Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees
Embedded Files
Guiding the Austin Independent School District toward excellence is the goal of the nine-member AISD Board of Trustees. As the district's elected leaders, trustees represent community expectations as they chart the direction of educational programs and services and establish the standard by which success is measured.
Guiding the Austin Independent School District toward excellence is the goal of the nine-member AISD Board of Trustees. As the district's elected leaders, trustees represent community expectations as they chart the direction of educational programs and services and establish the standard by which success is measured.
Trustees employ the superintendent, approve the budget and monitor expenditures, set the tax rate, and may call for a bond or tax rate election. The board also establishes policies for operating the district and ensuring its financial viability.
Trustees employ the superintendent, approve the budget and monitor expenditures, set the tax rate, and may call for a bond or tax rate election. The board also establishes policies for operating the district and ensuring its financial viability.
Information about AISD’s current Board of Trustees can be found on the district website including more information on the Board Members and the Trustee Boundaries.
Information about AISD’s current Board of Trustees can be found on the district website including more information on the Board Members and the Trustee Boundaries.
Austin Independent School District board policy is maintained on the Texas Association of School Boards' server through the Austin ISD Board Policy Manual.
Austin ISD Board of Trustees
Austin ISD Board of Trustees
Candace Hunter, District 1
Candace Hunter, District 1
Term Expires: November 2026
4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd.
Austin, TX 78704
Voicemail: 512-414-1700, ext. 54556
candace.l.hunter@austinisd.org
Candace Hunter is a third-generation East Austinite. She has advocated for public education, students, teachers, and their families for over 25 years. Much of that work has been in Austin ISD, where she has been privileged to be a student, teacher, instructional coach, administrative intern, tutor, vendor, and parent.
Ms. Hunter is a Field Supervisor and Instructor with the Austin Community College, Teacher Certification Program. Ms. Hunter is excited to continue her advocacy work at the board level to ensure everyone in Austin ISD receives the support they need and deserve.
Trustee Hunter is a member of the following Austin ISD Board committees: Intergovernmental Relations, City of Austin Planning Commission (Ex Officio), Texas Association of School Boards Delegate, and is the President of the Austin ISD Public Facilities Corporation.
LaRessa Quintana, District 2
LaRessa Quintana, District 2
Term Expires: November 2028
4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd.
Austin, TX 78704
laressa.quintana@austinisd.org
LaRessa Quintana is a dedicated advocate for quality education and a passionate community leader.
LaRessa is a fifth generation Texan and a first generation college attendee and graduate. LaRessa graduated from the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders with honors and was a part of their first graduating class in 2013.
Her professional journey includes experience as a Texas capitol staffer, campaign manager for Councilwoman Vanessa Fuentes, digital organizer and governmental affairs consultant. Currently, she is the Associate Director of Public Affairs at the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
LaRessa is also an active member of several community organizations, including American YouthWorks, The New Philanthropists nonprofit boards and past board member of Young Hispanic Professional Association of Austin.
Her volunteer work reflects her dedication to serving the community and empowering the next generation of leaders. She is committed to using her experience and passion for education to make a positive impact on the district and ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Dr. Kevin Foster, District 3
Dr. Kevin Foster, District 3
Term Expires: November 2028
4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd.
Austin, TX 78704
kevin.foster@austinisd.org
Dr. Kevin Foster brings three decades of transformative leadership to the Austin ISD Board of Trustees as an administrator, policy maker, researcher, and teacher. His experience spans K-12 schools and higher education, as well as local, state, and federal government. Currently serving his second term as an elected member of the Board, Dr. Foster champions excellence in opportunity and outcomes for all students. He is dedicated to ensuring every Austin ISD student receives a world-class education that prepares them for success in college, career, and life.
Over his career, Dr. Foster has authored dozens of publications shaping educational policy and practice. He is also the founding Executive Producer of PBS Blackademics Television, which for 12 seasons has amplified voices and educational perspectives in public media. Dr. Foster earned his Ph.D. and M.A. from The University of Texas at Austin and his B.A. from the College of William and Mary. He is the proud parent of two young adults, Malcolm and Marlee.
Kathryn Whitley Chu, District 4, Vice President
Term Expires: November 2026
4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd.
