CHARLES LUKE, ED.D. - DIRECTOR/FOUNDER
Dr. Charles Luke has over 30 years in business development, non-profit and education-related work. A former Texas public school superintendent, Dr. Luke is a strong advocate for education throughout the State of Texas. He is a co-director of Pastors for Texas Children – a statewide public education advocacy group; and the coordinator for the Coalition for Public Schools - a public school advocacy coalition including 35 of the state’s largest school advocacy organizations.
In addition Dr. Luke is a member of the Fort Worth Mayor’s Faith-Based Cabinet; the Faith Advisory Committee of the Child Welfare League of America; the Board of Directors of the Veterans Coalition of Tarrant County; and the Advisory Board of Helping Restore Ability in Arlington, Texas.
Dr. Charles Luke has over 30 years in business development, non-profit and education-related work. A former Texas public school superintendent, Dr. Luke is a strong advocate for education throughout the State of Texas. He is a co-director of Pastors for Texas Children – a statewide public education advocacy group; and the coordinator for the Coalition for Public Schools - a public school advocacy coalition including 35 of the state’s largest school advocacy organizations.
In addition Dr. Luke is a member of the Fort Worth Mayor’s Faith-Based Cabinet; the Faith Advisory Committee of the Child Welfare League of America; the Board of Directors of the Veterans Coalition of Tarrant County; and the Advisory Board of Helping Restore Ability in Arlington, Texas.
SENATOR KIP AVERITT - LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT
Senator Kip Averitt was born in the small West Texas town of Crane. The son of a banker and a school teacher, Averitt was raised in numerous cities and towns across Texas. He graduated from Reagan High School in Austin and earned a BBA and MBA in economics and finance from Baylor University in Waco. Averitt is a certified public accountant and consultant.
After serving nine-and-a-half years in the Texas House of Representatives, including two terms as Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Institutions, Averitt was elected to the Texas Senate in April of 2002. Averitt was Chairman of the powerful Senate
Committee on Natural Resources. His legislative experience and in-depth understanding of complex issues repeatedly won the respect and recognition of his Senate colleagues and the legislative leadership. During his last four legislative sessions, Averitt was chosen to fulfill leadership roles on major legislative efforts, including school finance reform and
design of the state's $180 billion biennial budget.
In addition to chairing the Senate's Natural Resources Committee, Averitt served on the Senate's Finance, Business and Commerce, Education, and Higher Education committees. Other legislative responsibilities included serving as co-chair of the Joint Legislative Task Force on the Use of the Sales Tax on Sporting Goods, chairman of the Oilfield Cleanup Fund Advisory Committee, and co-chair of the Environmental Flows Advisory Group. Averitt is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Texas Nature Conservancy and the Texas Water Foundation.
Averitt’s accolades include the Texas Classroom Teacher's Association Legislative Star award, the Association of Texas Professional Educators Freedom to Teach award, the Equity Center Champion for Children award, the Republican Party of Texas Chairman's Award for Courage, the Texas Medical Association's (TEXPAC) Friends of Medicine Award, and an honored spot in the Texas Association of Realtor's Hall of Fame. The National Federation of Independent Business/Texas named Averitt the Senate’s Most Valuable Player, and the Texas Farm Bureau named him one of their 12 Stars for Rural Texas. The Texas Association of Business, who called his legislative accomplishments "pro-Texas" and
"pro-business," named Averitt a Fighter for Free Enterprise. In 2005, to honor his legislative work on their behalf, the City of Marlin officially named October 19th Kip Averitt Day.
Senator Kip Averitt was born in the small West Texas town of Crane. The son of a banker and a school teacher, Averitt was raised in numerous cities and towns across Texas. He graduated from Reagan High School in Austin and earned a BBA and MBA in economics and finance from Baylor University in Waco. Averitt is a certified public accountant and consultant.
After serving nine-and-a-half years in the Texas House of Representatives, including two terms as Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Institutions, Averitt was elected to the Texas Senate in April of 2002. Averitt was Chairman of the powerful Senate
Committee on Natural Resources. His legislative experience and in-depth understanding of complex issues repeatedly won the respect and recognition of his Senate colleagues and the legislative leadership. During his last four legislative sessions, Averitt was chosen to fulfill leadership roles on major legislative efforts, including school finance reform and
design of the state's $180 billion biennial budget.
In addition to chairing the Senate's Natural Resources Committee, Averitt served on the Senate's Finance, Business and Commerce, Education, and Higher Education committees. Other legislative responsibilities included serving as co-chair of the Joint Legislative Task Force on the Use of the Sales Tax on Sporting Goods, chairman of the Oilfield Cleanup Fund Advisory Committee, and co-chair of the Environmental Flows Advisory Group. Averitt is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Texas Nature Conservancy and the Texas Water Foundation.
