Richard H. Vitale, President

Mr. Vitale was born and reared in Dallas, Texas and is a proud graduate Woodrow Wilson High School, Class of 1991. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. Vitale joined a Bank of America predecessor company in 1994, and upon graduation, he returned to North Texas with the Bank. He currently is a Senior Vice President at Bank of America and leads the Bank’s Not-for-Profit Healthcare and Institutions Practice for North and Central Texas. He is Founding President of the Woodrow Wilson High School Community Foundation.

Gary Griffith, Vice President

Gary Griffith was elected to the Dallas City Council in May 2003 and served two terms through June 2007. He believes strongly in community service and gives his volunteer time by serving on a variety of boards for charitable organizations in Dallas. Mr Griffith grew up in East Dallas and is a proud graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Class of 1966.

Emily Martin, Secretary

Emily L. Martin is the managing partner of Thompson & Martin, a strategic communications firm she founded in 1987. She earned both a BA in psychology and an MBA in marketing from Southern Methodist University. In addition, she earned a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary. In recent years, Ms. Martin’s volunteer activities have centered around public schools and mentoring organizations, including two terms as president of the Woodrow PTA from 2007-2009.

Jason Kulas, Treasurer

Mr. Kulas is the CFO and board member of Santander Consumer, USA Inc. Mr. Kulas joined Santander Consumer USA in January 2007 after serving as a Managing Director for JPMorgan Securities, Inc. He has also worked as an Adjunct Professor of marketing at Texas Christian University. Mr. Kulas earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a minor in Religious Studies from Southern Methodist University, and an MBA from Texas Christian University. He & his wife Amy are very active community volunteers in a variety of areas. Mr. Kulas is a proud member of the Woodrow class of 1989.

Susan Schuerger

Susan Schuerger has been a tireless advocate for her schools and the community. Susan has served as PTA president and SBDM committees at Lakewood Elementary, J.L. Long Middle School, and Woodrow Wilson High School. She founded and is presently the chairman of the Woodrow Wilson Community Council, a consortium of PTA and SBDM members from each of the Woodrow feeder schools. She has been involved in education as a Clinical Instructor of Physical Therapy, developed program curriculum for the Texas Tech School of Physical Therapy, and was an Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy at Southwestern University School of Allied Health, teaching and revising curriculum. She is the proud parent of five Woodrow graduates.

Paul Dalton

D. Paul Dalton is a Shareholder in the Commercial Litigation Section of Cowles & Thompson. His practice is generally devoted to commercial and complex business litigation. Mr. Dalton has devoted substantial volunteer time to public high school management, curriculum and facilities issues during many years of service on the School-Centered Education Council for Woodrow Wilson High School, including service as Chair from 1996-1998. He is a proud member of the Woodrow Wilson Class of 1968.

Mike Morath

Mr. Morath is District 2 Trustee of the Dallas Independent School District. Previously, he was President of Minute Menu Systems, a company that processes claims for a federal child care subsidy serving about million low income children each day. He has been involved in a large array of community & volunteer activities in Dallas and abroad. He is a graduate of Garland High School, getting a full International Baccalaureate diploma that helped him subsequently graduate from college in 2½ years.

Jody Hodges

Jody Hodges joined Bank of America in 2002, and has worked in the Greater Texas Commercial Banking group since 2004. Mr. Hodges serves as a Board Member of the Greater Coppell YMCA, The Greatest Thing Foundation and Zoomago, Inc. He has been active through the Bank serving on the Fort Worth Leadership Council and serving as past Chairman of the American Heart Walk and March of Dimes, March for Babies campaigns. He is a member of Irving Bible Church (IBC) along with his wife Nikki and son Christian.

Alise Cortez

As a professional/organizational development consultant in Dallas, Alise Cortez designs and conducts professional and leadership development workshops. She is an adjunct faculty member of the University of Phoenix, teaching Psychology-related courses. Alise is an active member of the Board of the YMCA at White Rock, and is a past president of the Lakewood Service League.

