Cody Roberson: Early Texas Arrest, "Unacceptable" Charter Schools, and Politicians in the News

A pair of senators push to make charter schools more accountable
Senators want troubled ones shut faster, more successes rewarded

By Mike Ward
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Troubled charter schools would be shuttered faster, they would all face increased accountability, and the best ones would be eligible for state facilities money for the first time under an initiative unveiled Tuesday by state Senate leaders.

Called the Champion Charter Schools Act, the measure would automatically revoke for two years the charters of schools with unacceptable academic or financial ratings and would provide for expedited closure of poor-performing campuses.

Sen. Florence Shapiro 'We need to weed out the bad and make the good ones solid,' lawmaker says.
Charter schools are publicly funded schools given more financial and instructional freedom than regular public schools.

Charter schools that do not have at least 25 percent of students consistently passing state assessment tests would face closure.

Senate Bill 4 — sponsored by Sens. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, and Kyle Janek, R-Houston — would also give money for facilities to charter schools and districts with exemplary or recognized ratings, the two highest marks, for two years in a row.

The bill also seeks to dissolve every charter in the state and require schools to re-apply for the state licenses. Only those that meet minimum standards would be relicensed, lawmakers said.

In recent years, some of Texas' charter schools have made headlines because of low performance, financial mismanagement and fraudulent practices, problems that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and other Senate leaders said should be quickly curbed.

"We need to weed out the bad and make the good ones solid," said Shapiro, chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, insisting that she will "lead the charge" for change.

"Those schools that do well must have the freedom and encouragement to continue to do well, and those that don't must close. That alone will help the charter school movement and therefore the students of Texas."

The facilities incentives would go up to $1,000 per student, she said.

"This is not a funding mechanism for these schools; it is an incentive program for these schools," Shapiro said. "These are public schools, just a different type."

In 2006, just less than 12 percent of Texas' charter schools were rated unacceptable, compared with slightly more than 3 percent of regular public schools, according to a Texas Education Agency Web site. About 15 percent of charter schools were rated as exemplary or recognized last year, compared with almost 44 percent of regular schools.

Currently, there are 191 operational charter holders operating 438 campuses and educating 70,000 students, said DeEtta Culbertson, a spokeswoman for the education agency.

Many of the students in charter schools are at-risk youths who have failed in traditional public schools, according to the education agency.

House Public Education Committee Chairman Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands, said he supports the plan. Even so, legislative leaders acknowledged, passage into law is far from certain.

Charter-school reform bills have been approved by the Senate three times since 2005. They went nowhere in the House.

"This is one of these groundhog bills. . . . It just keeps coming back," Shapiro said.

Dewhurst said is confident the changes will be enacted this time. "While we have a long list of reforms, the goal for each one is the same, providing Texas children with the best education possible."

mward@statesman.com

source: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/02/07/7charter.html
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Teen charged in mother's death
17-year-old allegedly used baseball bat in beating

By Celinda Emison / emisonc@reporternews.com
February 1, 2007

A 17-year-old Erath County youth is in custody charged with the beating death of his mother, according to the Erath County Sheriff's Department.

Cody Roberson, 17, was arrested in Brown County early Wednesday and was held on an evading arrest charge and another Erath County charge until the murder warrant was issued Wednesday afternoon by the Erath County District Attorney's Office.

He is charged with the beating death of his mother, Jana Roberson, 50. She died as a result of blunt force trauma to her entire body, according to Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant.An aluminum baseball bat, believed to be the murder weapon, was found late Wednesday afternoon about eight miles north of Stephenville, on Highway 281 North, Bryant said. Bryant said the bat was covered in blood.The Stephenville Police Department was notified of the incident around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday night.

Investigators believe the suspect's 15-year-old girlfriend was inside the home when the homicide occurred and that she was with him when he disposed of the bat.

''The suspect's girlfriend notified (her) family members what had happened, and they called police,'' Bryant said.

Police discovered Mrs. Roberson's body at the family's home in the 300 block of County Road 568 in Erath County.

''At that time they secured the location and waited for deputies to arrive,'' Bryant said.

Roberson was arrested after Brown County authorities received a bulletin from Erath County around 12:15 a.m. Wednesday to be on the lookout for him.

''We had reason to believe he was headed to Brownwood, we did not know why,'' Bryant said.

Roberson was spotted by authorities about 1:30 a.m. at a convenience store on East Commerce Street in Early, but the teenager fled on foot.

