From Boardroom to Classroom: ‘Our Future Is Public’ Puts Focus on Beaumont ISD Trustees

The future of public education is being shaped not only in classrooms, but around boardroom tables, where locally elected trustees make decisions that affect generations of students. January 2026 is School Board Appreciation Month, observed nationwide under the theme “Our Future Is Public,” honoring the often unpaid work of school board members who help guide policy, oversee budgets and champion student success in communities across the country.

In Beaumont, the observance highlights the service of the Beaumont Independent School District Board of Trustees, whose members oversee the education of thousands of students and help steer the district’s long-term vision. Districts nationwide are marking the month through recognition events and social media campaigns honoring board leadership and commitment.

Thomas P. Sigee, Sr. currently serves as President of the Beaumont ISD Board of Trustees, a role he was re-elected to on May 15, 2025. This marks his second term as board president, having previously held the position from 2019 to 2021. His continued leadership reflects a deep commitment to advancing educational opportunities and fostering student success across the district.

Mr. Sigee first joined the Beaumont ISD Board of Trustees in May 2017, representing District 3. After several years of dedicated service, he was re-elected to the board in May 2023—this time representing District 4. Over the course of his tenure, he has played a critical role in shaping district policies, advocating for equity in education, and enhancing student support systems.

A proud graduate of Beaumont Charlton-Pollard High School (Class of 1979), Mr. Sigee brings a lifetime of service and global experience back to his hometown. Following high school, he joined the United States Army, where he served with distinction for 32 years in roles spanning nuclear and Patriot missile operations, logistics, personnel, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His military career took him to over 60 countries and included key contributions to rebuilding efforts in Iraq, New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and Southeast Texas following Hurricane Rita. He was awarded 19 medals and ribbons, including the prestigious Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster.

Mr. Sigee and his wife, Dr. Alicia D. Sigee, are proud parents of five children—all graduates of Beaumont ISD—further cementing the family's strong ties to the district. Beyond his board service, Mr. Sigee is actively involved in community outreach, having launched mentorship programs and regularly participating in BISD’s ROAR initiative at several campuses.

Robert C. Dunn Sr. joined the Board of Trustees in 2019  and was elected Vice President on May 15, 2025, marking a new chapter in his continued commitment to education, leadership, and community service. A longtime advocate for students and families, Mr. Dunn brings a wealth of experience from both his military and educational careers to his role as a BISD At-Large Trustee.

A proud graduate of Charlton-Pollard High School (Class of 1970), Mr. Dunn went on to serve 26 distinguished years in the United States Navy’s submarine service. His career included deployments throughout the Western Pacific, including to Hong Kong, Korea, Australia, the Philippines, Japan, Guam—and even a historic surfacing at the North Pole, just 100 yards from true north. As one of only three diving officers aboard the USS Sam Houston, he led critical submarine operations, including Navy SEAL special missions. He earned numerous awards, including two Navy Commendation Medals, and retired with the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer.

Following his naval career, Mr. Dunn earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Grantham University and became a certified Naval Science Instructor through the Naval Service Training Command in Pensacola, Florida. He joined BISD in 2001, teaching National Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at Ozen High School for 10 years. Under his leadership, Ozen’s NJROTC unit became the first in Beaumont to qualify for the State NJROTC Competition at Texas A&M and went on to compete nationally in marksmanship. Mr. Dunn later brought his leadership to Memorial High School in Port Arthur ISD, where he served as Senior Naval Science Instructor after a rare waiver from the U.S. Navy allowed him, a senior enlisted, to fill the officer-level position. His unit there also earned state-level accolades.

Beyond the classroom, Mr. Dunn has remained deeply engaged in civic and community leadership. He served four years as a supervisor at Jefferson County State School (TYC), where he was honored as Employee of the Month and a finalist for Employee of the Year. As President of the Charlton-Pollard Alumni Association, he successfully advocated for the naming of Charlton-Pollard Elementary and oversaw the construction of the Charlton-Pollard High School Memorial Monument. He also serves as President of the Charlton-Pollard Class of 1970 and First Vice President of the Alumni Association.

His civic involvement includes memberships in the American Legion Dorie Miller Post 817, NAACP, Appomattox Social Club, Golden Triangle Submarine Veterans, and the Disabled Veterans Association.

