Association History
Serving Texas PK-8 School Leaders Since 1917
The Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) represents more than 5,900 school administrators who direct the activities of 3 million PK-8 schoolchildren.
In addition to principals, membership includes supervisors of reading, mathematics, science, special education, and other subject disciplines; it also serves central office administrators who are responsible for the administration of elementary education. A TEPSA member supervises two out of three public schoolchildren in Texas. TEPSA is the only association that has elementary school principals and supervisors as its primary focus for membership. Eighty-one percent of the Texas administrators who are eligible for membership belong to TEPSA.
Isaac Newton Odom founded the Elementary Principals (EPS) in Waco in 1917. The original group of 50, known as the “Ward Principals,” met each year at the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) annual convention. They later formed a separate organization known as the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association.
Past State Presidents
- 2023, 2022 Cindy Tierney, Lufkin ISD
- 2021 Lorena Zertuche, Spring ISD
- 2020 Julie Gauthier, Port Neches-Groves ISD
- 2019 Annette Sanchez, Beeville ISD
- 2018 Yolanda Delaney, Canyon ISD
- 2017 Manuel Gonzales, Frisco ISD
- 2016 Nancy Tovar, El Paso
- 2015 Eddie Damian, Fort Bend
- 2014 Dr. Belinda Neal, Lindale
- 2013 Stacy Bennett, Huntsville
- 2012 Scot Clayton, Henrietta
- 2011 Sharon Wright, Plainview
- 2010 Dr. Scott Hollinger, McAllen
- 2009 Dr. Andra Penny, Coppell
- 2008 Mitzi McAfee, Calhoun County
- 2007 Celia Layton, Pasadena
- 2006 Karen Bessette, Randolph Field
- 2005 Mark Terry, Carroll
- 2004 Dr. Lynda Carter, Highland Park
- 2003 Dr. Linda Holman, El Paso
- 2002 Mark Lukert, Wichita Falls
- 2001 Doris Jean Gill, Beaumont
- 2000 Julia Lyda, Grapevine-Colleyville
- 1999 Dr. Linda Little, North Lamar
- 1998 Stephen Caruso, Killeen
- 1997 Lillie Beth Wilson, Alief
- 1996 Dr. Anne S. Kiehle, Fort Sam Houston
- 1995 Ramon E. Rivera, Ysleta
- 1994 Dr. Debra Nelson, Coppell
- 1993 Gretchen Ricker, Seguin
- 1992 Bill Barnes, Hurst-Euless-Bedford
- 1991 Carolyn Clapp, Humble
- 1990 F. B. (Buddy) Sexton, Lubbock
- 1989 Eugene J. Sekula, East Central
- 1988 Dr. Sally Blewett, Beaumont
- 1987 Moody Conner, Andrews
- 1986 David Walvoord, Amarillo
- 1985 Nancy Sampson, Cypress-Fairbanks
- 1984 Gene Stokes, Round Rock
- 1983 Joe Cummins, Midland
- 1982 Dr. Tony C. Diaz, Corpus Christi
- 1981 Larry Parkerson, Galena Park
- 1980 Troy Selzer, Ennis
- 1979 Dr. Joan Bossung, Spring Branch
- 1978 Anna Brodie, Temple
- 1977 Frank Mullican, Lubbock
- 1976 Don Simmons, Abilene
- 1975 Alvis Bentley, Amarillo
- 1974 Earl Cobb, Galena Park
- 1973 Donald Couch, Fort Worth
- 1972 Shirley Hale Lincoln, Spring Branch
- 1971 William C. Harter, Canyon
- 1970 Warren W. Green, Tyler
- 1969 Carl F. Wheeler, Austin
- 1968 Kenneth Fields, Fort Stockton
- 1967 Henry Shrake Jr., Houston
- 1966 Lloyd Bell, Dallas
- 1965 Myrtice Larson, Arlington
- 1964 Lloyd Bell, Dallas
- 1963 Duane Russell, Garland
- 1962 Thomas Saunders, San Antonio
- 1961 Howard W. Amick, Amarillo
- 1960 Frank J. Balusek, Bay City
- 1959 Christine Rockefeller, Corpus Christi
- 1958 P. B. Stovall, Fort Worth
- 1957 Floyd A. Hemphill, Amarillo
- 1956 Olive B. Wheeler, Lubbock
- 1955 Buford W. Williams, San Marcos
- 1954 Ruby Gustavson, Kingsville
- 1953 Opal Eversole, Freeport
- 1952 Dr. M. G. Bowden, Austin
- 1951 Alma M. Freeland, Tyler
- 1950 Gladys Simons, Fort Worth
- 1949 Herman G. Williams, Dallas
- 1948 Ishmael Hill, Beaumont
- 1947 Roy H. Rowland, Goose Creek
- 1946 H. A. Newsom, Edinburg
- 1945 Charles H. Dent, Dallas
- 1944 Kyle K. Bates, Kilgore
- 1943 O. R. Scott, Weslaco
- 1942 S. E. Pass, Abilene
- 1941 W. A. Hamilton, Dallas
- 1940 F. M. Mathis, Tyler
- 1939 B. C. Shulkey, Fort Worth
- 1938 Frank D. Austin, Port Arthur
- 1937 L. M. Fertsch, Austin
- 1936 Elsie B. Jordt, San Antonio
- 1935 W. L. Darnell, Austin
- 1934 Sydney M. Callaway, Fort Worth
- 1933 George P. Mecham, Corpus Christi
- 1932 Thomas E. Pierce, Denton
- 1931 Arvin N. Donner, Port Arthur
- 1930 Katherine Gorbutt, El Paso
- 1929 James T. Whittlesey, Dallas
- 1928 R. A. Collins, Port Arthur
- 1927 J. B. Bright, Houston
- 1926 Eunice Parr, San Antonio
- 1925 J. I. Reynolds, Houston
- 1924 T. Guy Rogers, San Antonio
- 1923 J. E. Park, Wichita Falls
- 1922 Leonard Power, Port Arthur
- 1921 J. F. Peeler, Dallas
- 1920 F. Edna Simmons, Dallas
- 1919 W. S. Bellamy, Dallas
- 1918 S. M. Lloyd, Austin
- 1917 I. N. Odom, Waco