A sheriff's deputy and a Brownwood Police Department officer arrested Roberson at 2:06 a.m. Wednesday.

The Coleman Police Department also received a bulletin that Roberson may be headed there because his father, Jim Roberson, chief financial officer of the Coleman County Medical Center, may have been in danger.

Coleman Police Chief Jay Moses said he posted officers at the hospital until they received word that Roberson had been apprehended in Early.

''We understand Mr. Roberson (the father) had already been notified of a family emergency and was already on his way back to Stephenville,'' Moses said. ''We were concerned about the welfare of the hospital employees and patients.''

''That was a good proactive move on their part,'' Bryant said.

Roberson was returned to Erath County late Wednesday, Bryant said.

''We still don't have all the details and will not until we have time to interview him,'' Bryant said.

The case remains under investigation by the Erath County Sheriff's Office, Stephenville Police Department and the Texas Rangers.

source: http://www.reporter-news.com/abil/nw_local/article/0,1874,ABIL_7959_5319979,00.html
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Thursday February 1, 2007
News

Murder suspect chase ends in Early

By Steve Nash — Brownwood Bulletin

Cody Roberson

A Stephenville teen sought in connection with his mother’s death was arrested in Early Wednesday morning after a police officer saw the 17-year-old’s pickup in a convenience store parking lot, authorities said.

Cody Roberson was arrested at 1:46 a.m. after a foot chase involving Early police, Brownwood police and Brown County Sheriff’s deputies, sheriff’s officials said.

The Stephenville Empire-Tribune reported in today’s edition that authorities there expect to charge Roberson with murder in the death of Jana Roberson, 50. She was beaten to death by an aluminum baseball bat Tuesday night, the newspaper reported.

Jana Roberson was found dead in her home by authorities who responded to a 9-1-1 call they received at 10:53 p.m., the newspaper reported. The call was apparently made by relatives of the suspect’s 15-year-old girlfriend, who was with him at the time of the murder, according to the newspaper.

Cody Roberson was taken to the Brown County Jail after his arrest and transferred to Erath County Wednesday, Brown County Jail officials said.

Early Assistant Police Chief Butch Lawson said Stephenville police had broadcast an attempt-to-locate message on Roberson. He said Brown County lawmen learned Roberson was seen in Comanche and believed he was likely headed toward Brown County.

Early officer John Mills saw the teen’s black 2005 Dodge pickup parked outside the Food Plaza store on Early Boulevard, on the city’s east edge, at 1:34 a.m., sheriff’s officials said.

Mills parked his patrol car and watched the truck, and the officer saw Roberson come out of the store, Lawson said.

“John attempted to contact him and identify him, and he broke and ran,” Lawson said.

Mills radioed that the suspect was running behind the store, and deputy James Stroope went to the intersection of Longhorn Drive and Early Boulevard to stop him from getting to the highway, Stroope’s report states.

Stroope heard deputy Carlyle Gover radio that the suspect was running on Longhorn near Autumn Drive, and Stroope drove to that area. Then Mills radioed the the suspect was running near the Hope for Tomorrow on Early Boulevard, Stroope’s report states.

Stroope and Early officer Steven Means set up a perimeter at Eastwind and Hanson, and Stroope saw the suspect running. The suspect jumped a fence and ran through a field with Means chasing him, Stroope’s report states.

Stroope drew his pistol and yelled at the suspect to stop. He kept running but finally lay on the ground, and Brownwood officer Troy Grusendorf handcuffed him, Stroope’s report states.

Gover asked the teen why he ran, and he replied he “did not do it,” the report states. Gover replied “did not do what,” and the teen said “I don’t know what happened. I went outside to smoke a cigarette and when I came in my mom was laying in the floor bleeding,” Gover quoted the teen as saying.

The teen then said a female’s name and said she had hit his mother, Stroope’s report states.

Texas Ranger Joe Hudson came to the Law Enforcement Center and spoke with Roberson, the report states.

The Stephenville newspaper reported in today’s edition that authorities said they have found what they believe to be the baseball bat about eight miles north of Stephenville, on U.S. Highway 281.

The newspaper reported that Jana Roberson received a phone call from her son, Cody, Tuesday evening asking for a ride for he and his girlfriend from an undisclosed location.

But when the three arrived back at the family’s home, something went wrong, the newspaper reported. It quoted Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant as saying investigators hadn’t learned Wednesday what caused the incident.

