Sen. Larry Taylor, chair of the Senate Education Committee, administered the oath of office to seven State Board of Education members who are beginning four-year terms of office. Returning members, who were re-elected in November, are Brownsville businessman Ruben Cortez, Jr.; San Antonio education administrator Marisa Perez-Diaz; Houston educator Lawrence Allen, Jr.; and retired Fort Worth educator Pat Hardy.
Members joining the board for the first time are Friendswood urologist Matt Robinson; Fairview businesswoman Pam Little; and Dallas educator Aicha Davis.
About half of the board is elected each general election cycle.
The board re-elected Marty Rowley of Amarillo as board vice chair and elected Georgina Pérez of El Paso as board secretary. The three officers then made the following committee assignments based on members’ preferences and seniority.
Committee on Instruction
Aicha Davis of Dallas
Pam Little of Fairview
Sue Melton-Malone of Robinson
Georgina Pérez of El Paso
Marty Rowley of Amarillo
Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund
Lawrence Allen Jr. of Houston
Donna Bahorich of Houston
Pat Hardy of Fort Worth
Tom Maynard of Florence
Ken Mercer of San Antonio
Committee on School Initiatives
Barbara Cargill of Conroe
Ruben Cortez of Brownsville
Keven Ellis of Lufkin
Marisa Perez-Diaz of San Antonio
Matt Robinson of Friendswood