The new TTU K-12 advisory board met July 19. From left: Justin Louder, interim superintendent; Stacy Hobbs, Margaret Leifeste, Kayla Morrison and Doyle Vogler. By Skype: Syd Sexton.

TTU K-12 Welcomes Inaugural Advisory Board

By Leslie Cranford, Section Manager

A new administrative code adopted by the State Board of Education in October 2020 requires Special Purpose School Districts like TTU K-12 to install an advisory board. TTU K-12 is fortunate to have welcomed in July five highly qualified members for its initial board.

Members include Stacy Hobbs, Margaret Leifeste, Kayla Morrison, Syd Sexton and Doyle Vogler.

Hobbs is a psychiatric mental health Nurse Practitioner who provides telemedicine all over Texas for patients suffering from mental health disorders. A 2014 graduate of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center with a BSN and 2018 with her MSN, Hobbs grew up in the Panhandle and currently lives on their cattle ranch in Moody, Texas, with her husband. They have a daughter who completed her entire senior year of high school through Texas Tech University High School. Their son also has taken classes over the summers through TTUHS and is currently a freshman at Texas Tech. Hobbs is passionate about mental health access, all things Texas Tech University, ranching and her family.

Leifeste is well-rounded in the education field. She earned a bachelor’s in elementary education from Angelo State University, a Master of Education in Special Education from Lamar University, and her mid-management certification from Texas Tech University. Her teaching experience includes years in general education and special education classrooms. She has worked as an educational diagnostician at all levels, Pre-K through high school, and served as a special education administrator for a shared service arrangement and a single member district. In addition, Leifeste was Special Education Director for Region 15 Education Service Center. Special education finance has been a particular interest of hers and she has done numerous trainings for TCASE and school districts in the San Angelo area. Leifeste retired in 2013 with 41 years’ experience in Texas schools.

Morrison is the superintendent for Lorenzo Independent School District since March 1, 2018. Previously, Morrison worked at Roosevelt ISD for 24 years where she held the jobs of teacher, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent for her last six years at RISD. Before working at Roosevelt, she was also employed in Klein ISD in Spring, Texas, and at Lubbock Cooper ISD. Morrison is a 1983 graduate of Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a 2003 graduate of Texas Tech with a Master of Science. She participated in the first cohort of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Master Science Teacher program which began in the summer of 1999. Morrison has been married 39 years to her husband, Guy, and they have three children, six grandchildren and another one on the way. Education is and has been a life-long passion for her, and she has enjoyed meeting the challenges in education over the past 37 years of her career.

Sexton is the director of educational services at Region 17 Education Service Center in Lubbock. She has worked in Texas public education for 25 years at campus, district and regional levels. Sexton trains on multiple leadership topics, mentors teachers and leaders, and consults on issues of school culture, data-driven instruction and school improvement. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from West Texas A&M University and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Texas Tech University. Her love of teaching comes from generations of educators before her, and her passion is ensuring that school leaders, teachers and students flourish. Sexton lives in Lubbock with her husband Blaine and children Doak and Saylor, who attend school in the Lubbock Independent School District. Her oldest, Guy, attended the University of Texas and graduated in spring of 2021.

Doyle Vogler is the Associate Superintendent for Teaching in Learning. He is a graduate of West Texas A & M University, Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University. He holds a bachelor’s in mathematics, a master’s in mathematics and biology as well as a master’s in Educational Leadership. He has served as a secondary math/biology teacher, a high school assistant/associate principal, and a high school principal for multiple years. His Texas certifications include secondary math, secondary biology, mid-management, and superintendent. Prior to working in education, he was an actuary for the United States Department of Agriculture where he worked with team members to set crop insurance rates. Vogler serves on several boards including Communities in Schools, the Volunteer Center of Lubbock, and he serves as the treasurer for Texas International Baccalaureate Schools.

Find out more about the advisory board meetings, agenda and other important items.