Derek Smith

Derek Smith is a District Executive Director for the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. He is responsible for all aspects of the YMCA at White Rock and the Grand Prairie YMCA. Previously, Derek was the Executive Director of the Irving Family YMCA. He has been active in the YMCA since his youth, including both volunteer and staff positions as coach, teacher, and executive. Some of his professional affiliations include: Ferguson Road Initiative Board Member, Association of YMCA Professionals Chapter 71 Board Member, and 2007 Graduate of Leadership Irving. He has been a member of the Woodrow Wilson High School SBDM since 2009. Derek holds an Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree from Brookhaven College, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from University of North Texas, and completed the requirements for YMCA Senior Director in 2000.

Lon R. Williams, Jr.

Lon R. Williams, Jr.is a labor and employment attorney, a Partner with Bracewell & Giuliani LLP in Dallas. He advises, counsels and trains management concerning employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, equal employment opportunity, occupational safety and health, wage and hour, labor relations and related issues in the employment relationship. His education includes a J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1977; Master of Science in Foreign Service, Georgetown University, 1976; and B.A., Southern Methodist University, 1970. Of note, Lon has been named to Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition, 2008 and 2009; Texas Super Lawyers, 2003-2011; and Best Lawyers in America, 2006-2011. He was the Student Body President, SMU, 1969-1970; a Republican Congressional Nominee, U.S. 5th District of Texas, 1988; and Assistant to Deputy Secretary of Defense, 1975 -1977. His long list of civic leadership positions is highlighted with service for several schools, including St. John’s Episcopal School, Dallas Can Academy, and SMU Alumni Association.

Leigh Peden Straughn

A longtime East Dallas resident, Leigh Peden Straughn attended Lakewood Elementary, J.L. Long Middle School and Woodrow Wilson High School (Class of 1991). Currently a stay-at-home mother to four boys, Leigh previously worked as a management consultant in the Houston office of McKinsey & Company and as a Director in the Advertising department of The Dallas Morning News. Leigh presently serves on the board of the Lakewood Early Childhood PTA and volunteers through the Children & Family Ministry at The Church of the Incarnation and for its preschool, Incarnation Academy. She graduated magna cum laude from Rice University and holds an MBA from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania.

Kenneth Sheets

Kenneth Sheets was elected in November 2010 for District 107 in the Texas House of Representatives. A graduate of Mansfield High School, Kenneth enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and has proudly served our country for the past 15 years on both active duty and in the reserves. While serving in the Marine Corps, he graduated with an Honors Degree in Political Science from the University of Texas at Arlington After graduation, Kenneth entered the Marine Corps legal program and attended the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University. He received his Juris Doctor in 2004, and served as Student Bar President. He then served as Judge Advocate in the Marine Corps. Kenneth continues to practice law as an associate with Payne & Blanchard, LLP., where he specializes in civil defense. He serves as a member of the House Committee on Insurance and the House Committee on Economic and Small Business Development in the Texas House of Representatives.

Charles Glover

Charles Glover is Executive Director of Teach For America - Dallas-Fort Worth, the nation’s largest charter region. Glover is a Teach For America alumnus. He taught in Durham, NC, where he also served on the Durham Public Schools (DPS) Middle School Reform Team and was a member of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE). Glover also helped train and mentor other Teach for America instructors. He then served as a research analyst for the Harvard ExEL Program, an initiative with the Wallace Foundation that focuses on sharing best practices in education among school district leaders across the U.S. Further, he is on the boards of directors of Health Foundations America, the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Award/North Texas, and Teaching Trust. Glover received a bachelor of science degree from Texas A&M University and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education to pursue his master’s degree in Education Policy and Management. Glover has established Woodrow Wilson High School as Teach For America home base for corps members.

Patricia Arvanitis

Patricia Arvanitis has been involved with many school organizations both private and public and is currently serving as the PTSA president of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Her understanding of the value a strong community can make in a child's education has led her to co-found Leadership DISD, which she currently serves as president. Patricia also serves on the DISD Magnet School Parent Advisory Council Leadership DISD develops education-focused, informed leaders within Dallas to affect change and help to lead support efforts to bring about significant improvements in public schools. Patricia has a BA in Communications from the University of Texas, Dallas and a Master’s Certificate in Conflict Resolution from Southern Methodist University. Since 1993, she has owned her own graphic design and printing firm. Patricia also serves on the DISD Magnet School Parent Advisory Council, and the Board of Directors for the Children’s Cancer Fund.