In Recognition of the McKinney ISD School Board (Video & Photos) (2024)

McKinney, Texas — Each year in January, McKinney ISD joins districts throughout the state in celebrating School Board Appreciation Month to honor the seven men and women who lead and serve our district as members of the MISD Board of Trustees.

Philip Hassler — President, Place 2
Amy Dankel — Vice President, Place 4
Harvey Oaxaca — Secretary, Place 7
Larry Jagours —Place 1
Chad Green — Place 3
Lynn Sperry — Place 5
Stephanie O’Dell — Place 6

Board members are elected by the general public to serve overlapping terms of four years each. MISD Board members are not compensated for their service on the board, and elections for board seats are conducted annually each May. The candidates run for specific places on the board (Place 1, Place 2, etc.), but they represent MISD as a whole.

Their charge is to function under the legal parameters of the state and federal constitutions, statutes, courts and administrative agencies to provide the best educational opportunity possible for MISD students. School trustees are responsible for making all final decisions regarding school district priorities, policies, budget, personnel, textbooks, expenditures and growth management. Working as a team of eight in conjunction with the superintendent, the McKinney ISD Board of Trustees are an elected governance board with a shared sense of purpose focused on meeting the needs of all MISD students and the communities they serve.

Throughout January, MISD schools invited Board members to their campuses to honor and celebrate them and to showcase their teachers, students and programs. It gave students a chance to get to know their board members a little better and to learn about the governance of their school district. For the board members, it was an opportunity to witness the fruit of their labor and to meet some of the teachers and students they lead and serve.

Philip Hassler at Dowell Middle School

Dowell Middle School Hosts MISD Board President Philip Hassler—Hassler helps out during Dowell Middle School’s award program.

(l-r) MISD Assistant Superintendent of Public Relations and Communications Dr. Shelly Spaulding, Dowell Assistant Principal Dr. Jessica Fair, Dowell Assistant Principal Ferlanda Willis, Dowell Principal Melanie Machost, MISD Board President Philip Hassler, MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt

PALS students help out in the classroom.

AVID

Band

Hassler shares a laugh with Principal Melanie Machost.

Hassler greets teachers as he and Principal Melanie Machost make their way around Dowell during his visit.

Hassler talks with Dowell student leaders during a lunch held in his honor.

Hassler talks with Dowell student leaders at a lunch held in his honor.

Hassler talks with Dowell student leaders during a lunch held in his honor.

Amy Dankel at Eddins Elementary School

Eddins Elementary hosts Board Vice President Amy Dankel — MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt and Dankel help out with morning announcements. (Photo courtesy of Eddins Elementary/Maredith Laude)

Principal Cari Owens (right) and student leaders take Dankel and Pratt on a tour of Eddins. (Photo courtesy of Eddins Elementary/Maredith Laude)

Principal Cari Owens (right) and student leaders take Dankel and Pratt on a tour of Eddins. (Photo courtesy of Eddins Elementary/Maredith Laude)

Eddins students greet Dankel with cheers and signs. (Photo courtesy of Eddins Elementary/Maredith Laude)

Eddins students greet Dankel with cheers and signs. (Photo courtesy of Eddins Elementary/Maredith Laude)

Eddins students greet Dankel with cheers and signs. (Photo courtesy of Eddins Elementary/Maredith Laude)

(l-r) Principal Cari Owens, Board Vice President Amy Dankel and MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt (Photo courtesy of Eddins Elementary/Maredith Laude)

Harvey Oaxaca at Scott Johnson Middle School

Scott Johnson Middle School hosts Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca—Oaxaca is greeted by SJMS cheerleaders.

Choir

Choir, (center, l-r) SJMS Assistant Principal Felipe Arellano, Harvey Oaxaca and SJMS Principal Holly Rogers

Oaxaca encourages SJMS students to make the most of the opportunities they have in MISD.

Oaxaca greets students in the library.

Science Lab!

Oaxaca joins in a game with SJMS students.

Oaxaca joins in a game with SJMS students.

Chad Green at Faubion Middle School

Faubion Middle School hosts board member Chad Green — Faubion Band Director Ryan Gaughan welcomes Green to the band hall.

Band

Green talks about the duties of the MISD board with band students.

Orchestra Director Kari Zamora greets Green before the orchestra plays.

Orchestra

Orchestra

Principal Mitchell VandenBoom asks questions about students’ science activity.

(l-r) Faubion Principal Mitchell VandenBoom, Chad Green, AVID Teacher Cherylyn Witsell

Larry Jagours at Vega Elementary School

Vega Elementary hosts Board member Larry Jagours —Vega All Star Jam Celebration

Vega All Star Jam Celebration

Vega All Star Jam Celebration

Teachers race at the Vega All Star Jam Celebration.

Vega announces their Teacher of the Year, Librarian Valerie Larpenteur.

Board Member Larry Jagours with Vega Teacher of the Year Valerie Larpenteur

Jagours greets students as they head to class.

Jagours greets students as they head to class.

Stephanie O’Dell at Evans Middle School

Evans Middle School Hosts MISD Board Member Stephanie O’Dell

O’Dell and Evans Principal Dr. David Hodum visit a Theatre Arts class.

Theatre Arts

O’Dell talks with students during engineering class.

Band

Band

O’Dell talks with students during a classroom visit.

Cheer

Lynn Sperry at Cockrill Middle School

Cockrill Middle School Hosts MISD Board Member Lynn Sperry—Sperry visits with Principal Jenny Zornes and Cockrill PALS leaders.

Sperry with Cockrill Principal Jenny Zornes and PALS leaders.

Sperry talks with science teacher Christine Graham.

Sperry tours the school with PALS leaders.

Choir

Cheer

Sperry engages in a Q&A session during lunch with Cockrill students, teachers and administrators.

Cockrill Middle School Hosts MISD Board Member Lynn Sperry