MEET OUR TEAM
Dedicated to Innovation and Collaboration
Dr. Robert Wright
Director
College, Career, and Military Readiness
Fort Worth ISD
Grant Administrator
NCTX Aerial Robotics Initiative
Dr. Rob Wright began his educational career sixteen years ago as a Science and Health Science teacher in Grand Prairie ISD. He was a founding Health Science teacher at John A. Dubiski Career High School helping to lead to the successful programming for the campus. Rob then transitioned to Singley Academy in Irving ISD in 2012. Here he contributed to the growth of success for the students in the Health Science and Law Enforcement programs as the Department Chair and HOSA lead.
Rob joined the Keller ISD team as a district administrator in 2016 as a Coordinator working with Career and Technical Education. He was asked to take on a dual role as Principal of the Keller Center for Advanced Learning and Director of Career and Technical Education in 2019. Rob led innovative program development in CTE and CCMR by increasing the programming to 33 successful programs of study through 2023. During the last year of programming at Keller ISD the CCMR readiness percentage rose and the number of Industry Based Certifications increased by 70%.
In June of 2023, Rob began his new role as Director of College, Career, and Military Readiness for Fort Worth ISD’s 70,000+ students and serves as the grant administrator for NCTX Aerial Robotics.
STEPHANIE TENNYSON
Stephanie Tennyson currently serves as a Career and Technical Education Coordinator for Fort Worth ISD. Stephanie has been an educator for 16 years, with 14 years of experience at the secondary level and 2 years of experience at the post-secondary level.
Through various roles, Stephanie has found educators to be a constant source of inspiration, building a strong future workforce and adapting to the dynamic, fast-paced changes of today’s world.
Stephanie is an essential member of the team and has been with NCTX Aerial Robotics Initiative since the very beginning. As an expert in STEM Education, she makes sure that industry-standard equipment, curriculum, and training sessions are provided for all participating school districts. She provides support to assure the highest quality of instruction for students.
DAPHNE RICKARD
Executive Director
InterLink
Team Facilitator Organization
NCTX Aerial Robotics Initiative
Daphne Rickard was Executive Director for Fort Worth ISD where she served as the Lead of the NCTX Aerial Robotics Team since its inception four years ago. Daphne has been an educator for 18 years, with 14 years of experience at the secondary level and 4 years of experience at the post-secondary level. Throughout her tenure in education, Daphne has worked to build programs that provide real-world learning opportunities for all students.
In September of 2023, Daphne begins her role as Executive Director of InterLink, an organization committed to regional quality workforce planning and bridging the gap between business, education, and government in North Central Texas. InterLink has served as NCTX Aerial Robotics Intermediary and Convener for four years. Daphne leads as a motivated, results-oriented collaborator, who has helped to assure unprecedented growth and success of the NCTX Aerial Robotics initiative.
DR. LINDA ANDERSON
Educational Consultant
Adjunct Professor
Project Manager
NCTX Aerial Robotics Initiative
Linda's career in education, with both K12 and university experience, has modeled the importance of partnerships between business and education. Since joining NCTX Aerial Robotics Initiative in 2019, Linda has played a role in the ongoing collaboration among K12, Post-Secondary, and Business/Industry/ Workforce Partners. Her passion for the work is evident in the momentum and growth of the initiative over the past four years.