Mr. Dunn and his wife, Nicole N. Dunn, have been married for 16 years. He is the proud father of five children, ranging in age from 14 to 49, and has seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His lifelong passion for service, leadership, and youth development continues to guide his work on behalf of the students and families of Beaumont ISD.

Denise Wallace-Spooner currently serves as a Trustee At-Large for the Beaumont Independent School District and is Secretary of the Board. Since first being elected in May 2017, she has remained a committed advocate for educational equity and community engagement. She was among the first elected trustees to be seated by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath following the state-appointed Board of Managers, playing a key role in BISD’s historic return to local governance in 2018.

A lifelong resident of Beaumont, Mrs. Spooner is a proud graduate of Hebert High School (Class of 1975), where she actively participated in cheerleading, choir, Spanish Club, and Future Teachers of America. Her educational foundation and early leadership experiences have shaped her enduring commitment to academic excellence.

Mrs. Spooner holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Lamar University and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M University. Her 30+ year career in public education has included roles as a teacher, instructional leader, and professional development facilitator.

Dedicated to lifelong learning and servant leadership, Mrs. Spooner actively participates in a wide range of civic and professional organizations, including:

• Antioch Missionary Baptist Church – Graduation Ministry & Christ Debutantes

• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Omega Omega Chapter – Executive Board Member

• Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. – Executive Board & Beautification Chair

• Beaumont Chamber of Commerce – Leadership Beaumont Graduate (1994)

• Beaumont Community Players – Education Chair, Board of Directors

• Hebert High School Alumni Association

• NAACP – Life Member

• National Council of Negro Women

• Texas Association of School Boards – Delegate Assembly Member (2017–2020)

• Texas Alliance of Black School Educators – Distinguished Educator Award Recipient

• Beaumont Area Alliance of Black School Educators – Two-Time Teacher of the Year

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park – Commissioner

• Lamar Institute of Technology – Black History Scholarship Committee

Mrs. Spooner continues to champion policies and initiatives that support student achievement, teacher development, and inclusive community partnerships. Her enduring passion for education and service exemplifies the values that BISD strives to instill in every student.

Yolanda Avery was elected as the Beaumont ISD Trustee for District 2 on May 3, 2025, and officially sworn in on May 15, 2025. A passionate advocate for education and student achievement, Mrs. Avery brings more than two decades of diverse experience across higher education, K–12 public schools, and private instruction to her role on the Board.

Mrs. Avery has held numerous leadership positions throughout Southeast Texas, including Public Education School Improvement Project Grant Manager for Beaumont ISD, Internship Coordinator at Lamar University, and Director of Career Services, Cooperative Education, and Student Activities at Lamar Institute of Technology. Her efforts have empowered countless students to pursue success in college, career, military service, and beyond.

An accomplished educator and lifelong learner, Mrs. Avery incorporates her fine arts background into a holistic educational philosophy that fosters creativity, innovation, and student-centered learning. Her approach is grounded in the belief that every student deserves the opportunity to excel—academically, personally, and professionally.

Mrs. Avery’s commitment to education extends beyond the classroom. She currently serves as a Student Success Teacher, Senior Sponsor, and Campus Activities Coordinator at Woodrow Wilson Early College High School in Port Arthur, where she also sponsors two award-winning student organizations: GT-TAME (Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering) and YMCA Youth and Government.

A dedicated community leader, Mrs. Avery serves as Social Action Chair for the Beaumont Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is an active member of Top Ladies of Distinction, a past State President of the Texas Cooperative Education and Internship Association, and a member of the Lamar University Alumni Board. Her civic engagement includes appointments to the City of Beaumont Library and Historical Commissions and participation in both Leadership Beaumont and Leadership Southeast Texas.

Mrs. Avery holds two degrees from Lamar University and is co-founder of SETX Linesteppers, state coach for SETX GirlTrek, and co-creator of the community platform Best Bites. She is also a proud member of the NAACP and worships at Cathedral of Faith Baptist Church.

She and her husband, Alton Avery, Sr., are the proud parents of two Beaumont ISD graduates, Booker and Alton II, and doting grandparents to two grandchildren. A native of Silsbee, Texas, Mrs. Avery lives by the belief that “it takes a village to raise a nation,” and her personal mantra, “Believe to Achieve,” reflects her steadfast commitment to helping students realize their full potential.

