Crystal White

Executive Director

Email: cwhite@tacsnet.org

(512) – 440 – 8227 x11

Get to know Crystal:

Crystal White has been associated with TACS in some form for the past 10 years. She served on various committees when she was a superintendent in Hunt ISD and joined TACS as Deputy Executive Director in June of 2018.

In her 32-year career in public education, Crystal served as a teacher and counselor in Amarillo ISD and River Road ISD. She left to begin working with the 64 school districts in Region 16 ESC as a Title I Consultant, Field Service Agent, and then Administrative Services working with Superintendents and providing School Board training. After more than a decade at the ESC, she joined Spearman ISD as an Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Student Support. Her first superintendency came in a place that is still very dear to her heart – Hunt ISD. She served for 7 years as the superintendent and all the other duties as assigned along the way. One of her proudest accomplishments during that time was passing a bond (after 2 attempts prior to her arriving), building more of a community presence back into the district, and the new construction projects that followed the vote of confidence from the community. She also loved the small school atmosphere and being able to see children every day either in her office or right outside the door.

Her parents encouraged visits to the public library from a very early age and she became a voracious reader. Her parents saved money to purchase encyclopedias in the home and weekly game nights taught math skills (Yahtzee), working together for the benefit of all, and how time is a wonderful way to show someone you love them. Starting her college career, she was a library science major until West Texas State University cut the program. She slid right into education, which allowed a merging of the literacy component and working with children.

She finished her bachelor’s degree and went straight into a master’s program for counseling and psychology, becoming a LPC and LPC supervisor. When her son was in middle school, she decided to go ahead and work on the doctorate she wanted through Texas Tech University and get her superintendent certificate. She completed that program and loved the discussions and opportunities to network with other educators and learn from and with them.

Her job here at TACS allows her to use her counseling skills, her field service experience, her lessons learned in administration – especially in a small school -- and still learn alongside friends from public school districts, education service centers, and corporate partners.

Outside of work, Crystal loves time with family and friends. Her husband is a tax accountant at Brown, Graham & Company, P.C. Her son Clinton lives in the Dallas area and works as an acquisitions analyst. Her parents and sisters currently live in the Austin area. She loves to travel and is always in for a good movie at the theater with her frozen coke Icee and a big bucket of popcorn!

Sheri Blankenship

Deputy Executive Director

Get to know Sheri:

Sheri Blankenship is a seasoned educator with a profound dedication to public education. With a career spanning three decades, she has left an enduring mark on Hereford ISD, where she served in various roles, culminating in nine years as Superintendent. Poised to bring her wealth of experience and leadership to a new role, Sheri will join the Texas Association of Community Schools (TACS) as Deputy Executive Director in January 2025.

Sheri's journey in education began with an Associate Degree from Clarendon College, followed by a Bachelor’s Degree from Midwestern State University, and a Master’s Degree from West Texas A&M University. Throughout her tenure in Hereford ISD, Sheri served in capacities ranging from teacher and assistant principal to executive director of personnel and ultimately Superintendent.

Among her proudest achievements are the transformation of an elementary campus into a Pre-K facility and the successful passage of a bond, a feat achieved after 42 years of no attempts and 2 failed attempts at a bond. Her contributions to education were further recognized when she was named Region 16 Superintendent of the Year and became a top-five finalist at the state level in 2023.

Sheri is deeply engaged in the Hereford community, actively participating in organizations like the Hereford Church of Christ, Lions Club, Leadership Hereford, Delta Kappa Gamma, Amarillo College Hinkson Memorial Campus Advisory Board and the Hereford Chamber of Commerce, where she serves as Past President. Additionally, she has contributed her expertise to statewide boards, committees, and education-related organizations – including Texas Association of Community Schools.

Sheri has been married to Jared for three decades. Jared, an integral part of the family's farming enterprise, also serves as the District I State Director for the Texas Farm Bureau. Sheri and Jared cherish spending time with their children, Lang and Lanae. Lang plays a pivotal role in the family farming business and his wife Taylor is set to graduate soon with a nursing degree from WTAMU. Lanae is pursuing her studies in Physical Therapy at Hardin Simmons University.

In her leisure time, Sheri indulges in baking, traveling, and assisting on the family farm, and demonstrating her multifaceted dedication and unwavering commitment to both her personal and professional pursuits.