Bryant told the newspaper that Stephenville police arrived to find Jana Roberson’s body in an enclosed porch.

The newspaper reported that the suspect and his girlfriend had apparently left the home in the victim’s vehicle and headed to Mineral Wells to stay with a friend. When that friend could not be located, the couple came back to Stephenville, where Roberson dropped off his girlfriend and fled once again, the newspaper reported.

This story includes reports provided by Sara Vanden Berge, news editor of the Stephenville Empire-Tribune.

source: http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/articles/2007/02/01/news/news01.txt
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Baseball bat murder -- Jana Roberson remembered as ‘talented,’ caring individual

By ANGELIA JOINER Staff Writer
Thursday, February 1, 2007 12:27 PM CST

Jana Roberson was known as a talented individual who loved computers and crafts and will be deeply missed by many. Her adopted teenage son, Cody, allegedly killed Roberson Tuesday night.

Rhonda Platz, Harvey Baptist Church secretary, where Roberson regularly attended said she had received maybe 35-40 calls Wednesday morning from shocked parishioners inquiring about Roberson’s death.

“Is it true? Did it really happen?” is what Platz heard from concerned church members inquiring in disbelief about the events occurring Tuesday night.

“She took it upon herself to fix up our library,” Platz said. “It was a real mess and she made it a nice place. She was very well liked here.”

Roberson had been employed for 17 years by the Texas Cooperative Extension at the Texas A & M Research and Extension Center.

She had received numerous awards including national awards for her work as Webmaster according to her direct supervisor, Ron Wooley, district extension administrator.

Wooley said he received a phone call about 7 a.m. Wednesday morning regarding the death of his employee and friend.

“We’re all pretty shook up,” he said. “We’re shocked and saddened.”

Several of Roberson’s coworkers are members of Valley Grove Baptist Church. They called their pastor, Glenn Shock, to help them through a difficult emotional morning, Wooley said.

“She was a self-starter, a dedicated staffer, and over the years she taught herself quite a bit about the computer,” Wooley said. “She was invaluable as the Webmaster for the center.”

Vickie Norton, office manager said she had known Roberson the entire 17 years of her employment with the company.

“Jana could do anything she set her mind to,” Norton said. “She made quilts, painted crafts and was always redecorating her house. We cover 21 counties through our office and she was well known for her computer service. She helped everybody. Jana will be extremely missed by our whole district.”

Norton said Roberson was known for having a soft spot for babies and children.

“Anytime anyone came to the office with a baby, she was the first to jump up and ask if she could hold it,” Norton said.

Norton said their office would close in order to allow the employees to attend funeral services.

source: http://www.empiretribune.com/articles/2007/02/01/news/news02.txt
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Baseball bat murder -- Mother killed, adopted teen-aged son arrested

By SARA VANDEN BERGE News Editor
Thursday, February 1, 2007 12:27 PM CST

A mother is dead and her 17-year-old son is in custody, accused of beating her to death with an aluminum baseball bat Tuesday night inside the family’s Stephenville residence.

Jana Roberson, 50, was found dead in her home by authorities who responded to a frantic 911 call they received at 10:53 p.m. The call was apparently made by relatives of murder suspect Cody Roberson’s 15-year-old girlfriend, who was with him at the time of the murder.

Authorities confirmed late Wednesday that they located what they believe to be the murder weapon - the baseball bat - about eight miles north of Stephenville, on U.S. Highway 281.

The investigation into what actually transpired before, during, and after the crime remains ongoing.

What’s known is that Jana Roberson received a phone call from her son, Cody, Tuesday evening asking for a ride for he and his girlfriend from an undisclosed location.

But when the three arrived back at the family’s home, something went terribly wrong.

“We don’t know yet what sparked the incident,” Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant said. “But we hope to find out.”

Bryant said when officers with the Stephenville Police Department arrived at the scene, they discovered the body of the deceased in a section of the house described as an “enclosed porch.” She had been beaten to death.

The suspect and his girlfriend had apparently left the home in the victim’s vehicle and headed to Mineral Wells to stay with a friend. When that friend could not be located, the couple came back to Stephenville, where Roberson dropped off his girlfriend and fled once again.

He was apprehended in Early shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday by an Early police officer and a Brown County sheriff’s deputy after a foot-chase.

He was arrested and transported to the Brown County Jail.

