Dr. Shirley Bonton

Deputy Superintendent / Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education

Dr. Shirley Bonton has been in education for nearly three decades. The energetic mother, wife and consummate church volunteer has been instrumental in BISD’s current TEA “recognized” academic program. With 19 elementary schools, including a federally supported Head Start program, eight of the schools hold the highly coveted TEA “exemplary” rating and another eight hold the “recognized” status. Two nationally noted “Blue Ribbon” schools and another national and state designated “demonstration” school are part of the BISD elementary school program. Dr. Bonton is the curriculum and staff development mastermind and cheerleader behind BISD’s current stride toward becoming an exemplary bound school district.

Her career started as an elementary school teacher who later became an assistant principal at Lucas/Guess elementary schools, respectively. She has also served as the elementary principal of Pietzsch-MacArthur. Her career includes stints as a curriculum coordinator and director of staff development in BISD, as well as the deputy superintendent in another school district.

Certified in elementary education, supervision and mid-management administration, Dr. Bonton earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in education supervision from Lamar University. Her doctoral degree in educational administration was earned at Texas Southern University.

Dr. David Harris

Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education

Dr. David Harris grew up admiring his coaches and knowing that he would one day be a coach and teacher. Shortly after his graduation from Texas A&M University where he earned a degree in kinesiology and played several sports, Dr. Harris landed a post teaching special education and coaching athletics at Las Vega ISD. His career continued to expand as he achieved more experience and education, including working at Bryan and Fort Bend independent school districts. Dr. Harris joined the Beaumont ISD family in the late 1990s. He became an assistant principal and later, the principal at Martin Elementary School here in Beaumont. In 2005, Dr. Harris was appointed principal of King Middle School and in 2008, he joined the BISD executive cabinet as assistant superintendent for secondary education.

Dr. Harris earned a master’s in education from Prairie View A&M University and a doctoral degree in education administration from Texas A&M. He holds a number of certifications, including ones in generic and secondary special education, secondary education, physical education, sociology and health education, principalship, superintendency, and mid-management. Dr. Harris is also an ordained minister, a dedicated husband and father and an avid community volunteer. He is active in the Chamber of Commerce, the Ministerial Alliance, the Rotary and a host of other community and civic organizations.

 
Dr. Timothy B. Chargois

Assistant Superintendent for Research, Planning & Evaluation

Think of testing and data driven prescriptive education and Dr. Tim Chargois’ name should come to mind. He is responsible for the planning and development of data driven programs in Beaumont ISD to help teachers and students achieve academic success. In fact, he is the leads on a recent multi-million grant from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation grant that is helping BISD be proactive in culling data to achieve its mission.

The West Orange Stark High School graduate received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Lamar University and taught elementary fine arts in the West Orange Cove Consolidated ISD. He earned a master’s in education from Stephen F. Austin State University and later, a doctorate in educational leadership from Lamar University.

Dr. Chargois became principal of Lucas Elementary in 2000 where he and his staff accomplished many great things for students and their north Beaumont community. He believes that education is by far the greatest profession of all. Everyone must be taught and everyone must have a teacher – no matter how great or small. He believes that it is his ministry to foster hope and opportunity; to encourage respect for learning and intellectual achievement; and to stimulate individual curiosity about the world and humankind. He has been a central office administrator for a number of years.

The husband, musician, and consummate community volunteer is the organist at his church.

Philip E. Brooks

Assistant Superintendent for Administration 

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

Executive director of personnel

Veteran Educator and Administrator Sybil Comeaux is the executive director of personnel for Beaumont ISD. She started her teaching career in almost five decades ago. With the exception of a short stint in Smithville, Comeaux’s entire career has been in Beaumont. She is the former counselor for Lincoln Middle School and the former dean of students and assistant principal for Beaumont Charlton Pollard High School. The Beaumont native who was born into a family of educators is also the former principal of the Central Medical Magnet High School.

Comeaux is known for initiating the now national model of high school to work program at BCP and CMMHS. As the long time executive director of personnel, she is guiding BISD successfully through the highly certified program, fingerprinting initiatives and highly touted incentive program for teachers and other employees.

Comeaux holds a master’s degree in education with a focus on guidance and counseling from Prairie View A&M University. Her undergraduate degree in biology was earned at Huston-Tillotson College. Comeaux is certified in administration and a number of other areas ranging from counseling to management. She is president of a local education organization and on the board of directors of a state educational association. The wife, mother and grandmother is a trustee at her church and spends much of her free time volunteering for several non-profit entities.

Robert Zingelmann

Chief Financial Officer 

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.

The United States Marine Corps veteran served as a military financial analyst and worked in the Marines’ security force. He was part of the Operation Southern Watch in the Gulf and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. The 2000 University of North Texas graduate is currently finishing up a master’s degree in business administration from Texas State University.

As a student in BISD, Zingelmann attended Amelia Elementary School, Vincent Middle School and Forest Park High School. He graduated from West Brook High School in 1985. “I am excited to be a part of the BISD team. I am especially thankful to Dr. Thomas and the Board of Trustees for offering me the position of director of business/finance. Furthermore, I am grateful to have on board such a talented and dedicated staff in the BISD business office. I look forward continuing to make sure that our district operates optimally in its finances,” Zingelmann said.

Among Zingelmann’s responsibilities are purchasing, finance, benefits, maintenance, buildings and grounds, operations, nutrition, health, transportation and as of late, the 2007 facilities improvement bond construction projects that include 10 news schools and a multi-purpose facility.

Jessie Haynes, APR

Special Assistant for Communications

Accredited in public relations, Jessie Haynes has more than 30 years experience in communications.  The former award-winning news reporter also worked at the helm of university relations at two universities and taught advertising at another. She is a former assistant to the city manager in Chesapeake, Virginia, and head of marketing and advertising for the City of Norfolk, Virginia.  While heading The Advanced Marketing Team, publishing two magazines and two business directories, Haynes also raised two daughters, Tameka and Raven.

Haynes is a Ford Fellow in Educational Journalism, a CASE Fellow in Public Relations and a White House Fellows semi-finalist. The published author wrote a guide for new college students called 10 Stupid Things College Kids Do."She has co-written and/or edited several other books. Her media experiences include appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show and as a color commentator on The People's Court, as well as appearing in many other publications and on a host of radio and television programs.

"She is an excellent listener and writer who is also responsible for the award-winning Beaumont InSiDer Magazine for all BISD stakeholders , the district’s web presence, the OneVision Newsletter targeting employees, AlertNow messaging system and a number of other advanced technology programs that help us better communicate with our many audiences. Ms. Haynes is invaluable in assisting me and the district in several special projects ranging from the $388 million bond facilities improvement project to a wide array of other special projects across the district," said Dr. Carroll Thomas, superintendent of the Beaumont Independent School District.

She is active in several professional, community, civic, religious and business organizations.