Board service is a volunteer effort, accepted by only a few in the community. It is a tough job with no salary. It is a critically important job that requires an election and then mandated training. It is a responsibility that takes time, a mature outlook, and careful decision-making.
School board members are often overlooked, but their contributions cannot be overstated. They are shaping tomorrow. January is School Board Recognition Month, and we would like to thank each and every member for their commitment and dedication to ensure our students receive the best possible educational resources while also being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
Throughout January we will highlight each of our seven board members, culminating in a special recognition at the January 23 Regular Board meeting. You can find a brief recap of each member on our website at
www.brazosportisd.net/board. We have also asked each member to answer a few fun questions and will be sharing their responses below throughout the month.
Please join us as we honor our seven BISD Board of Trustees:
Mason Howard, President
Scott Schwertner, Vice President
Jerry Adkins, Secretary
Joe Rinehart, Assistant Secretary
Patty Sayes, Member
Liz Cuellar, Member
Chris Dunn, Member
In an effort to help you get to know each member better, we have asked them to answer a few fun questions. Check out their responses below!
If you were a high school student in BISD today, which CTE course(s) would you sign up for and why?
Rinehart: Culinary - I enjoy cooking outdoors, but would like to be able to prepare a ‘real’ dinner.
Schwertner: Welding…I think it would be a great skill to learn.
Dunn: Today most likely my CTE interest would be welding or woodworking. I love to work with my hands on projects that would be in these areas.
Cuellar: Culinary...love cooking and hosting parties
Howard: Welding. My dad was a welder. I learned how to weld at home. I also did some welding in FFA but was never proficient. It's a great skill to have, I would like to be better at it.
Adkins: I would like to be involved with the Robotics/Rocketry program; however, I am sure I could not keep up with the current students (especially after attending afew briefings presented by our student-learners). Also, Culinary Arts would be interesting, especially after sampling our student-learners wares!
If you were a BISD student today, which sport, club or activity would you most want to join?
Rinehart: Any activity, sports or other organizations that could help me grow as a person and gain life lessons along the way.
Schwertner: I was on the BWood Baseball team and I really enjoyed being a part of the program, so I would want to do it again. However, I always regretted not continuing to play football in HS, so I would join the football program too.
Dunn: Certainly my love for baseball would be the one sport I'd devote my time and effort for. Thankful I played for Coach Poland and continued to have a close relationship with him long after high school.
Cuellar: Softball
Howard: I would play football again. I enjoyed all the sports from school but it was the relationships and time with my friends that made it a good experience.
Adkins: I would enjoy being part of the basketball program, not sure Coach Pitman or Coach Tummins would have me!
Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school and why?
Rinehart: Mrs. Georgia Walley, 8th grade US History teacher at Lake Jackson Jr High(now LJI) She made Social Studies interesting & that it would be relevant throughout my lifetime.
Schwertner: I had a number of them, but a few I really enjoyed were Mrs. Gary, Ms. Cindy Williams, Ms. Pruett/Sitka, Coach Bobby Williams, Coach Arthur, Ms. Mary Mitchell, Nurse Helen Bullock.
Dunn: My favorite teacher had to be Coach Landers at Bwood. He always made things interesting and light-hearted.
Cuellar: Mr. Phillips… he encouraged us to be the best we could be… treated everyone as equals.
Howard: Sue Funk Senior English. I struggled with English all through school. Mrs. Funk recognized my difficulties and helped me not just get by but learn the material that I should have learned years before. She cared and it was genuine.
Adkins: Mr Austin, Algebra, Roosevelt Jr High, Charleston WV – more than a Teacher!(like our BISD teachers)
What was the hardest subject for you when you were in school?
Rinehart: Math
Schwertner: English classes were never at the top of my list.
Dunn: English was probably the most difficult subject for me, however Mrs. Huff at Bwood got me through it :)
Cuellar: Chemistry
Howard: English 9th-11th grades.
Adkins: High School – English and College – PChem (never did get it!!)
What is your favorite book?
Rinehart: “The Greatest Generation” by Tom Brokaw
Schwertner: “Catcher in the Rye”
Cuellar: “Where the Red Fern Grows”
Howard: “The Catcher in the Rye”
Adkins: “Schools Cannot Do It Alone” by Jamie Vollmer and “Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball” by Harry Frommer
What motivates you to work hard?
Rinehart: Staying active keeps the body and soul alive.
Schwertner: My parents always instilled in us to do the right thing and give it your all no matter what you do. I have tried to live by that in all that I do.
Dunn: Hard work was something that my dad instilled in me at a young age. You never know what you can accomplish unless you give your very best and work hard. I'd have to say being involved with athletics throughout my life also played a key part in demonstrating the importance of hard work.
Cuellar: Making sure all children have the same opportunity to succeed in life.
Howard: I was taught to work hard by my parents. My faith in God has driven me to work hard. Colossians 3:23 states... Everything you do, do it as if you are doing it unto the Lord. I work hard because I am responsible not just to man but ultimately to God.
Adkins: My parents – Bethel & Bus Adkins motivated me.
What's the best joke you know?
Schwertner: I don’t know a lot of jokes, but I like using funny lines from movies/TV shows in everyday life.
Cuellar: My husband named his dogs Timex and Rolex. They're his watch dogs.
Howard: God was talking to Adam on day 7 after He had finished creating everything. God noticed that Adam was all alone and needed a companion. Adam asked God for a suitable companion that would love him, honor him, provide meals and meet all his needs. God said, "that will cost you an arm and a leg." Adam asked God "what can I get for a rib?"
Adkins: Don’t have a best joke – only ‘Grandpa jokes’ – I have been told they are not that great!