Members
Mr. Chad Elms - Place 3
President
Mr. Elms is serving his first three-year term on the Stephenville Board of Trustees. Chad is a former graduate of Stephenville ISD, and he also holds a B.S. in Animal Biology from Tarleton State University. Mr. Elms also has a B.S. in Health Care Sciences, as well as a Masters in Physical Therapy from the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio. In 2002, Chad founded an outpatient physical therapy practice that he grew to 16 locations across four states before exiting the company in 2019. After selling their PT practice, Chad and his wife, Stephanie, decided to return to Stephenville in order to be closer to family, as well as to raise their son in the town where he grew up. Chad has one son who is currently enrolled in Stephenville ISD.
Mr. Hill is serving his second three-year term. He is a proud Tarleton State University graduate having earned his B.S. in Exercise and Sports Studies and M.S. in Kinesiology. Mr. Hill has lived in Stephenville since 1996 and he and his wife have five children enrolled in Stephenville ISD ranging in age from five to fifteen years old. Mr. Hill has been the head personal trainer at Anytime Fitness for over ten years and an adjunct instructor in the Kinesiology Department at Tarleton State University since 2008.
Dr. Barberee is serving his second three-year term. Dr. Barberee has been practicing dentistry in Stephenville since 1997 and is the founder, director, and instructor for the Dental Career Center of Stephenville. Dr. Barberee earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Houston. He then pursued his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry. He and his wife Jane have 4 children that have all attended SISD.
Dr. Rita Cook - Place 2
Term: 2024-2027
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Cook is serving her first three-year term. Her family has lived in Erath County for five generations. She has been a student, parent, and teacher in the district. She graduated from Stephenville High School, has a Bachelor of Arts from Tarleton State University, a Master of Secondary Education from Tarleton State University, and a Doctorate of Education Administration from Kansas State University.
During her career, she has been a classroom teacher, speech pathologist, early childhood consultant, special projects director, executive director of a regional education service center, and a school superintendent. She and her husband are active volunteers and enjoy serving their community.
Douglas Young is President & CEO of Foster’s Home for Children and has served in this role since September 1, 2020. He began working remotely for Foster’s Home in April of 2016. His entire professional career has been in the non-profit sector. He has a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and a master’s degree from Abilene Christian University. He and his wife Tisha have three children: Haylee, Aby, and Reese. Tisha teaches 4th grade Math/Science at Hook Elementary. Haylee is a Texas Tech University graduate and works as the Business Manager for the Texas Corn Producers Association in Lubbock. His daughter, Aby, is a 2021 graduate of Stephenville High School and works for Barefoot Outfitters. Reese is a 2022 graduate of Stephenville High School and plays football for Abilene Christian University.
Mr. Miller is serving his first three-year term on the Stephenville Board of Trustees after securing his seat in an uncontested election. Matt graduated from Stephenville High School in 1999 and Tarleton State University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science major and minor in Marketing. He comes from a Military Army family where both his mother and father served their country for twenty years. Matt has been a Financial Advisor for ten years with Edward Jones. Matt's wife, Cindy Shaw Miller, a graduate of Stephenville High School, has served as PEIMS Coordinator for Hook Elementary the past four years. Cindy's parents, Randy and Christa Shaw, were long-time educators for Stephenville ISD. Matt and Cindy have two daughters, Jalie and Tenley. Matt has served as a proud board member for the Stephenville Education Foundation for seven years and is in his first year as a member of the Evening Lions Club.
Mr. McCleery is serving his first three-year term. Ben is a lifelong resident of Stephenville, a former graduate of Stephenville ISD, and holds a B.S. from Tarleton State University in Agri-Business. Ben worked thirty years in the engineering office of the Texas Dept. of Transportation. For the last eleven years, Ben has been the pastor at Greens Creek Baptist Church. Ben’s wife, Kris, taught at Hook Elementary for many years until retirement and still tutors on campus. Ben & Kris have two children that also graduated from Stephenville ISD and Tarleton State University.