Averitt’s accolades include the Texas Classroom Teacher's Association Legislative Star award, the Association of Texas Professional Educators Freedom to Teach award, the Equity Center Champion for Children award, the Republican Party of Texas Chairman's Award for Courage, the Texas Medical Association's (TEXPAC) Friends of Medicine Award, and an honored spot in the Texas Association of Realtor's Hall of Fame. The National Federation of Independent Business/Texas named Averitt the Senate’s Most Valuable Player, and the Texas Farm Bureau named him one of their 12 Stars for Rural Texas. The Texas Association of Business, who called his legislative accomplishments "pro-Texas" and
"pro-business," named Averitt a Fighter for Free Enterprise. In 2005, to honor his legislative work on their behalf, the City of Marlin officially named October 19th Kip Averitt Day.
JULIA GRIZZARD - POLICY ANALYST/CONSULTANT
Julia Grizzard worked for over ten years in education and policy, most recently as the legislative director for the vice-chair of the House Committee on Public Education. Julia coordinated the entire legislative agenda as well as researched, developed, and executed legislation pertaining to public education, higher education, tax reform, healthcare, immigration, and economic development. Additionally, Julia played a key role in developing the comprehensive school finance legislation, House Bill 3, which systematically updated how public schools in Texas are funded.
Julia also acted as a point of contact and resource to District 123’s educational institutions, state-wide education and policy advocacy organizations, and state agencies including the Texas Education Agency, Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Health and Human Services Commission.
After leaving the legislature, Julia worked with Bexar County independent school district superintendents to create the Bexar County Education Coalition (BCEC) a policy coalition focused on elevating the voices of sixteen districts in and around Bexar County.
Julia grew up in San Antonio, attended Trinity University and Teachers College, Columbia for undergraduate and graduate studies respectively. In the rare event that she’s not reading the Texas education code or philosophizing about Texas School Finance, she is spending time with her husband George and her son Liam.
Julia Grizzard worked for over ten years in education and policy, most recently as the legislative director for the vice-chair of the House Committee on Public Education. Julia coordinated the entire legislative agenda as well as researched, developed, and executed legislation pertaining to public education, higher education, tax reform, healthcare, immigration, and economic development. Additionally, Julia played a key role in developing the comprehensive school finance legislation, House Bill 3, which systematically updated how public schools in Texas are funded.
Julia also acted as a point of contact and resource to District 123’s educational institutions, state-wide education and policy advocacy organizations, and state agencies including the Texas Education Agency, Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Health and Human Services Commission.
After leaving the legislature, Julia worked with Bexar County independent school district superintendents to create the Bexar County Education Coalition (BCEC) a policy coalition focused on elevating the voices of sixteen districts in and around Bexar County.
Julia grew up in San Antonio, attended Trinity University and Teachers College, Columbia for undergraduate and graduate studies respectively. In the rare event that she’s not reading the Texas education code or philosophizing about Texas School Finance, she is spending time with her husband George and her son Liam.
JAMES CROSS - PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATE/CONSULTANT
James Cross has spent 30 years in public education with twenty of those serving as a principal at the junior high and the last thirteen at the high school level. James led state and nationally ranked schools in both west and southeast Texas.
In 2018, he was recognized by the Texas PTA as the secondary Principal of the Year, followed by Administrator of the Year by the Agricultural Teachers in 2019 and Principal of the Year by the Journalism Teachers Association in 2020.
James’s schools have thrived academically, athletically, and in fine arts. He excelled at building a strong culture not only within the school itself but within the community. His skill for uniting people is the foundation of his success as a school administrator. As a former English and history teacher, James enjoys reading and digging into history, but most of all he loves spending time with his family.
He is excited to enter this stage of his life and begin the journey of advocating for public schools. He believes they are definitely worth fighting for.
James Cross has spent 30 years in public education with twenty of those serving as a principal at the junior high and the last thirteen at the high school level. James led state and nationally ranked schools in both west and southeast Texas.
In 2018, he was recognized by the Texas PTA as the secondary Principal of the Year, followed by Administrator of the Year by the Agricultural Teachers in 2019 and Principal of the Year by the Journalism Teachers Association in 2020.
James’s schools have thrived academically, athletically, and in fine arts. He excelled at building a strong culture not only within the school itself but within the community. His skill for uniting people is the foundation of his success as a school administrator. As a former English and history teacher, James enjoys reading and digging into history, but most of all he loves spending time with his family.
He is excited to enter this stage of his life and begin the journey of advocating for public schools. He believes they are definitely worth fighting for.