Headquarters Staff

Crystal White has been associated with TACS for the past 10 years. She has served on various TACS committees during her time as a superintendent in Hunt ISD and eventually 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 at Amarillo ISD and River Road ISD. She then left to begin working with the 64 school districts in Region 16 ESC as a Title I Consultant, Field Service Agent, and then as 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 managed all duties assigned along the way. One of her proudest accomplishments during this time was passing a bond (after 2 attempts prior to her arriving), which would help to build a community presence, something the district lacked. In addition, the new construction projects that followed the vote of confidence from the community. Crystal loved the small school atmosphere and being able to see children every day either in her office or right outside the door.

From a very early age, Crystal's parents encouraged visits to the public library and as a result became a voracious reader. Her parents would save money to purchase encyclopedias in the home and weekly game nights taught her math skills (Yahtzee). Working together for the benefit of all, these actives showed time was a wonderful way to show someone you love them.

Several years down the road, when she began her college career, Crystal enrolled as a library science major until West Texas State University cut the program. Despite the situation, she slid right into education, which allowed a merging of the literacy component and working with children.

Finally, she finished her bachelor’s degree and went straight into a master’s program for counseling and psychology, becoming a LPC and LPC supervisor. While her son was in middle school, she decided to go ahead and work on the doctorate she had always wanted through Texas Tech University and completed and received her superintendent certificate. After completing the program, looking back, Crystal shares that she loved the discussions and opportunities to network with other educators and learn together.

Now at her current position at TACS, Crystal is able 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 spending 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. Fun fact about Crystal: 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 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 joined the Texas Association of Community Schools (TACS) as Deputy Executive Director in January 2025. 

Sheri's journey in education began with an Associate's 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. 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 an RN at Hereford Regional Medical Center. They have one son Brooks and are awaiting the arrival of Beau in July.  Lanae graduated with her Bachelor’s degree and has been accepted into the Doctoral of Physical Therapy program at Hardin Simmons University. She will also be getting married to Blake Vinson in February 2026. 

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. 

Brenda joined TACS in 2023 as an Administration/Office Manager, with a background 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.

Before joining TACS, Brenda 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. She has always been a strong advocate working as a foster and assisting rescue organizations in the DFW area.

Brenda also 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 daughter-in-law, Chalan, and her older grandchildren, Dathan and Cori.

Melanie has worked with TACS since 2018. 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.

Melanie currently lives in Austin, Texas with her husband Jared, their son, and their rescue chihuahua Mae. Outside of work she enjoys reading, stitching, birdwatching, and watching her nieces and nephews grow up.

Nelly has been with TACS since 2022, working as a Web Manager.

With a passion in web development, thanks to TACS she was able to get her first role in the field which has since brought several new opportunities. Here at TACS, Nelly is responsible for updating content on the site, as well as designing web pages, graphics, flyers, etc. 

Aside from her work with TACS, she works for an organization that supports bowling alleys nationwide, specifically creating/managing their websites in her role.

Outside of school and work, Nelly loves to play tennis and try new cafes around the DFW area.

Kevin has been involved with Texas Association of Community Schools (TACS) for several years. He served two terms on the TACS Executive Committee and also served the organization as Vice President and later President of TACS.

Kevin grew up in Olton in West Texas. He received his undergraduate degree from Wayland Baptist University and his Master of Education Administration degree from Eastern New Mexico University.

During his 35-year career in public education, Kevin taught sixth grade science, physical science, and physics in Muleshoe. He later served as Assistant Principal in Brownfield, Principal in Grandfalls and Groom, and spent 24 years as Superintendent in Groom, Crawford, and Palmer. The final 16 years of his career were spent serving as Superintendent of Palmer Independent School District. He retired from public education in December 2025.

Among Kevin’s proudest accomplishments was the successful bond initiative passed in Palmer, which led to the construction of a much-needed new elementary school and new science labs for the high school.

Kevin and his wife, Susan, have been married for 40 years. They have three children and a yellow English Labrador named Wendy, who is a recent addition to the family.

Their daughter Shannon and her husband live in Lubbock, where Shannon works as a dietitian. They have one son, Shaun who attends Texas A&M.

Their daughter Laurissa lives in La Marque and works for Texas A&M University at Galveston.

Their son Kelby lives in Benbrook with his wife and works in trauma care for Stryker.

When not working, Kevin and Susan enjoy camping and fishing together.

After serving two separate four-year terms on the TACS Executive Committee and one year as the Deputy Executive Director of TACS, Barry 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, Barry 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.