The suspect has a history of family violence, and was arrested in December for allegedly assaulting his mother in a separate incident. He was then released on probation, but a warrant for his arrest was recently reissued after he violated probation. The mother did not have a protective order against her son, Bryant said.

“She loved him so much that she did not want to sign a protective order that would keep him away,” Bryant said.

Authorities said the suspect was adopted by Jim and Jana Roberson when he was an infant, and lived in Stephenville for the majority of his life. According to Stephenville Independent School District officials, Roberson attended Stephenville High School for four months — from August through December of 2004 -- then transferred to Erath Excels! Academy.

“Erath Excels wishes to express our deepest sympathy to the family of Jana Roberson,” said Debra Miller, director of Excels! Academy.

“For the short period of time Cody was enrolled in EEA, school personnel were in daily contact with his mother concerning academic issues,” Miller said. “We grieve the loss of a wonderful, caring parent and our prayers are with her family, including the son she loved. Administrators and counselors met with students and staff for a crisis debriefing. Counselors will be available for students, parents, and staff as needed.”

Meanwhile, Bryant said Cody Roberson is expected to be transferred to Erath County “very soon” to face murder charges.

Sara Vanden Berge covers courts, law enforcement, and business and political issues for the Empire-Tribune. She can be reached at sara.vandenberge@empiretribune.com. Her work number is 968-2379, ext. 240.

source: http://www.empiretribune.com/articles/2007/02/01/news/news01.txt

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Co-workers feared for Roberson’s safety

By ANGELIA JOINER and DOUG MYERS Empire-Tribune
Friday, February 2, 2007 10:39 AM CST

Apparently Jana Roberson had been grappling with issues regarding her son, Cody, for months prior to the brutal beating that resulted in her death.

Jana Roberson’s 17-year-old adopted son was arrested and accused of beating his own mother to death with an aluminum baseball bat Tuesday night.

Texas A&M spokesman Dave Mayes said Roberson’s co-workers at Texas Cooperative Extension - located at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center at Highway 281 and Highway 8 - approached officials about 90 days ago with concerns involving Roberson’s son.

They feared for Jana Roberson’s safety and their own.

“She was very fearful … that he would hurt her,” said a “family acquaintance” who asked to remain anonymous.

“He (Cody Roberson) had a lot of anger issues. He was a social misfit.”

In addition, others said she understood Jana Roberson had requested prayer for her family this week.

Meanwhile, Mayes said security measures at the Texas A & M Research and Extension Center were stepped up as soon as possible, as concern heightened at a place where Jana Roberson worked for 17 years.

Mayes said there are a total of six doors that can be used to gain entry to the building. Five of those entrances are side doors and one is the front door. Before concerns were brought to company leaders, all six doors were left unlocked.

When company leaders realized the scope of what they were dealing with, things changed as soon as possible.

For a period of a few days, when company officials were first alerted to Roberson’s situation all six doors were kept locked, this included the front door.

During the time period the front door was locked, a receptionist kept watch to unlock the door for visitors so the company could continue normal business operations.

“Other employees knew about her personal situation and brought it to company leaders and this was their answer to help the situation,” Mayes said.

Mayes said signs were posted on side doors instructing visitors to enter through the front door. He said his company reacted out of concern for Roberson’s safety and others.

Mayes said employees had keys to the side doors and could come and go at will.

“He (Cody) did come out twice in the space of the three month time period,” Mayes said.

Mayes said his office was located in College Station and he didn’t have first hand knowledge of how the son’s visits occurred. He thought Roberson might have met her son at the front door but he said he was told that the visits were non-violent.

Meanwhile, the “family acquaintance” who asked to remain anonymous said Cody Roberson’s parents - Jana and Jim - tried "special schools and counselors and doctors" for their son as part of an effort to help him.

“His parents did everything they could to help him be a normal teen-ager,” she said, adding that the “special camps and counselors probably started by the time he was (age) 10.”

Even so, she said, “If Jana were alive now, she would be trying to help him.”

“She (Jana Roberson) was a good mother,” she said. “She took him to church and took him to everything you take little kids to and made his room cute. She was proud of him.”

source: www.empiretribune.com
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Eating ice cream preceded murder

By SARA VANDEN BERGE News Editor
Friday, February 2, 2007 10:39 AM CST

Shortly before Jana Roberson was killed Tuesday night, allegedly at the hands of her 17-year-old son Cody, she was enjoying a quiet evening at home with her son and his 15-year-old girlfriend, according to the girlfriend’s mother.