NCTX AERIAL ROBOTICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
School Districts, Workforce, Post-Secondary, Business/Industry
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Dr. Rob Wright
Fort Worth ISD
Director College Career and Military Readiness
Lisa Castillo
Fort Worth ISD
Executive Director CCMR and Enrichment
Ann Hartlieb
Fort Worth ISD
STEM Partnership Specialist
Stephanie Tennyson
Fort Worth ISD
Coordinator CTE
Michelle Johnson
Fort Worth ISD
Sr. Compliance Analyst Grants and Development
Dr. Stacy Burrell
Fort Worth ISD
Director Grants Compliance and Monitoring
Stephanie Pollard
Fort Worth ISD
Director of Development Grants and Development
Dr. Linda Anderson
Educational Consultant
Project Manager for NCTX Aerial Robotics STEM Initiative
Dr. Suzanne Murr
Azle ISD
CTE Director
Tyler Harrison
Azle ISD
CTE Teacher
Andrea Anderson
Birdville ISD
Director of CTE and CCMR
andrea.anderson@birdvilleschools.net
Jacob Hildebrand
Birdville ISD
CTE Coordinator
jacob.hildebrand@birdvilleschools.net
Rebecca Hering
Cleburne ISD
CTE Director
Kimberly Wrick
Crowley ISD
CTE/PTECH Coordinator
kimberly.wrick@crowley.k12.tx.us
Annette Duvall
Crowley ISD
CTE Director
annette.duvall@crowley.k12.tx.us
Brian Johnson
Era ISD
Secondary Principal/CTE Director
Dr. Shannon Luis
Era ISD
Superintendent
Courtney Carlton
Era ISD
CTE Teacher
Stephanie Speaks
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
CTE Director
Bodie Carroll
Keller ISD
CTE Director
Keith Killebrew
Keller ISD
CTE Coordinator
Deeann Hampton
Mineral Wells ISD
CTE Director
Jacob Kaspar
Mineral Wells ISD
Teacher
John Kuhn
Mineral Wells ISD
Superintendent
Melanie Cormack
Strawn ISD
CTE Director
John Eli
Strawn ISD
Teacher
Dewaine Lee
Strawn ISD
Superintendent
Lisa Harrison
ESC Region 11
Administrator Coach
Chelsea Reeves
ESC Region 11
CTE Coach
WORKFORCE
Daphne Rickard
North Central Texas InterLink
Executive Director, InterLink
Renee Parker
Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County
Industry Services Unit Director
renee.parker@workforcesolutions.net
Ernest Huffman
North Central Texas Council of Governments
Program Manager, Aviation Training and Education
Nicole Johnson
North Central Texas Council of Governments
Danielle Davis
Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas
Partnership Development Coordinator
POST-SECONDARY
Dr. Candace McGowan
Tarrant County College, Trinity River Campus
Director of Academic Affairs - Educational Partnerships
CaCC
Isaac Rivera
Tarrant County College
District Director of Curriculum and Educational Planning
Richard Vela
Tarrant County College
Director of Academic Affairs Educational Partnerships
James Grant
Tarrant County College
Dean of Aviation, Business and Logistics
Trevor Saylors
Tarrant County College
Coordinator of Division of Aviation, Business and Logistics
Dr. Katsuhiko "Kirk" Oda
Tarrant County College
Associate Professor of Geographic Information Systems and Cartography/GIS Coordinator
Dr. Kenneth S. Berry
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Lyle School of Engineering
Southern Methodist University
Research Professor
Associate Director of STEM Programs
Dr. Nandika D'Souza
University of North Texas
Regents Professor Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Dr. Kamesh Namuduri
University of North Texas
Professor Electrical Engineering
BUSINESS/INDUSTRY
Tricia Hiros
Bell Textron, Inc.
Project Manager/Focus on Educational Development
Rohn Olson
Bell Textron, Inc.
Senior Tech Fellow
Nathan Wright
Bell Textron, Inc.
Director Product Cyber Security
Mark Robertson
DPR Construction
Senior Field Engineer
Bill Swope, CP
Halff Associates, Inc.
Survey Business Development Manager
NCT9-1-1
Texas Instruments, Inc.
Jason Madison
V3 Consulting Engineers
Electrical Engineer/Project Manager
Desiree Hurst
Yazel Peebles & Associates LLC
Land Surveying and Mapping
dhurst@ypassociates.com desilu44d@netscape.net
Thomas Harris
Hillwood
Executive Vice President