Williams Names Board of Managers for Revoked Charter
Posted/updated on: November 26, 2014 at 4:56 pm
AUSTIN – Texas Commissioner of Education Michael Williams Tuesday announced his appointments to a three-member board of managers in the case of a soon-to-close charter school that includes an East Texas campus. That’s according to a news release from the Texas Education Agency. According to the release, the situation involves the liquidation of assets and other specific issues related to the revocation and closure of Honors Academy and the seven campuses operating under the charter as public, accredited schools. The charter revocation – which became effective June 30, 2014 – affects the following Honors Academy campuses (in these communities): Branch Park Academy (Farmers Branch); Creekview Academy (Killeen); Landmark School (also known as Leadership Academy – Palestine); Legacy Park Preparatory (Kaufman); Pinnacle Academy of Fine Arts (Fort Worth); Quest Academy (Dallas); and Wilmer Academy (Wilmer).
Last week, leadership at Honors Academy notified students, parents, and staff at all seven of its campuses of its decision to cease operations effective Dec. 1. The appointed board of managers will address issues specific to final closure of Honors Academy as a state charter school. The three individuals appointed to the Honors Academy board of managers are:
– Jim Damm – A Dallas resident, Damm has previously served as chief of staff at the Fort Worth ISD from 2005-2006; educational consultant for finance for the Ysleta ISD in 2003; acting chief financial officer for the El Paso ISD from 2001-2003; and associate superintendent of business services for Plano ISD from 1993-2001.
– Elizabeth Rowland – A resident of Fort Worth, Rowland has previously served as director of special program and school improvement from 2005-2010 and director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment at the Region 11 Educational Service Center from 2000-2005; director of special programs at the Carroll ISD from 1996-2000; and assistant elementary principal at the Richardson ISD from 1993-1996.
– Elizabeth Treadway – A resident of Sanger, Treadway has previously served as superintendent of schools in the following districts: Venus ISD from 2005-2008; Hardin-Jefferson ISD from 2000-2005; Ore City ISD from 1995-2000; and Slidell ISD from 1989-1995. She was an elementary principal at Leonard ISD from 1986-1989.
Commissioner Williams also announced the appointment of Bobby Parker as superintendent. Parker is a resident of Waxahachie and formerly served as the superintendent for the Waxahachie ISD from 1998-2005. Prior to that position, he served as the superintendent for the Graham ISD from 1988-1998. Finally, the Commissioner announced that Karen Case will continue in her capacity as the appointed conservator. Case has served in that role at Honors Academy since Feb. 3, 2014.
According to the news release, Honors Academy was one of six open-enrollment charter schools that met the legislative criteria for mandatory revocation of their charter under Senate Bill 2. Passed by the Texas Legislature in 2013, Senate Bill 2 requires mandatory revocation of low-performing charters by the Commissioner of Education.
