Early voting for the Brownwood ISD School Board election began Monday and Election Day is coming November 6th. Three candidates, Eric Evans(Incumbent), Stanley Walker, Jr. and Brant Baugh are vying for the seat in Place 4.
Two school board trustees did not seek re-election and only one candidate filed in each place and will take office after the election. Nesa Morelock served six years as a trustee in Place 2 and will be replaced by Diane Thompson who was unopposed for the seat. Michael Coppic served ten years in place 5 and will be replaced by Brad Jetton, also unopposed for the seat.
Biographies for each Place 4 candidate are below as well as for Thompson and Jetton.
Candidates for Place 4
ERIC EVANS
Eric Evans currently serves on the Brownwood ISD Board, Place 4 and is married to his wife of 28 years, Jill. Together they have three grown children, Dexter (26) lives in Dallas, Erica (24) married lives in Arlington, Dylon (21) lives in Austin – all graduated from Brownwood High School.
Evans has been employed at Southside Church, as the Pastor of Worship/Administration, for 10+ years.
Evans currently serves on the following Boards/Committees: Trustee Place 4 of the Brownwood Independent School District, Public Relations Committee BISD, President Downtown Brownwood, Inc., Managing Director-Lyric Performing Arts Company, Tourism Advisory Committee of the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce, Brownwood Area Marketing Committee, and Abilene Area Cultural Affairs Council
Evans is a 4th generation Brownwoodian having graduated from Brownwood High School in 1981. He went off to college (receiving a degree in Music Education in 1984), married and returned by choice with hid family after living all across the country in 1999. Evans states that he has had the privilege of serving as a Trustee for the past five years and is proud of many of the BISD’s accomplishments during his tenure on the Trustee Board.
“There are many challenges we face as a school district including funding and healthy usage of the resources we have as well as continuing to encourage discovery and implementation of technology within the course of our students’ education. Over the past few years we have made purposeful and noted positive education decisions for our students including a one-to-one computer initiative for Middle and High School students, dual credit programs for High School students, completed millions of dollars in facility upgrades and additions on top of completing the 24 million dollar bond program for construction components at all of our campus facilities,” said Evans. “Each year we have stayed within our projected budget and been able to add to our fund-balance all without raising taxes. These accomplishments have been possible because of our amazing teachers, administration and careful oversight.”
Evans states that he decided to run for the School Board again because he knows that there is a learning curve for new Board members and with some seasoned trustees leaving this year, he “wanted to be a strong force in seeing our respected and highly regarded School District continue to be an example for others when educating our children.” Evans further stated, “We have the good fortune to be a diverse district with a supportive community. Some of my goals are to see us continue to move forward in educational technology, continue to strive to raise our teachers pay to within 5% of the average teacher salary in Texas, continue to be fiscally responsible so that as financial challenges continue, we do not see our children’s education suffer. Provide healthy, strong, knowledgeable oversight and accountability to the Administration of BISD so they can help inspire, encourage and direct the Brownwood Independent School District to be the best it can be.”
STANLEY WALKER, JR.
Stanley Walker, Jr. is a descendent of the Mullins Family who arrived in Brown County in 1857. He attended Brownwood Schools starting in the 3rd Grade at Coggin Elementary and graduated from Brownwood High School in 1972. He continued his education at the University of Texas at Austin and Graduated from Howard Payne University in 1977. After graduation, he was employed by the Texas Youth Commission. In the summer of 1978, he became a licensed insurance agent and worked in partnership with his father, the late Stanley Walker, Sr. Today he continues to work as an Independent Insurance Agent.
Stanley has worked as a volunteer and held leadership positions in various community organizations. He has 46 years of tenure as a member of the Boy Scouts of America. He is an Eagle Scout. He has served as Scoutmaster of Troop 14 in Brownwood, a National Jamboree Troop Scoutmaster, a National Jamboree Staff member, District Commissioner and Council Commissioner of the Comanche Trail Council as well as the Texas Trails Council. He currently serves as a member of the Pecan Valley District Committee and is a Member of the Executive Board of the Texas Trails Council. He is a recipient of the Boy Scouts Silver Beaver Award. He also served 6 years on the Heart of Texas Girl Scout Council’s Executive Board as the Property Chairman. He was awarded the Girl Scouts Thanks Badge for his service. From 1994 to 2008, he served on the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) of the City of Brownwood. His last two terms on the P&Z he served as the chairman.
