Melinda Stapley received her Bachelor of Science degree from Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio and her Master's of Education degree in Educational Administration from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. She is currently pursuing completion of her Doctorate of Education Degree in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University.

In her fifteen years of experience in education, Ms. Stapley has worked primarily with magnet school development through serving as a science teacher, magnet coordinator, assistant principal at Reed Academy for Engineering, as the assistant director of Magnet Schools in Aldine ISD, as a Magnet School field consultant, and as the Director of Magnet Schools for Aldine ISD. In the capacity of Director of Magnet Schools for twenty-one magnet academies in Aldine ISD she worked collaboratively with principals, campus magnet coordinators, and teachers in the development of Magnet School program design, curriculum, program marketing and recruitment, student placement, and program evaluation. Under her leadership, the Eisenhower Magnet Vertical area in the Aldine Independent School District received its authorization for schools in the IB continuum from the International Baccalaureate Organization.

Dr. Annette Scott received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Sam Houston State University, her Master’s of Education degree from the University of Houston-Victoria Campus and her Doctorate degree from Baylor University. Dr. Scott currently serves in the capacity of Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Galveston, Texas. During the course of her 35 year career, she served as a magnet school principal and as a high school principal. She has also worked in corporate America teaching teachers to integrate technology into their classroom instruction.

In Galveston, she led the District Task Force in the creation of the district’s middle school Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Magnet Program. She has been instrumental in encouraging schools of choice for the District. With a student population of slightly less than 6000, Galveston ISD has a magnet elementary program, a middle school magnet and two schools of choice options with a T-STEM Academy at the high school and the implementation of an Early College High School Program which will open the fall of 2009.

Ruby Allen has a BS from Texas Southern University majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Mathematics. Ruby obtained her Masters of Education from Prairie View A & M University (Guidance & Counseling , Mid-Management Administrator) She is currently the Principal of Carroll Academy for International Studies in Aldine ISD (4th Year). Carroll Academy is one of the largest elementary schools in Aldine and has been a magnet school and a part of Magnet Schools of America & Texas for 8 years. All eight of those years Ruby has been in Administration at Carroll Academy directly involved with the magnet program. She has watched the magnet program progress and enrich the lives of the school students from its inception to where it is now.

Gina Rigsby is a graduate of Texas Southern University. She received both her Bachelor of Science degree and Master’s of Education degree in Educational Administration. Gina has both corporate and educational experience and has served in elementary and secondary education in Curriculum and Instruction and Administration.

Gina has served on the Magnet Schools of Texas Board as President-Elect and now the President. She is an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She is also a school reform coach for the Houston A+ Challenge Foundation. Gina has sixteen years of experience in education, and has been an administrator in the Aldine Independent School District for ten years. Under her leadership, Reed Intermediate was successfully transformed into Reed Academy for Engineering, focusing on Architectural, Mechanical, and Aerospace Engineering and Robotics.

The campus has received numerous national and state meritorious academic and magnet awards for distinction and excellence since its inception. Gina is a principal with high standards and great expectations for her staff and students, alike.

She encourages them each day to maximize their learning potential and, “Always make education the apex of their endeavor!” She and her team work effortlessly to design great minds, and make it a journey beyond all limits!

Dr. Jim Granada is Director of Advanced Academics for the Austin Independent School District in Austin, Texas. Previously he served as a gifted education specialist at the Education Service Center in San Antonio, and on the faculties of the University of Texas – San Antonio and Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. Prior to his move to higher education, Dr. Granada taught for 17 years in Kansas public schools. He currently serves on the College Board SW Regional Council and served on the Board of Trustee's Committee on Membership. Dr. Granada is co-chair of the Gifted Special Interest Group for the National Association for Bilingual Education, and served as Creativity Division chair for the National Association for Gifted Children. He graduated from Emporia State University, received his master’s degree from Wichita State University, and earned his doctorate from Northern Arizona University. Dr. Granada has presented nationally on the subjects of bilingual gifted and creativity.

