School in the Northside Independent School District.
Education: BA from Carleton College, MD from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, Residency in Pediatrics from the UTHSCSA, Fellowship in General Pediatrics from the UTHSCSA, MPH from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, San Antonio Branch.
Dr. Karen Embry Jenlink
Dean of the School of Education, St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s University appointed Dr. Karen Embry Jenlink as appointed Dean of the School of Education, effective July 1, 2005. For over 25 years, Jenlink has served as a classroom teacher, university professor, administrator, school researcher, consultant, evaluator and curriculum specialist in public and private education in Texas schools and universities. She is inspired by “preparing teachers who will teach the next generation to lead America.” In her position as dean, she is interested in finding opportunities to attract bilingual students into teaching and to recruit minorities and underserved students into teaching, especially in mathematics and science.
Jenlink has been nationally recognized for her work in curriculum development and occupational research in science, education, and technology. She has equally strong participation in school-community partnerships. She has served in a variety of state offices, most notably as president of the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education. The winner of the Leadership Foundation in Education Award, Jenlink was recently also named a 2006 Leadership Fellow of the Association of Teacher Educators. In 2005, she was recognized as an Outstanding Alumnus of Texas A& M University (Commerce).
In addition to her work as associate editor of Teacher Education and Practice, Jenlink has authored two books and numerous chapters, articles, papers, and research reports. Her most recent book, Portraits of Teacher Preparation: Learning to Teach in a Changing America, examines the changing nature of teacher preparation in urban centers in the United States. Jenlink’s research agenda has also focused on international projects in England, Ireland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. She has been selected for grants totaling over $1.7 million for research including innovation and reform in public schools, higher education, and research and development in workforce and career education.
Jenlink holds an Ed.D in Supervision, Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University (Commerce). She holds a M.Ed. in Early Childhood from the University of Texas (Tyler) and a B.S. degree in Spanish / Elementary Education (dual major) and Biology (minor). She is married to Dr Patrick M. Jenlink and they have three daughters.
Pam Meyercord
Texas PTA Advisory Council Chairman and Texas PTA Past President
Pam Meyercord has been a PTA member for over twenty years. Meyercord was elected in June 2006 to serve a two-year term as Member Representative on the National PTA Board of Directors. She serves on the Convention-Elections Special Committee and is a Building Successful Partnerships Presenter and a Taking Charge of Your TV Presenter.
Meyercord served as president of Texas PTA (2004-2006). She also served as First Vice President, Second Vice President, Regional Vice President and Youth Protection Chairman.
She previously served as president of the Dallas ISD Council of PTAs and served in many capacities in her local PTA units. Meyercord is an experienced presenter of PTA programs and leadership workshops. She is an Honorary Life Member of National PTA and Texas PTA and has received the Texas Extended Service Award.
Meyercord and her husband, David, have three children.
Leslie Milder
Co-Founder, Friends of Texas Public Schools
Leslie and Scott Milder are the founders of Friends of Texas Public Schools, a nonprofit organization committed to educating Texans about the strengths and achievements of Texas public schools… and there are plenty!
As a school teacher herself, Leslie spent the better part of 10 years in the classroom and is quick to say “I was tired of getting picked on” when asked why they founded this organization. “It’s demoralizing to work hard and witness student achievement every day, only to come home to false or misleading news reports about the failures of our public schools. Our schools are not failing and I resent the harsh criticism, mostly leveled by people who have no formal connection or accurate understanding of public education.”
Earning her bachelor’s degree in education from Texas A&M Commerce in 1992, Leslie taught U.S. government and geography for the Mesquite Independent School District and the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District. In 2005 Leslie put her teaching career on hold to serve Mesquite ISD as a consultant to help struggling teachers find their way, and to hit the road motivating educators across the state to stand up as ambassadors for themselves, their campuses, their districts and their profession.
Leslie serves on the Advisory Board for Texas PTA and as a board member of the Rockwall ISD Education Foundation.
The Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) recently honored Leslie and Scott as its 2007 Key Communicators for their efforts to correct the widespread misperceptions of failure about our schools. They were also the recipients of the 2008 ATPE Judy Coyle Texas Liberty Award, the 2007 Texas ASCD Elder Award, and the 2010 TACS Lifetime Membership Award.
Leslie and Scott live in Rockwall and have three children. Their oldest two, Thomas and Grace, are in third grade and second grade in Rockwall ISD. Their youngest child Mandy is three years old.
Diane Pierce
Texas PTA Past President
Diane Pierce served as Texas PTA President from 2000-2002 after serving in numerous capacities on the Texas PTA Board of Directors since 1988. As Parent Education Chairman she worked with the Texas Education Agency in developing the first Parent Involvement Manual which was distributed state wide to parents and agencies working with parents. It was also used by several universities as a tool for equipping future teachers and principals in parent involvement skills.