Stanley was elected as a Trustee of the Brownwood Independent School District and served from 1997 to 2000. When he left the Board he was serving as the Secretary / Treasurer. He is married to Derenda J. Walker and they have three daughters. His eldest two daughters, Rebecca and Bonnie, are graduates of Brownwood High School. His youngest daughter, Kathryn, is a junior at Brownwood High School. The Walker Family attends St. John’s Church in Brownwood where has served as the Senior Warden on four occasions.
BRANT BAUGH
Brant Baugh moved to Brownwood in 1996. He grew up in Temple, Texas and graduated from Abilene Christian University earning a Bachelor of Business Administration.
Baugh is married to his wife of 10 years, Melinda and together, they have a son Trine who is 5-years-old.
Currently, Baugh is employed as an administrator for several clinical physicians. He is a conservative and believes in Christian values.
Because his son is entering the Brownwood school system next year as a kindergartener, and he feels that not just his child but all kids matter, Baugh wanted to get involved as a Trustee. He states, “Schools are a real value, they are our future.”
New members who are unopposed include:
Place 5
BRAD JETTON
Brad Jetton was born in Brownwood on September 9, 1976. He attended Brownwood schools from Kindergarten through the 12th grade, graduating as a member of the Brownwood High class of 1995.
Throughout Jetton’s years in school, his father was on the school board nearly a decade. Jetton states, “It was by watching him that I first thought that someday I would like to help serve this community by being on the school board.”
Jetton is married to wife of 13 years, Christi, and together they have 3 sons. Braden, 12, is in the 6th grade; Cade, 9, is a 3rd grader; and Jake, 7, is in 1st grade. “I see the things my children do in school and it made me want to be a part of insuring the children here in Brownwood get the best opportunity possible,” said Jetton.
Jetton has co-owned and now owns Big Country Waterworks Supply, Inc. since 2000. He stated that he has dealt with some tough business decisions over those years which will help him be able to make important decisions while on the board.
Jetton has served on the board of CenTex Soccer for 6 years. “I really enjoyed my time working with and helping the youth of our area,” said Jetton. After his father died, Jetton helped to bring back the Jordan Springs Cemetery by serving as its president for approximately 2 years.
“The cemetery has had many upgrades and now that is one of the prettiest country cemeteries around,” Jetton said.
He currently serves on the Gordon Wood Hall of Champions board as well as the Brownwood Parks and Recreation board both of which are very important to him because it puts a spotlight on either people or parts of the town.
“I tend to be a conservative and I place my faith in God ahead of all else. I look forward to serving on the BISD Board of Trustees,” stated Jetton.
Place 2
DIANE THOMPSON
Diane Alexander Thompson was born in Brady, Texas. She was raised in a very loving and supportive family to the parentage of Nola Alexander and the late Alonzo Alexander. Thompson came from a large family of eight siblings. She attended Howard Payne University, graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science.
Thompson has been married to her husband, James Thompson, for twenty six years. She states that she and James “were blessed with the opportunity of having one lovely daughter, Nicole Thompson who resides in Atlanta Georgia.” Diane and James attend Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Brownwood, Texas.
Thompson worked from 1980 -1989 for Texas Youth Commission as a Youth Activity Specialist. Later she was employed with the Department of Family and Protective Services from 1992 until her retirement in 2011.
Thompson states leadership skills have helped her throughout her career.
“I was faced with many challenges that required special leadership skills as I worked in various departments while being employed with the Department as a Child Protective Services Caseworker, Adult Protective Services as an Investigator, and Residential Child Care Licensing as an Investigator investigating reports of abuse and neglect,” said Thompson. “I have also had the opportunity to substitute in Brownwood Independent School District and taught parenting classes at Family Services Center.”
She further explained why serving on the board is important to her.
“I have had the opportunity to work closely with families, teachers, administrators, and through this involvement, I have learned everyone can overcome each obstacle they are challenged with strong, firm leadership and collaboration,” said Thompson. “I also believe that Brownwood schools can give our children the best possible start in life. Already being an experienced, changed leader, I can help bring our community to this goal. I am ready to listen to all voices, build understanding and facilitate growth. Working together, we can create the schools and community our children deserve.”
