During last night’s regularly scheduled Colorado ISD Board of Trustees meeting, the CISD School Board was formally recognized as the 2025-2026 Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) Outstanding School Board, the highest honor a school board can receive in the state of Texas.
Selected from more than 1,000 school districts and over 7,000 board members statewide, CISD was first named the Region 14 Outstanding School Board before advancing as one of five finalists interviewed by a statewide committee of superintendents. From that group, Colorado ISD was chosen as the single most outstanding school board in Texas.
The presentation was made by Dr. Kevin Brown, Executive Director of TASA, who shared both professional praise and a deeply personal connection to Colorado City, with family roots in the community dating back to 1890. He also quoted a historical reflection describing Colorado City as a place known for its “towering characters of men and women.”
Dr. Brown explained that the TASA selection committee was especially impressed by the board’s work and cited the following strengths in its evaluation:
- Transformational leadership and long-term planning
- Strong ethics and harmony among the board
- Student-centered values and unified governance
- Commitment to high-quality Career and Technical Education programs
- Positive community relationships and responsible financial stewardship
According to the committee, the CISD Board was “thoughtful and collaborative, with a visible focus on long-term planning, community relationships, and instructional improvement,” and was recognized as a model of what outstanding school boards do.
👏 CISD Board of Trustees
• Emily Strain, President
• Liliana Ornelas, Vice President
• Veronica Boone, Secretary
• Jamie Alvarez, Trustee
• John Martinez, Trustee
• Rachel Silva, Trustee
• Ty Wood, Trustee
Dr. Brown also noted that outstanding school boards are supported by strong leadership, recognizing the partnership with Superintendent Dr. Larry Polk and Assistant Superintendent Denise Farmer.
Colorado ISD is proud of this exceptional group of trustees and grateful for their service, leadership, and commitment to the students and community they serve.