President Kevin Stevenson, Place 2
Vice President Wendy Collins, Place 6
Secretary Melody Kohout, Place 7
Trustee Cindy Lotton, Place 3
Trustee Lara Lee Hogg, Place 5
Trustee Craig Allen, Place 4
Trustee Jim Stitt, Place 1
Superintendent James Veitenheimer
President Kevin Stevenson, Place 2
Kevin Stevenson is currently in the second year of his second term as a Keller ISD Trustee. He took office in May 2007.
Mr. Stevenson is the Senior Director for Peak Performance Development in Southlake, providing clients with leadership development, strategic planning, executive coaching and sales training. He holds both an MBA and BBA (Management/Marketing) from Baylor University in Waco, TX.
Before becoming a board member, Stevenson was a member of the Character Curriculum Committee, the 2006 Citizens Bond Advisory Committee, the Keller ISD Education Foundation Board and the founding president of the Trinity Meadows Intermediate PTA.
"After observing our Board of Trustee meetings, I felt that I could provide insight and leadership that would ensure that the students were our primary focus, that our teachers and staff were respected and supported and that our administrators would be given clear goals and objectives and then be allowed to creatively achieve those goals," Stevenson says. "I also want to reestablish trust and a positive outlook while still ensuring that our district is well managed and fiscally responsible with your tax dollars."
"As a Board Member, I want to ensure that all students in the district are given an equal chance to succeed in their education; to ensure that we keep the students as the primary focus in all of our decisions; to ensure that our teachers, staff and administrators have the support that they need within our budgetary parameters to provide an optimal education for all of our students; to manage the growth of our district through active participation in planning, zoning and development issues that the nine cities within our district are considering; to establish goals that will allow us to first achieve Recognized and then Exemplary status from the TEA; to develop ways to greatly increase parental involvement throughout our district; to create a more positive, trusting environment for all touched by the district; and finally, to reestablish Keller ISD as the premier school district in Northeast Tarrant County," he says.
Mr. Stevenson and his wife, Michelle, have two children in KISD.
Mr. Stevenson's current term on the Board will expire in May 2013.
Contact: kevin.stevenson@kellerisd.net or 817-741-5111
Vice President Wendy Collins, Place 6
Wendy Collins is currently in the third year of her first term on the KISD Board of Trustees. She took office in June of 2009.
Mrs. Collins owns a small business and has over 12 years of experience in hotel management. She attended college at the University of Missouri.
She joins the Board having already served the Keller ISD community for more than 11 years in several leadership and volunteer positions. She was the President of the Keller Council of PTAs for two years, has served as President of the Freedom Elementary PTA, and held several other officer positions within her children's campus PTAs. She has also twice served on the Citizens Bond Advisory Committee, twice on the Teacher of the Year Committee, once on the Character Curriculum Committee, and once on the Food Service Committee.
Mrs. Collins and her husband Donnie have three children, and all three attend KISD schools.
She said she feels that her many years of leadership experience and being an advocate for KISD students brings a unique approach to the Board.
"Children need to be our primary focus of all decision," she said. "We need to provide an atmosphere of learning to ensure that all students are able to succeed and excel. We also need to ensure that our teachers and staff have the support and trust they need to accomplish this. While doing this, we also need to keep our parents and taxpayers in the forefront of our decision."
Mrs. Collins' current term on the Board will expire in May 2012.
Contact: wendy.collins@kellerisd.net or 817-431-5587
Secretary Melody Kohout, Place 7
Mrs. Kohout is in year three of her first term as a Keller ISD Trustee. She assumed office in May 2009.
She is a school and community volunteer, currently serving as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Keller ISD Education Foundation. She has also previously served for the ARTSNET Board of Directors, First United Methodist Keller, Greater Keller Chamber of Commerce and Keller Library Board.
Mrs. Kohout attended Southwest Missouri State University and Central State University. She has previous experience working in education at the Spring Hill/Gardener Special Education Co Op in Gardner, Kansas where she served as a Student Advocate and Paraprofessional in mentally and physically handicapped programs for PreK-6th grade students.
She is married to Jerry and has three sons, two of whom are Keller High School graduates, while the third will graduate with the Class of 2010. "I believe it is important to give back to those who have helped you," Kohout said. "Keller ISD has been my partner in educating my three sons for the last 15 years. It is my privilege to serve the community and school district that has given my family so many opportunities."
Mrs. Kohout's current term on the Board will expire in May 2012.
Contact: melody.kohout@kellerisd.net or 817-980-0284
Trustee Cindy Lotton, Place 3
Cindy Lotton is currently in the second year of her third term as a Keller ISD Trustee. She took office in May 2004.
Mrs. Lotton is a school counselor with the Hurst-Euless-Bedford School District. She holds a bachelor's degree from Baylor University and a master's degree from Dallas Baptist University.
Mrs. Lotton brings her years of experience in the field of education to the Keller ISD Board of Trustees.
"I want to be a part of the decision making process that guides our district achievement and goals," says Lotton. "I look forward to years of change and growth ahead."
Mrs. Lotton and her husband, Clayton, have five children, one currently attending KISD.
Mrs. Lotton's current term on the Board will expire in May 2013.
Contact: cindy.lotton@kellerisd.net or 817-485-4177
Trustee Lara Lee Hogg, Place 5
Lara Lee Hogg is a Strategic Planning and Business Development Specialist at Texas Health Resources. She has significant experience in strategic planning, business planning, linking strategy and execution, and operations performance improvement.
