AUSTIN, TX, August 10, 2026—Teach Plus congratulates 10 Teach Plus Texas educators named to Governor Greg Abbott’s newly formed 21-member Texas Classroom Commission. Policy Fellows Valton Acree, Sergio Arjon, Karla Guevara, Tevin King, Hannah Landry, and Crystal Stipes, along with alumnae JoMeka Gray, Eric Hale, Jean Streepey, and Bobbie Lynn Weir, will help shape state policy with direct classroom expertise. The educators joined Governor Abbott today at a press conference at the Texas Governor’s Mansion to officially launch the Commission’s work.
The Texas Classroom Commission brings together current and former public school teachers from across the state to develop classroom-informed recommendations for the Governor, the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Legislature ahead of the 90th Legislative Session which convenes in January 2027. The Commission’s focus is on strengthening classroom instruction, providing stronger support for teachers, and building classrooms where students are set up to succeed.
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Representation on the commission:
North Texas
- Eric Hale, Policy Fellowship alumnus, Dallas ISD
- Jean Streepey, Policy Fellowship alumna, Highland Park ISD
- Bobbie Lynn Weir, Policy Fellowship alumna, Richardson ISD
Central Texas
- JoMeka Gray, Policy Fellowship alumna, Temple ISD
- Karla Guevara, Policy Fellow, Riesel ISD
- Crystal Stipes, Policy Fellow, Comanche ISD
Southeast Texas
- Sergio Arjon, Policy Fellow, Houston ISD
- Hannah Landry, Policy Fellow, Bridge City ISD
South Texas
- Valton Acree, Policy Fellow, Yorktown ISD
West Texas
- Tevin King, Policy Fellow, IDEA Public Schools – El Paso
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Perspectives from Teach Plus leadership and Classroom Commission members:
“It’s an honor and a testament to our teachers’ leadership that they represent nearly half of this commission’s membership. No one is better positioned to identify what actually improves student outcomes than the people closest to students, and now these educators get to make that case directly to the governor and state leaders. We encourage the commission to build on the priorities Teach Plus educators laid out in Teaching Towards Tomorrow, including stronger teacher preparation, access to career and technical education, clear AI guardrails, all in service of getting more students genuinely ready for college and careers.”—Natalie Brown, Teach Plus Texas Interim Executive Director
“I’m excited to serve on the Texas Classroom Commission and to hear first-hand from teachers across the state. Teachers are the number one in-school factor affecting student outcomes, so it makes sense to have teachers’ perspectives at the center of policy decisions.”—Jean Streepey, Highland Park Independent School District Curriculum Specialist, Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellowship alumna
“The Classroom Commission allows teachers to identify and elevate best practices from across the state to the legislature. I’m honored to represent El Paso.”—Tevin King, 8th grade U.S. history teacher at IDEA Public Schools in El Paso, Teach Plus Texas Senior Policy Fellow
“I am honored to be appointed to the Texas Classroom Commission alongside educators who will bring authentic, classroom-centered perspectives and recommendations. Together, we have an opportunity to develop practical solutions that create a lasting impact on Texas public education.”—Jomeka Gray, kindergarten teacher, Temple ISD, Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellowship alumna
ABOUT TEACH PLUS
The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students’ success. In pursuing our mission, Teach Plus is guided by our Student Opportunity Mandate: To act boldly and create the conditions where every student can imagine their future—and experience an education that delivers the opportunity to realize it. Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to exercise their leadership in shaping education policy and improving teaching and learning for students. teachplus.org/tx