Diane is currently serving as Chairman of the National PTA Nominating and Leadership Development Committee as she finishes her three year term on the committee in charge of identifying and developing future leaders for National PTA. She has also served on the National PTA Board of Directors, National Council of States, Membership Committee, Convention Committee, and Strategic Planning Committee.
Diane has owned Diane Pierce Consulting since 1995. She does training seminars and workshops as well as working with companies in staffing their businesses. Prior to opening her own business Diane worked with a national temporary staffing company as their marketing representative and then as their Director of Personnel.
Her community involvement includes the Junior League of Lubbock, The Symphony Guild, The Lubbock Women’s Club, Texas Tech Chancellor’s Council, Red Raider Club and First Baptist Church.
Special honors include Texas PTA Life Membership, National PTA Life Membership, Texas PTA Extended Service Award, Women in Communication Headliner of the Year.
Diane has been happily married to De for 43 years. They have three sons and three grandchildren.
Patricia H. Smith
Executive Director, Texas Library Association
n July 2008, Patricia H. (Pat) Smith celebrated her 21st anniversary as executive director of the Texas Library Association, a not-for-profit organization consisting of more than 7,300 librarians and library supporters.
She is serving a second term as a vice-chairman of the Texas Society of Association Executives. In 2007, she was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau and currently serves a three-year term on the Customer Advisory Board for Fort Worth. She has served previously on the Customer Advisory Boards for the cities of Dallas and San Antonio.
Smith was elected to the American Library Association’s 12-member Executive Board from 1995 to 1999 and was re-elected for another term in 2005. Since the early 1980’s, she has won election six times to the ALA Council, the policy-making body. She has chaired ALA’s Committee on Legislation and ALA’s budget and finance committee.
Patricia Smith, whose family is from Richardson, received a B.A. from Austin College and a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She and her husband, David, have one newly-married daughter, Kathryn, who is a medical resident in Washington, D.C.
Karen Strong
Associate Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Texas Association of School Boards
Karen Strong is Associate Executive Director for Communications for the Texas Association of School Boards, a position she has held for 18 years.
She is a tireless advocate for public schools and works with school districts on a wide array of communications issues. She is married and has two grown children.
Jeff Thomas
Senior Vice President and General Manager, H-E-B Central Texas Region
Jeff Thomas is Sr. Vice President and General Manager of the Central Texas Region of H-E-B, which includes 65 stores throughout Central Texas; south to San Marcos and north to Waxahachie; east to Bastrop and west to Kingsland; as well as the cities of Austin and Waco. These 65 stores represent over $3 billion in sales and employ over 12,000 partners. Jeff’s umbrella of leadership also includes other important areas of the business such as Real Estate, Marketing, Public Affairs, Loss Prevention, Human Resources, and Facilities.
Jeff began his career in 1975 as a courtesy clerk while attending high school. During his 30 years with H-E-B he has held a variety of leadership positions throughout Texas in operational and administrative roles. He was General Manager for the first Central Market operation in San Antonio and eventually led the entry into the Dallas/Fort Worth market. He also served as Administrative Assistant to the Chief Operating Office.
Jeff spent eight years as Sr. Vice President and General Manager for the South Texas Region, which included 72 stores in the Coastal Bend area and south to the border.
In January 2005 Jeff moved his wife Angie and their three children to Austin. Jeff has embraced the Austin lifestyle and enjoys all of the amenities that Austin has to offer. He serves as a board member for the Capital Area United Way, the Hill Country Conservancy Stewardship Council, the Texas State Aquarium, and most currently with Camp Coca-Cola.
Jeff graduated with a BBA in marketing and management from the University of Texas - San Antonio and the University of Southern California with an MBA. He continued his education with the Harvard Business School in the General Manager program.
David VanDelinder, CPCU, AAI
Executive Director, Independent Insurance Agents of Texas
David was appointed Executive Director of Independent Insurance Agents of Texas in 2002, after serving for twenty years as the organization’s Director of Education. He joined IIAT in 1982, after serving as Education Director of the IIA of North Carolina for six years.
David grew up in West Virginia, and graduated from Wake Forest University in North Carolina. He received his CPCU designation in 1983 and his AAI in 1986.
David was the first chairman of the IIABA Education Directors’ Task Force, and has served on the National Education Committee twice. He has been recognized twice with Presidential Citations for his work with IIABA. In the late 1980’s he served on the Board of Ethical Inquiry for the American Institute For Property and Liability Underwriters. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the national InVest program, a secondary school curriculum that teaches insurance and insurance agency management. David completed a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the national Trusted Choice branding program sponsored by IIABA.