Austin, TX 78704
kathryn.whitleychu@austinisd.org
Kathryn Whitley Chu is a mom, teacher, and community leader with a career dedicated to public schools in the Austin area. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's of business administration degree and a master's of professional accounting degree, Kathryn began her professional career as a tax accountant and auditor. Wanting to make a positive impact in the Austin community by following her passion for education, she made a career move to become a public school teacher.
Kathryn taught middle school math in Austin ISD at Pearce Middle School and the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. She later led the talented and gifted program at two Round Rock ISD elementary schools. Kathryn is currently an instructor in the Adult Education Department at Austin Community College.
As a past member of Education Austin, the labor union representing AISD employees, Kathryn learned the value of advocating at school board meetings for a great work environment, quality facilities, and school programs that provide the best for students.
She is married to Nick Chu, a Probate Court Judge in Travis County. Together they have an Austin ISD first grader and a toddler who is a future AISD student.
Trustee Whitley Chu is a member of the following Austin ISD Board committees: Intergovernmental Relations and Austin Ed Fund.
Lynn Boswell, District 5, President
Term Expires: November 2028
4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd.
Austin, TX 78704
lynn.boswell@austinisd.org
Lynn Boswell is a longtime advocate for policies that improve the lives of students and families. She served as president of the Austin Council of PTAs for two years, supporting efforts that earned national recognition for advocacy and equity work in AISD. As a leader of Just Fund It TX, Lynn engages advocates across the state to seek more funding for Texas public schools. She has also served on the District Advisory Council, the City of Austin’s Juvenile Justice Workgroup, and the Travis County Census Complete Count Committee.
After attending public schools in San Antonio, Lynn earned degrees in journalism and Latin American Studies from SMU and a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law. She is an award-winning broadcast journalist, with experience as a New York-based producer for NBC News and a series producer for KLRU-TV, Austin’s PBS station. Lynn now makes independent documentaries. She is also a longtime mentor with PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs. Her work gives her a strong belief in the power of stories and the value of listening to diverse perspectives.
Lynn’s family includes her husband, two kids, and two dogs. Her daughter graduated from AISD in 2021 and is studying public health and public policy. Her son, who graduated from AISD in 2017, is a zookeeper who designs and makes activities for zoo animals—a field he discovered in a seventh grade AISD science class.
Trustee Boswell is a member of the following Austin ISD Board committees: Intergovernmental (chair), Executive, Texas Association of School Board Directors, and Capitol Area Council of Governments
Andrew Gonzales, District 6, Secretary
Andrew Gonzales, District 6, Secretary
Term Expires: November 2026
4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd.
Austin, TX 78704
Google Voice number: 512-537-8699
andrew.gonzales@austinisd.org
Andrew Gonzales is a third-generation educator and Austinite. Andrew's grandparents, parents, siblings and extended family have all proudly attended schools throughout Austin ISD. Andrew attended Williams Elementary (where his mom taught for 26 years), Bedichek Middle, and Dr. W. Charles Akins High. After graduating from Akins High School, Andrew attended UT Austin, where he graduated with four degrees in government, history, international relations, and Latin American studies.
As a college student, Andrew worked with Austin ISD students as a tutor for the AVID program at Paredes and Bedichek middle schools, and Akins and Anderson high schools. Andrew then followed in his mother’s footsteps and worked as a history teacher at Travis Early College High and Lively Middle School.
While teaching, Andrew continued his advocacy as a member, trainer and presenter at the National Council for the Social Studies, a co-operating Student Teacher Supervisor for both Huston-Tillotson University and the University of Texas, and as a sponsor for numerous student clubs and organizations. For his service, Andrew was awarded Teacher Change Maker of the Year, Greater Austin Area by Generation Citizen in 2018, Ally of the Year by the Young Women’s Christian Association in 2019, and Travis Early College High School Teacher of the Year in 2020.
Although no longer teaching, Andrew remains dedicated to serving his former students and colleagues as trustee for the AISD School Board, District 6.
Trustee Gonzales is a member of the following Austin ISD Board committees: Audit and Intergovernmental Relations.
Dr. David Kauffman, District 7
Dr. David Kauffman, District 7
Term Expires: November 2026
4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd.
