A member of TAAE since 2002, Marsha served five years on the TAAE Legislative Committee, two years serving as the chair of the committee.  In 2009, she was elected Treasurer of the organization and served on the board overseeing the Finance committee, reporting to the board and TAAE members the financial status of the organization.

Marsha Burris has been in education for 23 years. After working for many years as a “staff” accountant in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, she stumbled into education when she began volunteering at her children’s elementary school in Birdville ISD. Working as an educational aide for 5 years, she went back to college and earned her BSIS in 1993 from East Texas State University-Texarkana. She completed her student teaching and immediately began her career as a teacher in Texarkana ISD at Westlawn Middle School.  She spent six years as a 6^th grade Science Teacher serving as Science Department Chair and campus Team Leader and earned her M.S. from Texas A&M University-Texarkana in 2000.  She served one year as the testing, textbook, technology coordinator for district’s middle school while continuing her education for Principal Certification. In 2000, she became the principal of OPTIONS Academic Alternative High School in Texarkana ISD.

Marsha Burris was chosen by Raise Your Hand Texas in July 2008 and June 2010 to attend Harvard’s Graduate School of Education – Urban School Leaders Institute and Leading Change in the 21^st Century for High School Principals Institute. She is a member of the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce and Delta Kappa Gamma.

Marsha has been married for 27 years to Ricky Burris and they have three wonderful children and two beautiful granddaughters. She is an active member of FBC-Texarkana where she sings in the church choir.

Marsha believes it is her mission and responsibility to ensure every student the opportunity to graduate from high school so they can become responsible productive members of their community and work place.

When asked about her feelings being elected to this position and what she hopes to accomplish in the position. – Marsha said she has already started work on setting up the TAAE legislative committee members and is anxious to get the ball rolling on contacting our Texas State House and Senate Representatives throughout the state to let them know – We cannot leave one Texas student behind in education. They must invest now in the future of our students and quoting her favorite baseball team the Texas Rangers slogan “It’s time!”

Emily Feagan has been in the field of education for the past 21 years in Bryan ISD. She began working with at-risk students through a summer program called Youth Opportunities Unlimited at Texas A&M in 1988. She taught English at the traditional high school for three years before moving to the alternative campus in the Fall of 1993. During her 17 years at the alternative campus, she taught in the self-paced classroom for 14 years; organized student testing and curriculum as the Instructional Specialist; supported the director as an Assistant Principal and lead the campus for one year as the Dean of Lamar Alternative High School. Unfortunately, budget changes impacted the campus and the program was closed in June 2010. Currently, Emily is an Assistant Principal at Rudder High School in Bryan. As a TAAE member, Emily has functioned as a Conference Committee Co-Chair, Conference Committee Chair and recently Vice-President.

April Coker, B.S., M.Ed.
Biology and Environmental Science Instructor

North Mesquite High School
18201 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Mesquite, TX 75150-4191
(972) 882-7900
aencoker@gmail.com