Ms. Hogg's work for the past year has focused on the development of a geographical growth strategy for one of the largest health systems in North Texas. She also assists in the strategic and operating plan development process for the healthcare system and each of its healthcare entities. Currently, Ms. Hogg is leading Texas Health Resources in the development and implementation of seven high-priority clinical service line plans.
Prior to her position with Texas Health Resources, Ms. Hogg served as a practice pattern analyst at Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego, California. In this role, she led groups of clinicians in the development and implementation of clinical pathways in critical care areas such as cardiovascular surgery, orthopedic surgery, and oncology.
"I have spent most of my professional career working in the area of child health initiatives, and I want to utilize these experiences to make a difference within my own community," Hogg says. "My mother was an elementary school teacher and my father, after a long career as a VP for Texas Instruments, teaches computer programming to elementary students in the Richardson ISD. My husband is completing a doctoral degree in education with an emphasis in leadership studies. Our family is dedicated to providing a positive, safe, healthy education experience for children, parents and teachers of Keller ISD."
Ms. Hogg also serves her community as a School Board Trustee. She is currently in the first year of her third term as a Keller ISD Trustee. She began her first term in May of 2007, and was elected again in 2008 and 2011.
"As a Board Member, first and foremost, I would like for all of our students to be completely prepared for a successful trade/career upon graduation, or to enter into a rigorous university experience. I would also like this district to be seen as a premier employer for educators and administrators. During this time of explosive growth, my hope is that Keller ISD will move into a large district structure while maintaining a small town, personal feel for our students," she says.
Ms. Hogg earned an MPH from San Diego State University and a BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M University. She graduated from Richardson Independent School District, Dallas, Texas. She is married to Michael Hogg and they have three wonderful children, Alex (18), Erin (13), and Michael (6).
Mrs. Hogg's current term on the Board will expire in May 2014.
Contact: laralee.hogg@kellerisd.net or 817-789-5968
Trustee Craig Allen, Place 4
Board Member Craig Allen is currently in year one of his second term as a Keller ISD Trustee. He assumed office in May 2008.
Mr. Allen has nearly 20 years of experience working in both public and private academic institutions. He currently serves as the director of residential services at Texas Christian University.
Educated in the Galway School District in upstate New York, Mr. Allen earned a B.S. in Marketing from The State University of New York, College at Oswego, and a M.A. in Higher Education/Student Personnel from the University of Arizona, Tucson.
"My parents were teachers and they fostered in me a deep appreciation of the importance of education," Mr. Allen says. "There are many similarities between K-12 education and the work I do as an educator and administrator in the field of college student housing. I believe that my experiences and understanding of education will help me provide oversight to our growing school district.
"As a board member, I will advocate for Keller students to help ensure that they have the necessary resources to develop - and expand - their academic potential and success," he continues. "The education that KISD children receive is critical to the future of an increasingly global society. A well-educated society will be a stronger society. KISD has high goals for student achievement, and I am proud to support efforts to reach those goals."
Mr. Allen and his wife, Shannon, have three children - one in intermediate school, one in elementary, and one future kindergartener.
Mr. Allen's current term on the Board will expire in May 2014.
Contact: craig.allen@kellerisd.net or 817-741-6086
Trustee Jim Stitt, Place 1
Jim Stitt is currently in the first year of his first term as a Keller ISD Trustee. He took office in May 2010 after retiring from 14 years as a Keller ISD teacher.
He has a B.A. from SMU and graduate hours from Texas Tech. He had a 25-year career in private industry rising from an entry level position rising to the level of Corporate Officer in Human Resources and Administration.
Mr. Stitt's wife Susan is a district Director and has worked for the district for 25 years. His daughter is a corporate officer of a local company while his son has served the KISD as a Teacher, a Coach and is currently as Coordinator of Boys Athletics at Hillwood Middle School. Two of his granddaughters have graduated from Fossil Ridge High School, and as of the fall of 2010, he will have three grandchildren at North Riverside Elementary.
Mr. Stitt is a Lifetime Member of the PTA having served on Chisholm Trail's PTA as an officer and strong supporter of the PTA. He has served on CEIC, DEIC, and Insurance committees, Principal Search Committee, Superintendent Search Committee and Teacher Interview Committee. He was Chairman of the district's Sick Leave Bank for 13 years and Chairman of the district's Professional Consultation Committee for several years. He is currently the President of the Keller Association of Retired School Personnel.
He says, "I felt I could continue to serve the district and provide a different perspective as a member of the Board of Trustees. I intend to make the Board my new full-time job and devote the time and energy necessary the job deserves."
Mr. Stitt's current term on the Board will expire in May 2013.
Contact: jim.stitt@kellerisd.net or 817-223-7209
Dr. James Veitenheimer, Superintendent
Since his arrival at Keller ISD in the summer of 2004, Superintendent Dr. James R. Veitenheimer has been putting a set of strong goals and initiatives into place for the school district. These ideals are designed to motivate the staff and keep them focused on the district's No. 1 priority -- educating students.
(The superintendent is not a member of the board of trustees and does not vote on matters related to the district. However, he is the lead administrative officer and works with the board president to set board meeting agendas.)
Contact: james.veitenheimer@kellerisd.net or 817-744-1011