Jan Banner received her Bachelor of Science degree at Southeastern State University in Durant, Oklahoma and her Masters degree at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. She has studied at the University of Chicago, the University of Houston, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and has worked with Texas A & M University on educational research. She has been a high school and junior high teacher of math, physics, and chemistry for twenty-one years. She has been a high school and junior high counselor and a magnet school principal. Currently, she is the Director of Grant and Magnet Programs for the Wichita Falls Independent School District and Coordinator the district’s Academic Intervention Team. Ms. Banner has a wealth of experience and training in developing and operating magnet schools and school programs for the past thirty-seven years.

In 1999, under the leadership of Ms. Banner, Washington/Jackson was the first school in the nation to receive the prestigious Ronald P. Simpson Award from Magnet Schools of America and therefore being designated as the # 1 Magnet School in America. This award specifies the recipient as #1 based on excellent achievement, elimination of minority group isolation, and development of innovative educational programs.

Oscar Aguero

Theresa Porter is a graduate of Louisiana State University and Southern University receiving a Bachelors degree in Secondary Education and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with certification in administration and supervision, computer technology and 30 plus graduate hours in policy-making, urban affairs and supervision from both universities. Besides extensive training in various forms of technology, she has also facilitated workshops and presented nationally at the Magnet Schools of America and National Middle Schools conferences.

Ms. Porter began teaching in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System at the middle school level in 1988 and became the Magnet/Technology Coordinator for a math, science and technology magnet in 1998. She also served as an ad hoc magnet committee member for the district to oversee implementation of the Consent Decree and the Final Settlement Agreement (which recently ended) for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.

After teaching Computer Science/Literacy and social studies in middle school for sixteen years, Ms. Porter was promoted as the district’s recruiter for Magnet Programs in 2004, an administrative position which requires extensive knowledge in marketing and recruiting and knowledge of themed-based and specialized programs. Theresa’s complementary skills in graphic and web page design, is used extensively to recruit students and keep stakeholders abreast of magnet programs.

Theresa Porter is a former state assessor and mentor, a Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) Master Teacher and was honored as a teacher of the year at Crestworth Middle School. She is also a past recipient the Brotherhood/ Sisterhood award.

Rachel Wheat Lepchitz is the Parent/Community Coordinator for the Wichita Falls ISD in Wichita Falls, TX. She oversees parent involvement for the district through the Title I program. Previously Rachel served as the Information Specialist for the WFISD Magnet Program. Her area of expertise is most definitely in the realm of communications and marketing. Prior to working for the WFISD, Rachel was the marketing director for the NorCenTex Girl Scout Council. It was there that she discovered a passion for helping kids succeed. However, Rachel’s career began at the local NBC affiliate, KFDX where she anchored the morning and noon news for three years. Rachel later married the weatherman and is the proud mother of a beautiful one year old boy.

Joseph White has been consulting with public school districts on a nation-wide basis for the last twenty years regarding the design and implementation of lottery-based student selection systems for Magnet, Open Enrollment, Charter and School Choice programs.

He was educated at Yale University and has designed database systems for both the public and private sector. For Magnet Schools of Texas he administers the judging process for the Glen Hendricks Magnet Schools of Merit Awards.

He is also active with Magnet Schools of America. Wearing a“different hat”, he is Secretary of the Board of the Masterwork Music and Art Foundation, has sung in over fifty major choral concert performances in Carnegie and Avery Fisher Halls in New York City.

Diann Taylor is a thirty year veteran of Wichita Falls Independent School District.  She serves as MSTX liaison for Magnet School of America(MSA).  She currently serves as Region VI Director for the MSA board of directors. During her tenure on MSTX, she served as Region IV Director, President-elect, President and Past-president.  She is a graduate of Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls and is active in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc and Delta Kappa Gamma.  She is married to Thorney P. Taylor, Sr and they have one son, Thorney, II.

She has a new position with the district for the 05-06 school year, serving as the Student Achievement Initiative Coordinator.  Mrs. Taylor served as the former principal of Kirby Jr. High Math Science Technology Magnet for thirteen years.  The school received numerous awards and accolades under her leadership.

Mrs. Taylor believes in the philosophy that "All Children Can Learn If Given The Opportunity and Standard of Expectation."