Welcome to the Magnet Schools of Texas

Gena Woodard is a graduate of Midwestern State University where she received both her Bachelor’s of Science in Education degree and Masters of Education in Educational Leadership. Gena is a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Delta Kappa Gamma. She has one son Essie Woodard, IV. Gena is currently the principal at Harrell ALC High School. Gena has served on the Magnet Schools Texas board as Secretary and she is currently President Elect. Helping children realize their potentialities is Gena’s aspiration. Gena Woodard has worked for the Wichita Falls Independent School District for 18 years. She was a language arts teacher in grades 4-6 for ten years. During this time, she was a Nominee for Teacher of the Year for the WFISD and received the Hooray for Excellence Award. In 1997, she moved into the position of assistant principal at Washington/Jackson Math-Science-Technology Magnet School. She also served as the Magnet School Coordinator during which time Washington/Jackson received the Ronald P. Simpson Award for being the #1 Magnet School in the Nation and the Magnet Schools of Texas Award. In 2002 she was promoted to Principal and Washington/Jackson received the MSTX Excellence Award that year. “Children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.” (LBJ) Gena believes in children and their ability to learn.	GENA WOODARD Wichita Falls ISD President of MSTX
Gina A. 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!	GINA RIGSBY Aldine ISD
Dr. Frederick Wayne Walker is a graduate of Texas Southern University. He received three degrees from TSU, a Bachelors in Science in Civil Engineering Technology, a Master's of Education degree in Education, and a Doctorate in Educational Administration and Leadership. He has both engineering field experience and educational experience, and has served as an administrator in both the middle school and high school environments. Dr. Walker presently serves on the Magnet Schools of Texas Board as secretary. He has 14 years of experience in education, and has 10 years of experience as an administrator. Under his leadership, Drew Academy has garnered many awards including two back to back "Magnet Schools of America School of Excellence" awards. On a regular basis the staff of Drew Academy encourages students to do their best everyday. In fact, everyday Drew's pledge is, "School is my most important job. I will learn new things everyday. I pledge to do my personal best. I am responsible for my life!"	FRED WALKER Aldine ISD Secretary
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 Magnet Programs for the Wichita Falls school district. Ms. Banner has a wealth of experience and training in developing and operating magnet schools and school programs for the past thirty-two 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. In the spring of 1999 Ms. Banner relinquished her principal role to accept a position in the district magnet office. Her responsibilities in this position were to work with the Project Director, Dr. Ruth Ann Huffhines to develop new magnet programs in the district. Since accepting this position she has been successful in guiding and leading schools as they developed integrated magnet curriculum and marketing strategies that have led to reduction in minority group isolation, innovative programs, and increases in magnet schools that have received both state and national recognition. At the present time Ms. Banner is supervisor of all magnet programs in the Wichita Falls ISD, seven secondary and 8 elementary campuses.	JAN BANNER Wichita Falls ISD Treasurer
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 I.S.D. (4 th 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.	RUBY ALLEN Aldine ISD Region I
(bio information and pic coming soon)	JIM GRANADA Austin ISD Region II
(bio information and pic coming soon)	JUAN FLORES Dallas ISD Region III
(bio information and pic coming soon)	JACKIE DELUNA Wichita Falls ISD Region IV
(bio information and pic coming soon)	EDNA GARCIA Lubbock ISD Region V
Joseph White has been consulting withdistricts on a nation-wide basis for the last seventeen years regarding the design and implementation of lottery-based student selection systems for Magnet, Open Enrollment and School Choice programs. He was educated at Yale University, designing database systems for both the public and private Magnet Schools of Texas and administers the judging process for the Glen Hendricks Magnet Schools of Merit Awards. He is also active with Magnet Schools of America and Magnet Schools of New York. 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.	JOSEPH WHITE Educational Consultant National Representative
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."	DIANN TAYLOR Wichita Falls ISD Magnet Schools of America Liaison
(bio information and pic coming soon)	LUCY RUBIO Corpus Christi ISD Director of Parent Leadership
Dr. Paul D. Human has been the Superintendent in the Texarkana School District since 2004. He has experience as a teacher, coach, business owner, principal, and adjunct professor. He is a member of multiple community and professional organizations. Dr. Human's personal philosophy is that schools should be places where responsibility blends with passion. He feels that in order to do this, we must take advantage of every possibility and develop venues for accomplishment. He believes that is what magnet schools do better than anything else because they are operating under sytems of the purest form of choice. When all of the affected parties are there because they chose to be there, teaching and learning takes on new meaning. Dr. Human serves the Magnet Schools of Texas board as the Magnet Schools of America Region VI Director.