Advisory Group

Advisory Group & LEA Focus Group
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The Texas Center for Student Supports Advisory Group was created to support the establishment and implementation of secure and supportive learning environments through the Student Support Framework that is tailored to meet the individual needs of each student, promoting their overall well-being. 

The advisory group meets three times a year to engage in the following activities:

• Provide feedback and input on needs for services and support provided by the TCSS.

• Provide feedback and input on the Student Support Framework and developed resources.

• Vet/Review updates to resources provided by school systems or prompted by statutory changes.

The TCSS Advisory Group is composed of campus leaders, teachers, parents, and students who represent Texas school systems. The advisory group will also consist of professionals from across the state who are experts in the fields of education, mental & behavioral health, and systemic educational reform.  Additionally, a dedicated Student Advisory Task Force will feature 10th and 11th grade students from schools across the state. 

TCSS Advisory Group

  • Logo of Texas Center for Student Supports featuring a navy blue outline of the state of Texas, with stylized figures and stripes in orange, white, and blue, and the text "Texas Center for Student Supports" inside

    Julie Ann Bryant

    Counselor
    Stamford ISD

  • A woman with blonde hair, wearing a denim jacket, pearl earrings, and a necklace, standing on a balcony with a cityscape in the background.

    Amber Davidson

    Parent
    Midland ISD

  • Logo of Texas Center for Student Supports, featuring an outline of the state of Texas with stylized figures and the text 'Texas Center for Student Supports'.

    Dalene Merrel

    Teacher
    Lufkin ISD

  • Logo of Texas Center for Student Supports, featuring an outline of the state of Texas with a stylized figure and the organization's name.

    Kevin Parker

    Principal
    Plainview ISD

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, smiling, wearing a red blazer, white blouse, and pearl necklace, sitting at a desk.

    Jamie Peden

    Principal
    Frisco ISD

  • Logo of the Texas Center for Student Supports with a Texas map outline, featuring stylized figures and wavy lines in red, white, and blue.

    Rhonda Perez

    Teacher
    Channelview ISD

  • Logo of Texas Center for Student Supports, showing the shape of Texas with a stylized figure inside and the organization's name.

    Denise Robinson

    Teacher
    Buna ISD

  • Logo of the Texas Center for Student Supports, with a silhouette of the state of Texas, a stylized human figure, and blue, orange, and white waves.

    Bianca Spies

    Parent
    Uvalde ISD

  • A graphic of the state of Texas in dark blue with the slogan 'Texas Center for Student Supports' in bold white letters, featuring an abstract human figure in orange, white, and blue, reaching upwards. The background is light gray.

    Brittni Summers

    Principal
    Riesel ISD

  • A young woman with shoulder-length wavy hair, wearing a denim jacket, hoop earrings, and a choker necklace, smiling against a blue background.

    Kalyn Taylor

    Professional School Counselor
    Hereford ISD

  • Logo of Texas Center for Student Supports featuring an outline of Texas with two stylized figures and the organization name.

    Kristi Whipps

    Teacher
    Buna ISD

  • Kim Marsh

    District Administrator
    Garland ISD

  • Logo of Texas Center for Student Supports featuring an outline of Texas with two stylized figures and the organization name.

    Dr. Bobbie Carter

    Campus Administrator
    Garland ISD

  • A smiling middle-aged woman with long brown hair wearing a light-colored tweed jacket and pearl earrings, standing against a plain light gray background.

    Melissa Gonzales

    Superintendent
    Refugio ISD

  • A smiling man wearing glasses and a blue dress shirt with a U.S. Senate lanyard around his neck, standing against a plain maroon background.

    J Lander

    Assessment, Programs, and Compliance Manager
    Hearne ISD

  • Woman smiling at camera wearing stripe shirt

    Kelly Locke

    Director of Guidance & Counseling
    Willis ISD

  • A woman with shoulder-length gray hair, wearing a red top and a gold cross necklace, smiling.

    Heather Ward

    Secondary Counselor
    Roscoe Collegiate ISD

  • Woman wearing red shirt smiling at camera

    Rosy Vega-Barrio, Ed.D.

    Superintendent
    Tornillo ISD

  • Logo of Texas Center for Student Supports, featuring an outline of the state of Texas with a stylized figure and the organization's name.

    Karen Esquivel

    Accountant
    Hereford Junior High

  • A smiling blonde woman in a light pink blouse holding a mug in a bright kitchen.

    Natalie Fikac, Ed.D.

    Senior Program Coordinator - School Mental Health Lead
    University of Texas Austin - Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health (TIEMH)

  • Portrait of a blonde woman wearing a navy blue blouse, smiling against a grey background.

    Jenipher Janek

    Counselor Specialist/Coordinator
    ESC Region 12

  • A woman with long dark wavy hair smiling at the camera indoors with warm lighting and blurred background.

    Shannon Lang

    Coordinator
    PFE State Initiative

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, smiling, wearing a pink top and a necklace, outdoors with a blurred background.

    Dr. Molly Lopez

    Research Associate Professor, Director
    The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health

  • Man wearing glasses smiling to camera

    Stephen McCanless

    Superintendent
    Marfa ISD

  • A smiling man wearing a light blue checkered shirt and dark blue tie outdoors with trees, rocks, and a waterfall feature in the background.

    Dr. Gilberto Ponce

    Director of Professions in Education
    Schreiner University

  • A smiling man wearing a navy blue suit, a checkered shirt, and a green plaid tie, standing against a neutral gray background.

    Rod Pruitt

    Title IV, Part A State Initiative Coordinator
    Region 14

  • A woman with blonde hair, wearing black glasses, a red blazer, and a black top with a black scarf around her neck, smiling at the camera.

    Melissa True

    Vice President of Education and Strategy
    Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute

Group of professionally dressed people standing in a conference room around a TCSS banner, with a beige wall and framed artwork in the background.
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