The mother, who is not being named to protect the identity of her underage daughter, said the victim picked up the two teens early Tuesday evening and took them to Piggly Wiggly to buy ice cream before taking them to the Roberson home. She said her daughter told her that before the murder, Cody was calm and “everything seemed fine.”

“They ate ice cream and had popcorn,” the mother said. “They were settling in for the night, then something went wrong. I don’t know what happened.”

Authorities investigating the case are not saying much, but Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant said investigators spent Thursday interviewing witnesses and examining evidence. Bryant said there are no charges pending against the girlfriend at this time.

Meanwhile, a $1 million bond has been set for the suspect. Cody Roberson was transported to Erath County from Brown County late Wednesday to face murder charges. Authorities said they do not believe the suspect has retained an attorney or requested that one be court-appointed.

The suspect is charged with beating his mother “all over her body” with an aluminum baseball bat, killing her after some type of altercation arose. What sparked the dispute, however, is still not known.

The girlfriend’s mother said her daughter told her that she was in a bedroom eating ice cream when she heard the first sound of trouble.

“My daughter heard a thumping sound - she thought he (Cody) was hitting the table,” she said. “Then she heard her (the victim) calling for help so she came out of the bedroom to see what was happening, but Cody told her to get back.”

The suspect has a history of family violence, and was arrested in December for allegedly assaulting his mother in a separate incident. He was then released on probation, but a warrant for his arrest was recently reissued after he violated probation. The mother did not have a protective order against her son, authorities said.

Earlier reports stated the suspect was adopted by Jim and Jana Roberson when he was five years old, but he was actually adopted by the couple as an infant.

Roberson’s body was sent to the Dallas County Medical Examiner for autopsy, authorities said.

Sara Vanden Berge covers courts, law enforcement, and business and political issues for the Empire-Tribune. She can be reached at sara.vandenberge@empiretribune.com. Her work number is 968-2379, ext. 240.

source: www.empiretribune.com
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Warrant for teen’s arrest issued before murder

By ANGELIA JOINER Staff Writer
Monday, February 5, 2007 10:46 AM CST

One day before Cody Roberson allegedly murdered his mother, Jana Roberson, in the family’s home, a warrant for his arrest was in the hands of law enforcement officials.

The warrant alleges that Roberson violated the terms of his pretrial release agreement after he was arrested for assaulting his mother in late December, Weldon Wilson, pretrial release agent, said.

Prior to his release, specific conditions were laid out for Roberson to follow. Among those provisions, Roberson was required to meet with Wilson weekly, keep scheduled appointments with counselors, attend school, and continue taking his medication.

Sheriff Tommy Bryant said Roberson’s parents requested the conditions be set, and law enforcement officials were attempting to work with the family. Bryant said the parents sat down with their son and laid out the conditions to him, as well.

Wilson requested the warrant after Roberson missed an appointment with him and Erath Excels! Academy called to report that Roberson had not been attending school.

Wilson said Jana Roberson had also contacted him and reported that she believed her son was not keeping counseling appointments and was not taking his medications.

Bryant said Wilson had talked to the Robersons, both Jim and Jana, four separate times the day of the murder and told them not to pick up their son if they learned of his location.

“I talked to both of them on four occasions,” Wilson said. “They were advised to let us know if they learned of his whereabouts so we could pick him up. We were looking for him.”

“At no time did we ever learn of his whereabouts,” prior to the murder, Bryant said. “If we would have known where he was, we would have come running. But we couldn’t make Mrs. Roberson not go pick up her son.”

Before her death, Jana Roberson allegedly picked up Cody and his 15-year-old girlfriend from an undisclosed location and brought them to her home. Later that evening, her son allegedly beat her to death with an aluminum baseball bat.

The suspect is incarcerated in the Erath County Jail, charged with murder. His bond has been set at $1 million.

source: www.empiretribune.com
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Timing of Cody Roberson’s arrest warrant in question

By ANGELIA JOINER Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 6, 2007 1:54 PM CST

Questions are being raised about when exactly the warrant for Cody Roberson's arrest was issued, following a Sunday story in the Empire-Tribune.

Law enforcement officials claimed late last week the warrant had been issued one day before Jana Roberson's brutal murder, but a copy of the warrant obtained by the E-T showed that it was not issued until the day the homicide occurred.

