Dr. Kyle Heath

June Bates 

June Bates is serving her third term as a Trustee. She was a very involved CISD grandparent, serving as Golden Pride Band Boosters President when her two grandsons were in high school.

As a local business owner, Mrs. Bates is an active member of the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce, as past Chairman of the Board and sponsor of the Chamber Golf Tournament and the annual Shakespeare in the Park event. She is a proud graduate of Fort Worth’s Poly High School.

Mrs. Bates sought election to the Board of Trustees “to help make a difference in students’ lives, to get better pay and benefits for teachers and to help better prepare our community for the coming growth.”

Jason Tennison

Wendell Dempsey 

Wendell Dempsey is serving his fourth term on the CISD Board of Trustees. A product of the Fort Worth public school system, he has seen three generations of family go through Cleburne schools. As a CISD Trustee, he had the opportunity to present his great-grandson with his Cleburne High School diploma.

Mr. Dempsey has owned the only auto machine shop in town for 51 years. He felt his experience and knowledge in business and finance were contributing qualities he could bring to the Board in his decision to run for the Board in 2008.

“The fact that we, as board members, come from all walks of life and careers, helps us come together to solve problems. We share a trust and respect for each other.”

John Finnell

Board Past-President John Finnell is a native of Cleburne and the father of three Cleburne High School graduates. He was just elected to his second term on the Board and is also a member of the Leadership TASB (Texas Association of School Boards) Class of 2018. He attended The University of North Texas and is a marketing consultant and account executive. He is a member of the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce and served on its Board of Directors.

Mr. Finnell first ran for the Board in 2015 because of his desire to be more involved in the school district and community. In taking his service as a Trustee to the next level in applying for Leadership TASB, he felt the experience would expand his understanding of the role and function of the school board and its members. He is currently a member of the TASB Legislative Action Committee. 

Teddy Martyniuk

Vice-President Teddy Martyniuk is the most tenured member of the CISD Board of Trustees, currently serving his fifth term in office. Five of his children have graduated from Cleburne schools. Their youngest is in middle school.
Mr. Martyniuk sought reelection in 2018 to continue his years of service to the District and the community. “It’s been an honor working with the administration in this school district. My goal is to make the right decisions with students in mind.”

A graduate of Midwestern State University, Mr. Martyniuk is a regional manager for a national retail corporation. During his years as a Trustee, he has been a board officer numerous times, seen the passage of three bond referendums and a TRE, the construction of three new elementary schools, the implementation of district-wide security and safety initiatives, digital devices for students PreK-12, and the building of a new high school which opened in December, 2019.

A Cleburne resident since 1999, he has been a member of numerous civic organizations including the Chamber of Commerce. His passion for serving others includes work with the intellectually disabled through Special Olympics and related programs. He has also spent years on the football field coaching future Cleburne Yellow Jackets.

Elizabeth Childress

Elizabeth Childress is in her third term as a Trustee and is currently serving as board president. After years of school involvement as a volunteer tutor, PTA member, and parent representative on the CISD Strategic Plan, Facilities Review and District Site-Based Decision-Making Committees, she chose to put the knowledge gained from those experiences to work as a member of the Board of Trustees.

She is a former student of Texas A & M University and has a background in marketing, public relations, and graphic design. Mrs. Childress is married to a CHS graduate; their daughter is a member of the CHS Class of 2016 and their son is a member of the Class of 2020. She chose to run for re-election to a third term as “there was more work to be done,” citing the Bond 2016 referendum, and with its passage, the construction of a new high school.

DeAnna King

DeAnna King, Place 7, is currently filling a one-year unexpired term. She was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2016, and has served as Board Secretary. Mrs. King is a founding member of the Cleburne Education Foundation and is chairperson of the CEF Nashville Lights fundraising event. She also served many years on the Cleburne Athletic Booster Club. A leader in the real estate community for more than 20 years, she is the current President of the Johnson County Association of Realtors, and has been chairman of various committees within the real estate industry. Her civic involvement also includes the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce. She grew up in Cleburne and is a 1989 graduate of Rio Vista High School. She is married to CHS graduate, Bryan King, and both their daughters are CHS graduates, with their youngest now a teacher and coach in the District.

Mrs. King views her role of school board member as one of service.

“I have always wanted to give back to the community that has given me and my family so much. Among the many strengths on our Board of Trustees is that we are all different, and have different views, but we all respect each other and the opinion of each member. We might disagree on some issues, but at the end of the day we agree to make the best decision as a whole for the kids of this school district. Ask any of our Trustees, and they will tell you that’s the reason we all do what we do.”