Austin, TX 78704
Voicemail 512-414-1700, ext. 54557
david.kauffman@austinisd.org
David Kauffman is an educational leader and advocate dedicated to pursuing equitable opportunity and achievement for all students. He is the founder of a multilingual education consulting business and a part-time assistant professor of practice in the Texas Principal Leadership Academy at the University of Texas at Austin.
David began his career as a classroom teacher and has devoted more than 30 years to public education, including 17 years in Austin ISD as a principal and as the executive director for Multilingual Education. He earned an undergraduate degree from Stanford University and master's and doctorate degrees from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
David lives in southwest Austin and enjoys hiking, listening to live music, and spending time with his family—Sylvia, Daniel, Vincent, Natalia, Isabella, five dogs, and Hamilton the pig.
Trustee Kauffman is a member of the following Austin ISD Board committees: Audit, Policy, and Council of Great City Schools.
Fernando Lucas de Urioste, At-Large Position 8
Fernando Lucas de Urioste, At-Large Position 8
Term Expires: November 2028
4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd.
Austin, TX 78704
fernando.deurioste@austinisd.org
A native Texan and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Fernando has almost a decade of past experience working for the Austin Independent School District, predominantly as a Social Communication Resources and Services (SCORES) Teacher and Case Manager for middle school students on the autism spectrum. He has also held various positions in K-12 special education programs including: Social Behavior Skills (SBS), Life Skills, and Early Childhood Special Education.
For the past decade, Fernando has worked as an education advocate for families with children in public schools across the state of Texas. He is no stranger to Special Education and the process surrounding Individual Education Plans for students with disabilities. He has experience with accommodations and interventions for a broad scope of student needs such as autism spectrum, emotional dysregulation, OHI, Down Syndrome, intellectual disability, OT/PT, speech and language services, and Section 504 services. He earned his accreditation as a Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist for persons with visual impairments after completing his coursework at The Virginia Murray Sowell Center for Research and Education in Sensory Disabilities at Texas Tech.
Fernando served several years as the Vice President of the Texas Organization of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, focused on the state and federal laws regulating the education and related services of Texas students with disabilities as well as offering parent trainings to families across the state. He has also completed the 40hr basic mediation training from Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution at The University of Texas School of Law as well as the 30-Hour Advanced Family Mediation Course from the Dispute Resolution Center. He has developed a reputation as a staunch advocate for the rights of all students to receive their Free and Appropriate Public Education.
Fernando lives in Austin with his wife Rachel. He enjoys yoga, biking, and making music.
Arati Singh, At-Large Position 9
Arati Singh, At-Large Position 9
Term Expires: November 2026
4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd.
Austin, TX 78704
512-956-4702
arati.singh@austinisd.org
aratisingh2@gmail.com
Arati Singh (pronounced “Art-thee Sing”) was elected to the board in December 2018 and is the first Indian-American to serve on the Austin ISD school board. Arati started her career as a bilingual fourth-grade teacher in the Rio Grande Valley, and for 20 years has secured funding for, designed and evaluated college access and STEM programs at universities and school districts throughout the country.
In 2018, Arati received the PTA Honorary Life Award for her legislative advocacy work for school finance reform. As a member of the Texas PTA advocacy committee, she has testified several times at the state Capitol for more school funding, and mobilized hundreds of AISD parents for school finance reform as the Austin Council of PTAs advocacy chair. In 2015, under her presidency, Oak Hill Elementary School’s PTA won a National PTA School of Excellence award, one of only 11 in the state, for its grassroots outreach to Spanish-speaking families.
Arati has five technology-related patents to her name. As a mother with two children in AISD, including one who has started a social movement fighting online sexual harassment, Arati understands that kids should love learning and feel safe in schools.
Arati has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in Spanish from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with an instructional technology focus from The University of Texas at Austin.
Arati, her husband, and daughters live in southwest Austin. She is honored to serve as a school board member and fight for educational excellence and equity for every child in Austin ISD.
Trustee Singh is a member of the following Austin ISD Board committees: Executive (chair), Joint Sub-committee, and School Safety and Security (chair).
AISD office address for all board members
4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd.
Austin, TX 78704
trustees@austinisd.org
Tel: (512) 414-2413
Fax: (512) 414-1486
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