In addition to our Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director, TACS has several people working in specific roles on a part-time basis to support our small and mid-sized districts:

Brenda Bomar

Administration/Office Manager

Email: bb@tacsnet.org

Get to know Brenda:

Brenda joined TACS last year as Administration/Office Manager. Her background is in Accounting and Financial Computer Systems. She began her career early on working for the City of Amarillo in various departments and then moved to Oil & Gas, working in the financial accounting/computer systems area. She spent several years living overseas in Ecuador and Indonesia. While overseas she was involved with the International Schools serving on their Booster Club Boards and the sports programs, allowing her to interact with students of all ages. She served as Vice-President and Treasurer in Indonesia for the Jakarta International School Booster Club. She also served as President and Treasurer with the American and British Women’s Association in Ecuador Because she has a heart for animals, Brenda has always been a strong advocate working as a foster and assisting rescue organizations in the DFW area. She loves being involved with her family. She especially loves time with her grandchildren - Avery and Alexia. She has spent years following the careers of her son Josh, an officer in the United States Marines, and her stepson Robert, a Scientist (a title he was so proud of achieving)! She is equally as proud of her wonderful daughters-in-law, Tara and Chalan!

Melanie Zumm

Communications Coordinator

Email: mzumm@tacsnet.org

Get to know Melanie:

Melanie has worked for TACS for four years in total. A lifelong animal lover, she took a two year detour to work in veterinary medicine, primarily with chronically ill/special needs shelter animals, but is now back to her roots of nonprofit work. She holds a Communications degree from DePaul University in Chicago. She’s always had a “helper” personality and enjoys bringing projects to life, loving any task that involves organizing information. She lives in Austin, TX with her husband Jared and their rescue chihuahua Mae. Outside of work she enjoys reading, stitching, birdwatching, and seeing her nieces and nephews grow up.

Nelly Hernandez

Web Manager

Email: webmanager@tacsnet.org

(512) – 440 – 8227 x15

Get to know Nelly:

Nelly Hernandez is a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin. Hook 'em!

Throughout her four-years at the university she has aquired a variety of skills in web development, app development, graphics and visualization and python and java. She has also been able to build up her skills in critical analysis,communications ( both verbally and written), and research and information gathering, to name a few. Here at TACS, Nelly is responsible for maintaining and editing all front-end and backend elements and design of the website. She has both a passion for all things front-end and currently works as a Web Developer outside of TACS.

Outside of school and work, Nelly also loves to play tennis with her friends and spends time creating digital art and animations in her free time.

Vicki Adams

Corporate Partner Development Coordinator

Email: vadams@tacsnet.org

(512) – 440 – 8227 

Get to know Vicki:

Vicki Adams graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1981 before moving to Texas to coach and teach with her spouse who is a fellow educator. During her 37 years in education, she completed her master’s in counseling from Sam Houston State University and later furthered her education in administration at Stephen F. Austin. In addition to serving students as a counselor, director, and superintendent, Vicki holds Texas educator certificates in secondary reading, English, psychology, physical education, elementary self-contained, and is a Master Reading Teacher.  She served as superintendent of Hillsboro ISD for 7 years after serving in that capacity for 7 years in Palacios ISD.

Being selected during the 2013-2014 school year as one of 30 superintendents from Texas to participate in the Future Ready Leadership Institute was not only a great honor but also gave Vicki the opportunity to collaborate with other superintendents who were passionate about developing vision-driven instruction. Vicki served as an executive committee member for organizations such as the Texas Association of School Administrators, the Region 3 Superintendent Study Group, the Equity Center, Texas Rural Education Association, and our organization, Texas Association of Community Schools. She has presented to many superintendent groups such as TASA First Time Superintendents and has assisted in the state-wide transformation of schools into the 21st Century. These transformation efforts include recognizing the strengths of the whole learner rather than just how well a student can take a test and the development of community-based accountability systems.

Vicki has been married to her husband, Joe for 41 years. She and Joe have three adult children, daughters Denika Adams, Danielle Adams-Slee and husband Dave, and son

Shea Adams. Joe and Vicki also have a grandson, Dexter

Barry Haenisch

Field Services

Email: bhaenisch@tacsnet.org

(512) – 440 – 8227 x18

Get to know Barry:

After serving two different four-year terms on the TACS Executive Committee and one year as the Deputy Executive Director of TACS, Barry Haenisch has served the association as its Executive Director for eight years. He came to TACS full time after serving for 41 years as a teacher, coach, counselor, high school principal, and superintendent in small and mid-sized school districts in Texas.

A graduate of Eden High School in Eden, Texas, Mr. Haenisch attended and graduated from McMurry University where he met his wife, Linda. Teaching and coaching assignments took the couple to the Culberson County ISD in Van Horn, Texas, the Menard ISD, the McCamey ISD, and the Gruver ISD. In the Gruver ISD, Barry began his career in administration, first as the high school principal and then as the district’s superintendent. He also served as the superintendent of schools for the Merkel ISD and the Pampa ISD before retiring from public school work in 2012.

Barry and Linda have two children. Their son Kyle is a school counselor in the Austin ISD, and their daughter Kayce works at the Region 11 ESC. Both children were born in Van Horn and graduated from Gruver High School. Kayce’s son Charlie is the apple of the couple’s eye!
When he is not working, Barry enjoys “piddling around” on the family’s farm in McCulloch County, Texas.