Joe A. Evans Jr. currently serves as Trustee for District 1 on the Beaumont ISD Board of Trustees. First elected in May 2021, he was re-elected unopposed in May 2025. A respected business professional and dedicated community servant, Mr. Evans is known for his strong commitment to education, public health, and youth advocacy across Southeast Texas.

Mr. Evans earned a Bachelor of Science degree in History-Education from Florida A&M University in 2001 and a Master’s in Public Health from Lamar University in 2021. Since relocating to Beaumont in 2006, he has built deep community roots, opening a small business and dedicating himself to service-based leadership throughout the region.

He joined Beaumont Occupational Services in 2008 and rose to the role of General Manager by 2012. Alongside his professional responsibilities, Mr. Evans has served in leadership roles for numerous nonprofit and civic organizations. His service includes the Board of Directors for Garth House Mickey Mehaffy Children’s Advocacy Program, Inc., the Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Southeast Texas, and Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County, where he currently serves as Board President.

In 2018, he was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders. He also serves on the Southeast Texas Regional Council on Aging and Disabilities and the Advisory Council for the Golden Triangle Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).

Deeply committed to empowering youth, Mr. Evans is a mentor with the Inspire, Encourage, Achieve (IEA) Program and a Partner Advocate with Men of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children). He also serves as Student Minister at Woodland Baptist Church, a role he began in 2019.

Mr. Evans is widely recognized for his passion, integrity, and leadership. As a trustee, he remains focused on creating equitable, high-quality educational opportunities for all students in Beaumont ISD and strengthening the partnerships between schools and the communities they serve.

Matilda “Tillie” Hickman currently serves as Trustee for District 4 and is the Immediate Past President of the Beaumont ISD Board of Trustees. First appointed to the Board in August 2020, she was elected to a full term in May 2021 and re-elected unopposed in May 2025. A lifelong educator, district administrator, and advocate for academic excellence, Mrs. Hickman brings decades of experience and leadership to the Board.

A native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Mrs. Hickman earned both her Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and Master of Arts in English from McNeese State University, where she also served as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper. Her teaching career began in Vinton, Louisiana, and later took her to Germany, where she taught English and government at the U.S. Army Education Center and served as President of the Officers’ Wives Club.

Upon moving to Beaumont with her husband, Bennie Hickman, she began teaching journalism and English at Hebert High School. She went on to serve in a variety of instructional roles across the district, including AP English, journalism, and French, and played a key role in developing a unique AP English/Journalism course to better serve students' interests and academic goals.

Her expertise in English Language instruction also led her to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) at Louisiana State University and later in Beaumont ISD, where she remained a fixture in classrooms until 1991. That year, she transitioned into educational leadership, serving as BISD’s Secondary English Supervisor, where her work contributed to a double-digit increase in student writing scores. She later became Assistant Principal and then Principal at Odom Academy, where she founded the Pegasus Magnet Program for gifted and talented middle school students. Mrs. Hickman retired from BISD in 2018 after a distinguished 47-year career in education.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Mrs. Hickman is deeply committed to civic service and cultural enrichment in Beaumont. She has chaired major community events, including the Symphony Women’s League’s Symphony of Trees and the Heritage Society’s Spindletop Boom Days. Her board service spans a wide range of organizations, including the Women’s League, Symphony of Southeast Texas, Heritage Society, YWCA, Junior League of Beaumont, and the Art Museum of Southeast Texas’ Gallery Guild.

Mrs. Hickman also served for over a decade on the Board of Directors for the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented, where she rose from Regional Director to President. She is a founding member and former President of the Beaumont Children’s Museum and was honored as the Junior League of Beaumont’s Sustainer of the Year in 2009.

She currently serves on the boards of the Symphony of Southeast Texas (as Immediate Past President), the Edison Museum, the Beaumont Public Schools Foundation, and the Tyrrell Historical Library Association.

With a legacy rooted in student achievement, gifted education, and community development, Mrs. Hickman continues to serve BISD with vision, compassion, and a steadfast belief in the power of public education.

As School Board Appreciation Month continues, Beaumont ISD officials encourage students, families and community members to recognize the trustees’ leadership and service, noting that strong local governance remains central to the success of public education and the future it provides for students.