Executive Cabinet
|
Dr. Carrol A. Thomas Dr. Carrol A. Thomas, is a highly sought-after educational leader who is renowned for his work in inspiring those in communities and government to achieve the best for those who depend on public education. He excites youth to learn, teachers to teach, staff persons to support and administrators to lead. Thomas is charismatic, intelligent and committed to the educational development of children. Thomas has served as superintendent of schools for the Beaumont Independent School District since 1996. Thomas came to Beaumont from North Forest Independent School District in Houston, Texas, where his work earned him the title of Superintendent of the Year for Region 4. Under Thomas’ leadership, North Forest ISD was the first and only school district to move from “Accredited Warned,” the lowest level the State places on a district, to “Fully Accredited” in one year. When Thomas came to BISD, the district was one of the lowest performing districts in the state. BISD is now ranked among the top school districts in Texas for improving student performance. The district has gone from only one campus receiving state recognition in 1996, to 24 of its 29 ratable schools receiving either recognized or exemplary status. With three Blue Ribbon schools, 16 BISD schools are ranked in the top 12% of Texas’ higher performance schools by the National Center for Educational Assessment. The district also had a large number of its campuses to receive the prestigious Successful School Award granted by the Texas Education Agency. In addition, the District’s Headstart Program received the Program of Excellence Award from the Texas Headstart Association for 100 percent compliance. BISD is also home to the State honor roll schools and a state and national demonstration school. Several of the schools in the district have received other recognition and honors, including being listed by Texas Monthly Magazine as a top 20 school. Shortly after Thomas arrived in Beaumont, he began the design of a new student assignment plan, one that ended years of turmoil over integration in Beaumont. The entire community accepted the plan and it was endorsed by the local Chamber of Commerce, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as well as many other organizations. The plan, which gives students a choice of schools to attend, was selected by The Coalition for Public Schools in Texas as one of the top three in the state for “Expanding School Choice.” Enrollment is on the rise and both staff and student attendance rates have improved drastically; discipline problems are almost nil (contributed to partially by a district police department) and morale has improved throughout the District and community, as seen by a reduction of complaints by staff and parents. In addition to Thomas’ duties as superintendent of schools, he finds time for civic and community involvement. He is a member of numerous professional and civic organizations and has received nearly every honor bestowed upon an educator in Texas—including Educator of the Month for the Texas School Business Magazine. Thomas was also cited by the Texas Legislature for outstanding leadership as a superintendent, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals recognized him as one of the nation’s top administrators. Thomas has been honored as an Exemplary Texas Superintendent by the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Texas-Austin. Thomas is also president of the National Alliance of Black School Educators, an advisor for several education and government organizations and a national spokesperson for a number of educational initiatives. Thomas is leading BISD through a $100+ million hurricane recovery operation and wrapping up a $389 million bond issue for facilities improvement. BISD is one of the most fiscally fit districts in Texas and continues to garner millions of dollars in grants to compliment its budget for the nearly 20,000 students and more than 3,000 employees. He is author of a book inspiring educators: T-Notes, Nuggets of Wisdom for Educators. Thomas earned a bachelor of science degree from Texas A&I, his superintendent’s certificate from Texas Tech and his doctorate from Texas Southern University. He is married to Linda, an elementary school principal, and father of two daughters, Carol Lynn and Gracie Elizabeth. Both living in Southeast Texas, Carol Lynn is a dentist and Gracie Elizabeth is also a school administrator. The Thomases have one grandchild. |
|
"Being an integral part of the BISD leadership team, especially during its exponential growth in academic achievements and fiscal and physical improvements, is exciting. I have an extremely important opportunity to serve the students, parents and employees of the Beaumont ISD community in the face of a number of critical changes and challenges. Whether we are strategizing for changes in testing and evaluation or crisis management in the midst of a natural disaster or improving facilities or for the ever changing world of technology, we have to be on the cutting edge of providing our students and teachers the skills and resources they need to facilitate teaching and learning," Dr. Chargois explained. "Beaumont ISD has been a model district for data-driven performance and student learning not only in Southeast Texas but also throughout the nation. I look forward to continuing and building upon our excellent system of schools." Before joining Beaumont ISD, Dr. Chargois served as a secondary school assistant principal in the West Orange Cove-Consolidated Independent School District. He is also a former elementary music teacher. During his teaching career, Dr. Chargois served on the campus’ first CEIC, tutored high school students, and through association with the Workforce Development Board he facilitated the placement of more than 200 students on job sites during summer work programs. Dr. Chargois’ career has had the perfect balance of productivity, creativity and science. His passion for education is matched by his understanding and execution of the art and science of pedagogy. Dr. Chargois’ reach and knowledge spans from inside the classroom and permeates in venues as a community person, a successful administrator and a professional contributor at the local, state and national levels. He has served on various commissions and state testing committees and advisory teams, including the Comptroller’s Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST), EdVance Research and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation on the development of research-based leading and lagging indicators used to identify, measure and predict student outcomes. He has been a technology advisor and a coordinator for interventions and awareness programs and has helped to develop after-school programs for students. Dr. Chargois has been a speaker/presenter at national and state conferences for instruction, data-driven practices, teacher/administrator walkthroughs and incentive pay programs. He has served on boards of many organizations such as I Have A Dream (IHAD), Lamar Alumni Association, Leadership Beaumont, Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Texas Arts Council, the American Heart Association, and president of the Southeast Texas Testing Specialists. In 2008, Dr. Chargois was invited to the Oxford roundtable to present his research on variables that impact student performance on state assessments and again in 2011. Most recently, Dr. Chargois has worked with professors from Lamar University to develop research-based, data-driven approaches to improve teacher-preparation programs and has co-authored articles focusing on student performance in largely minority and urban school districts. In 2009, he led a team that created the "The Graduate Assistant Coordinator" position that provides direct support to students at-risk of dropping out of school. Recent collaboration between the City of Beaumont and BISD has brought the “Experience Corps” program to Beaumont’s elementary schools in an effort to empower more pre-K-3 students to read and communicate. He earned his Doctorate of Education from Lamar University in 2008, a Master’s Degree in Secondary Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1998 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Lamar University in 1991. Dr. Chargois and his wife Imogene have been married for 20 years. They are members of The Anchor Church of Beaumont where he serves as church organist. |
|
|
Philip Brooks has spent his entire career in BISD. Over the past 35 years, he has been a bus driver, teacher, assistant principal, associate principal, and principal of some of the finest schools in Beaumont. Under his leadership, his last school, Eugene Field Elementary, held the honor of being a Texas Education Agency "Recognized" and/or "Exemplary" campus for 11 years. Presently, Brooks is the assistant superintendent for administration. As a student, Brooks attended Pietzsch Elementary, MacArthur Junior High, and South Park High School. A graduate of Lamar University, the Beaumont native earned his bachelor's degree in elementary education and his mid-management degree in school administration. The husband of a BISD fourth grade teacher, Brooks is the father of three BISD graduates and the grandfather of five incredible grandchildren. He comes from a family of educators and is very proud to be part of the BISD family. He is also active in his church where he is very involved in the music ministry. Brooks' responsibilities as assistant superintendent for administration include overseeing transportation, student attendance, health services, and the BISD police department. |
Sybil Comeaux |
Beaumont native and Beaumont Independent School District graduate Robert Zingelmann is the director of business and finance for BISD. Zingelmann returned to his hometown after serving as the business manager and finance director at Warren and Lago Vista independent school districts. |
|
Philip E. Brooks
Robert Zingelmann
Jessie Haynes, APR