On Monday, Pretrial Release Agent Weldon Wilson was asked to explain the discrepancy but said, “No comment.”

Meanwhile, Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant said he learned of the confusion after hearing from an acquaintance of Roberson’s Monday morning. The acquaintance had knowledge of Roberson’s activities the day she died and realized the firsthand information wasn’t consistent with Sunday’s article.

The latest information indicates, just hours before her death, Jana Roberson contacted law enforcement officials to inform them about her son's whereabouts and asked whether a warrant for his arrest had been issued.

She was told no warrant had been issued. Hours later, she was dead, the victim of an apparent beating, allegedly committed by her 17-year-old son, Cody.

In a telephone interview Monday, Deputy Jim Clifton said he spoke with Roberson about 4:30 p.m. the day she died.

“Mrs. Roberson asked if there was a warrant out for her son’s arrest,” Clifton said. “I told her I would find out, that I had just come on duty and I’d call her back.”

Clifton said Roberson told him her son was in the company of someone named Randy and he might be staying at a house near McCart and Frey streets.

In the process of checking to see if a warrant existed, Clifton said he learned from departmental investigators there was a warrant in progress. At that point, he checked with the County Clerk;s Office and was told they knew nothing of the warrant, he said.

He then tried calling Wilson’s office about 4:45 p.m., but there was no answer.

“I called Mrs. Roberson back and told her that there was no warrant out for him (Cody), but we would probably be getting one the next day,” Clifton said.

After looking into the situation further, Bryant said he realized his office did not obtain the warrant in question until after the crime took place on January 30 or 31.

Records show the warrant had been applied for on January 22, but no one is certain why it took so long to get issued.

Bryant said it is not uncommon for a misdemeanor warrant to take a few days to generate.

ANGELIA JOINER is a staff writer for the Empire-Tribune. She can be reached at angelia.joiner@empiretribune.com or (254) 965-3124, ext. 238.
source: www.empiretribune.com
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Roberson injures jail staff

By ANGELIA JOINER Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 6, 2007 1:54 PM CST

Cody Roberson, recently incarcerated for allegedly murdering his mother Jana, attacked two Erath County Jail staff members during an altercation Monday evening at approximately 8:30 p.m., Sheriff Tommy Bryant said.

Bryant said Roberson had requested to be let out of his cell to visit the library. While there, Roberson assaulted the guard with the sharpened end of a toothbrush.

Bryant said the guard’s response and training kept him from being seriously injured.

A female guard attendant was also injured as she aided her co-worker in fending off Roberson.

Both guards were taken to Harris Methodist Erath County Hospital, treated and released, as neither were seriously injured, Bryant said.

Bryant said that Roberson had been placed on a 15-minute suicide watch and apparently had used the time in between guard checks to sharpen the end of a toothbrush on the floor. After the assault occurred, Bryant changed Roberson’s watch to five minutes.

Bryant said his department is required to give inmates toothbrushes.

Bryant said he was phoned at home and informed of the events and he plans on investigating further today with all parties involved.

"It was a heck of a scuffle," Bryant said. "I called in off duty jail staff to take the place of those that were injured and they were sent home."
source: www.empiretribune.com
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Cody's School Information:

" The list of "unacceptable" schools includes obscures little local schools such as the Theresa B. Lee Academy, Fort Worth Can!, the Richard Milburn Academy and Erath Excels."

source: http://blogs.dfw.com/big_plate/2006/08/from_forest_hil.html
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For more Erath Excels Information go to: http://www.erathexcels.org/

Ms. Debra Miller
Secretary
Ms. Miller is the wife of State Representative Sid Miller. She and her husband have two sons, 18 and 20. Ms. Miller is the frounder and Director of Erath Excels! Academy. She received her bachelor's degree from Tarleton State University in Elementary Education with history and kindergarten certification. She received her masters's degree from Tarleton State University in Counseling in 1981, Elementary Music Certification in 1991, and Vocational Counseling Certification in 2002. Ms. Miller has ten years of teaching elementary education in grades K-3 and four years of counseling experience in grades K-12 and seven years of counseling experience in grades 9-12 before founding Erath Excels! Academy. She has served on the Board of Directors since the inception of the school. Ms. Miller serves on the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Board, is a member of the Twentieth Century Club, Cross Timbers Republican Women, and Green's Creek Baptist Church.

source: http://www.erathexcels.org/EEA%20Board.htm

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