- Cleburne Independent School District
- About the Board
About the Board
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Cleburne Independent School District's seven-member Board of Trustees is elected at large. As the district’s governing board, trustees represent the community as they chart the direction of educational programs and services and establish the standard by which success is measured.
Responsibilities of the board include establishing policies for the operation of the district and for ensuring its financial viability. Trustees employ the superintendent, approve the budget, monitor expenditures, set the tax rate, and call bond elections.
Members are elected to a three-year term of office. On a 2-2-3 rotating basis, board seats are filled during the elections held on the general election day in May. Trustees provide service to the Cleburne ISD community without financial compensation. Candidates to the Board of Trustees must conform to the requirements of the Texas Education Code.
Regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Trustees are generally held on the third Monday of each month, beginning with a closed session at 5 pm, followed by regular business at 6 pm (open to the public) in the Board Room of the CISD Central Offices Building, 505 N. Ridgeway, Suite 100. The public may address the trustees as a whole during the Board Audience portion of the meeting. Remarks may be related to any topic, whether agenda items or non-agenda items and are usually limited to three minutes. Sign-up for Board Audience must be done prior to the start of the meeting. Please refer to Board Policy BED (legal) and BED (local).
Meet Your Board
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Interim Superintendent
Dr. Jeffrey M. Hanks
Dr. Jeff Hanks
Dr. Hanks retired as the superintendent of Weatherford ISD in 2020. His nine years as district leader in Weatherford, from 2011-2020, was preceded by ten years as superintendent of Burnet Consolidated ISD.
A Texas native who grew up in Waco, Hanks began his career in education in 1982 as a teacher and coach in Temple ISD, followed by Palestine ISD. His first campus administrative position came in 1993 as a high school principal with Cayuga ISD. He also served as a high school principal with Palestine
and Burnet Consolidated.
He is a past recipient of the Texas Association of School Administrators/ Texas A & M University Administrative Leadership Institute John R. Hoyle Award for Educational Leadership.
Hanks received a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Texas A & M University. Both his Master of Education and Bachelor of Science Degrees are from Stephen F. Austin University. -
Place 1
June BatesTerm: 2020 to 2023
June Bates
June Bates was elected in 2014. She is a proud graduate of Fort Worth’s Poly High School. 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.
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.”
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Place 2
Dr. Jason Tennison, SecretaryTerm: 2020 to 2023
Jason Tennison
Dr. Jason Tennison was elected in 2020. Dr. Tennison has his orthodontics practice in Cleburne. He attended received his BA degree from Baylor University, his Dentistry degree from Temple
University School of Dentistry, and attended the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics and Master of Science.He is a past board member of Cleburne Education Foundation, past Elder at Cleburne Bible Church. He was elected to a leadership role as a member of the CISD Citizens’ Bond Committee and worked with fellow community members in shaping the elements within the Bond 2016 referendum, which included the construction of the new Cleburne High School.
Dr. Tennison is passionate about the power of education to transform the lives of our children,community, and world. His hope is that he can be of some small help in the team effort of making decisions that will continually improve the quality of education in our school district.
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Place 3
Wendell DempseyTerm: 2021 to 2024
Wendell Dempsey
Wendell Dempsey was elected in 2009. A product of the Fort Worth public school system, he has seen three generations of family go through Cleburne schools.
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 first choosing to run for office in 2009. “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.”
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Place 4
John FinnellTerm: 2021 to 2024
John Finnell
John Finnell was elected in 2015. He is a native of Cleburne and the father of three Cleburne High School graduates. Mr. Finnell is a member of the Leadership TASB 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 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 believes the experience will expand his understanding of the role and function of the school board and its members. “I believe this will be helpful to the District in participating in this program. It’s also an opportunity to collaborate with Trustees from like districts, to learn from each other and to be exposed to best practices.”
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Place 5
Teddy Martyniuk, Vice PresidentTerm: 2021 to 2024
Teddy Martyniuk
Teddy Martyniuk was elected in 2012. Five of his children have graduated from Cleburne schools. Mr. Martyniuk sought reelection in 2021 to continue his years of service to 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, he is a regional manager for a national retail corporation.
During his years as a Trustee, he has served as Board president, seen the passage of three bond referendums and a TRE, the construction of three new elementary schools, the implementation of districtwide security and safety initiatives, digital devices for students PreK-12, and the building of a new high school to open 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. -
Place 6
Elizabeth Childress, PresidentTerm: 2022- 2025
Elizabeth Childress
Elizabeth Childress was elected in 2013. 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. She chose to run for re-election, as “there was more work to be done,” citing the Bond 2016 referendum, and with its passage, the construction of a new high school.In stating her purpose in seeking election to the Board, Mrs. Childress said she was “committed to making sure students have everything they need to stay on the education pathway, whether they continue on to college or additional training or go directly into the workforce following graduation from high school.”
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Place 7
DeAnna KingTerm: 2022- 2025
DeAnna King
DeAnna King was elected in 2016. She is a graduate of Rio Vista High School and is married to a CHS graduate. Mrs. King is a founding member of the Cleburne Education Foundation and is serving as chairman of the CEF Nashville Lights annual fundraiser. She is a past president of the Cleburne Athletic Booster Club and a member of the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce.
Mrs. King views her role of school board member as one of service. “I’ve wanted to give back to the community that has given me and my family so much.”