Bio (what made you want to work in sports, high school/college, etc.)
I have a passion for education. I have a passion for sports and athletics and the great characteristics and values that can be learned as a participant or teacher/coach. Coaching is a combination of these two passions and has provided me the opportunity to inspire others to want to learn and want to be better every day.
Past participation -what sports did you play/coach?
I was a high school and collegiate cross-country and track & field athlete and coach.
A description of your professional journey to becoming an Executive Director of Athletics
My undergraduate degree was in Exercise and Sport Science and Mathematics. Employers are most interested in the mathematics certification than anything else. At 22 years of age, I started teaching and coaching right out of college at Lockhart High School in Lockhart, TX. As a young coach, I had no desire to do anything different at the time. I had stops at Dallas Skyline for a couple of years then Northwestern State University for another two. I earned a master’s degree while coaching at NSU, before returning to Dallas ISD.
Back in Dallas, I taught and coached at W.T. White High School for three years, then encouraged to apply for an assistant director of athletics position in central office.
I served in that role for 15 years, then promoted in 2019 to executive director.
What school districts have you worked for?
I served as a teacher/coach and professor at the following institutions: Lockhart ISD, Dallas ISD, Northwestern State University, and Dallas County Community College District (now Dallas College).
I currently serve as the Executive Director of Athletics at Dallas ISD and am an adjunct professor at Texas A&M Commerce.
Any notable or interesting aspects about your current position
In 2019, I became the first female executive director of athletics in Dallas ISD. I learned all parts of the role while serving as an assistant director and teacher/coach for so many years. The degrees earned me the opportunities, but the knowledge I gained from serving in those roles gave me the experience to prepare me for my current role.
The pandemic hit during my first year as executive director. Experienced or not, we all had to adjust and learn (quickly) how to lead differently. Through all the changes and challenges we faced, our department was still able to contribute to the passing of two major Dallas ISD bond propositions, totaling $3.470 billion providing upgrades to campus facilities, that includes upgrades and renovations to campus athletics facilities.
We were approved for salary increases for high school head football coaches which ranks us above market average for that position.
In 2022, we were approved to hire additional athletics trainers for 12 of our high school campuses.
In 2022-2023, we had two UIL state championship teams: Dallas South Oak Cliff Football and Dallas Madison Boys Basketball. The football championship was the first Dallas ISD school to win a Texas state football championship since 1958 and the first in an urban ISD since 1985.
Who are some professional influences you have had throughout your career?
We are proud of the things we have done in only a few years but cannot take credit for any of this without giving credit to folks who came before us and laid the groundwork. I learned from the opportunities and experiences and credit those who prepared me for this role.
My mentor, Troy Mathieu (currently Chief of Athletics, Security, and Emergency Management at Grand Prairie ISD) invested in me when he hired me as an assistant director. He led, encouraged, and taught, throughout my journey. I will forever be grateful for his mentorship and leadership, but more so, his friendship.
What are some major responsibilities you have in your current position?
My role is to teach, help, prepare, guide, and manage the people who manage people. Investing in our staff is my most important responsibility. Providing the means, tools, equipment, skills, personnel, resources to be successful are our responsibilities, but ensuring our staff, coaches, and students have a positive, enjoyable experience while working or participating in our District and athletics programs is most impactful.
List any involvement with THSADA or other organizations
I have served with THSADA in the following capacities: conference committee member, conference panelist, officials committee member, and policy committee member.
I have also served as a committee member and conference speaker and panelist for THSCA and TGCA.
