Commissioner of Education Mike Morath has announced that Leo Lopez will serve as Associate Commissioner and Chief School Finance Officer for the Texas Education Agency (TEA). As Chief School Finance Officer, Lopez will oversee the TEA’s divisions responsible for state funding, financial accountability and financial compliance, effective June 27.
Before returning to TEA, Lopez served as executive director of finance for the Austin Independent School District, where he assisted with management of the district's financial affairs and directed the operational functions of the Comptroller, Budget Office, Treasury, Risk Management and Medicaid Billing departments. He also oversaw the maintenance of the district’s $1.3 billion annual operating budget and the $150 million commercial paper program.
“Leo’s strong experience at one of Texas’ major school districts brings the agency tremendous financial insights that will make TEA of greater service to all school systems,” said Commissioner Morath.
Lopez began his career at TEA in 2002, working in the Financial Audits Division, where he audited student attendance submitted by school districts and charter schools. He then moved to the State Funding Division in 2004, where he primarily supported the administration of the charter school funding and state compensatory education programs.
In 2005, Lopez took over administration of the Chapter 41 wealth equalization program, and was later promoted to Foundation School Program (FSP) Operations Manager in 2006. In that role, he administered the annual distribution of more than $18.5 billion in state aid to local education agencies. He served in that capacity for six years, before joining the Austin ISD in 2012.
Lopez holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin, with a major in finance and a minor in accounting.
Additionally, Al McKenzie, currently the manager of the Foundation School Support unit, is being promoted to director of state funding. In his current job, McKenzie supervises FSP calculations and reports, as well as the facilities programs and the bond guarantee program. He has also served as manager of forecasting and fiscal analysis.
In his new job, McKenzie will supervise all state funding programs and functions including the Foundation School Program, summary of finances, Chapter 41 wealth equalization program, transportation, the bond guarantee program, state compensatory education, facilities funding and state assistance with districts’ debt service payments.
McKenzie holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand and master’s degree in experimental psychology from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.