News

AUSTIN— Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick today announced the following joint appointments to the Select Committee on Public School Accountability:

Susan Lewis
Elementary Math Teacher
Northside Independent School District
San Antonio, Texas
Statewide Chair of the Curriculum & Instruction Committee for Texas Classroom
Teachers Association

Dalia Benavides
Principal, South Elementary School
Midland Independent School District
Midland, Texas
Former English and Bilingual Teacher

Dr. David Splitek
Superintendent, Lackland Independent School District
San Antonio, Texas
Former San Antonio ISD Superintendent and High School Math Teacher

Dr. Thomas Randle
Superintendent, Lamar Consolidated Independent School District
Rosenberg, Texas
President, Texas Association of School Administrators

Beto Gonzalez
Deputy Superintendent, Brownsville Independent School District
Brownsville, Texas
Former Temple ISD Superintendent and former Acting Assistant Secretary for the
U.S. Dept. of Education

"Accountability is the cornerstone of a successful public education system. It ensures that the instructional needs of our students are identified and met," Lt. Governor Dewhurst said. "Each of these fine appointees has dedicated their careers to providing our children the best possible education and I thank them for continuing their commitment to improving our public schools by serving on this important committee."

"Over the past three years the Texas Legislature has gone a long way to improve our public school system," Speaker Craddick said. "High school accountability is a key component in ensuring that the work we have done has its desired results. I am pleased to appoint these members to the Task Force as each of them has the experience necessary to make it a success."

The Select Committee on Public School Accountability was created by Senate Bill 1031, which passed during the 80th Legislative session. The bill changed the state's current method of assessing high school student performance by transitioning from the traditional exit-level tests to end-of-course examinations.

After conducting a comprehensive review of the current accountability system, the committee will make recommendations for improvement to the 81st Legislature. Rep. Rob Eissler (R-The Woodlands), chair of the House Committee on Public Education, and Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano), chair of the Senate Education Committee, are co-presiding officers of the committee.