TEAM OF EIGHT SYMPOSIUM

Dr. Smith previously spent 20 years working for Texas Education Service Centers. He served as Executive Director for Education Service Centers, Region 13 (ESC-13) in Austin and Region 20 (ESC-20) in San Antonio. As Executive Director, Smith led significant organizational changes at both ESCs. Under his leadership both Centers developed products and services utilized across the state by school districts of all sizes and procured multiple state-wide projects through the Texas Education Agency and the U.S. Department of Education. Additionally, during his tenure, each ESC was recognized as an Outstanding Workplace. Prior to becoming an Executive Director, Smith worked as a Deputy Executive Director for ESC-13, and also held positions as Field Service Agent and Director of Information Systems Support while at ESC-20. During his ESC tenure, Dr. Smith served on multiple boards and commissions. He was also invited on several occasions to provide testimony to the Texas Legislature on issues related to school finance, property taxation and border security.

Dr. Smith gained his public schools experience working in rural schools on the Texas South Plains. He served as Superintendent of Schools for the Southland Independent School District and held administrator positions in Special Education and Career and Technical Education. Dr. Smith began his education career as a High School Agricultural-Science teacher.

Dr. Smith earned bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Education at Texas Tech University. He also holds a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Texas Tech and an earned Education Doctorate from Texas A&M University.

In 2018 Bryan became active with the Central Texas School Board Association and currently serves as their VP – Sall Districts

He earned the distinction of Master Trustee when he completed the LeadershipTASB program with the Class of 2020. In Feb of 2024, he was appointed to the LTASB Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Over the years he has served on the Region 13 Superintendent of the Year committee 6 times.

Bryan is heavily involved in advocacy work on behalf of public education and was named the TASB Advocate of the Year for 2023.

Formerly Managing Director for Curriculum at the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Anderson has worked with a wide range of education policy and finance/appropriations issues. Since joining HillCo, he has assisted numerous clients in the educational arena, including the Texas School Alliance, an organization comprised of 45 large, significant school districts in Texas; the Texas Fast Growth School Coalition, an association of 70+ schools exhibiting enrollment growth that exceeds state averages; and several independent school districts and charter schools. Anderson’s client schools enroll almost two-thirds of the students in Texas and he has
developed relationships with school leaders in a variety of positions in every corner of state. He has also helped private-sector clients in securing state, regional and local contracts, and developing agreements with other private-sector entities. In addition to his work at the Capitol, Anderson stays actively involved in policy and client issues at the Texas Education Agency, the State Board of Education, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and several other agencies.

Prior to his work at TEA, David spent 18 years in the educational publishing industry, including 16 years as a regional vice president for three publishers. He began his career as a teacher and an administrator in Austin public schools.

Anderson attended The University of Texas at Austin, where he received an undergraduate degree in 1973 and a master’s degree in 1976. He has done additional post-graduate work at UT-Austin and Harvard University.

Niki Henderson served as the Director of Recovery Services for Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District from June 2022 to July 2024. In this role, she collaborated with local, state, and federal partners to develop and manage a variety of support services for students and staff. Niki was instrumental in creating a multi-tiered system of student support, forming partnerships with community and state organizations, and organizing training programs to enhance the well-being of staff and students. As a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, she specializes in evidence-based, trauma-focused interventions and was a mental health provider at Robb Elementary. She is a member of several professional associations, including the Texas Counseling Association, the Texas Association of School Psychologists, and the Texas Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. Currently, Niki serves as the Director of Special Education for Uvalde CISD and is pursuing a doctorate in School Psychology at Texas Tech University.

Tim Savoy is currently the chief communication officer for the Hays Consolidated Independent School District, which covers 220 square miles of territory just south of Austin. He serves in an executive director level capacity on the superintendent’s cabinet, directing all communication and community engagement efforts of the district.

From 2004 to 2011, Savoy represented the Texas Youth Commission (TYC). He began as the state agency’s public information officer and was named communication director in 2007, during the agency’s reform and conservatorship. In this role, he handled media requests, wrote and produced all agency publications, managed all content on the agency website, produced collateral communication material to support departments preparing reports or presentations, and was the official agency photographer.

Prior to joining TYC, Savoy was the chief media spokesperson for the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District (SCUCISD) in Schertz, Texas. Additionally, he produced all of the district special projects and top level award programs, managed the school board elections, and responded to all public information act requests.

Savoy spent nearly six years as a reporter for the ABC News affiliate in Columbus, Georgia. In addition to his experience as an investigative, crime and court, public safety, and general assignments reporter for WTVM Television (ABC), he has served as the news anchor for a news magazine show that aired on the National Public Radio affiliate in Austin, Texas. Some of his major stories include: 1996 Summer Olympic Games and Centennial Park bombing, media witness to Georgia’s last electric chair execution, coverage of three hurricanes, troop deployments to Iraq and Bosnia from Fort Benning army installation, regular coverage of Jimmy Carter in Plains, the death of George Wallace, and a five state wildflower summit with Ladybird Johnson.

He is the winner of two Associated Press awards for series reporting and spot news coverage, was nominated for a regional Emmy award for a series about child safety and abduction prevention, and was named Media Person of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Columbus, Georgia, and Russell County, Alabama. He was the SCUCISD administrator of the year in 2002 and was inducted into the district’s Hall of Honor in 2006 as a distinguished former student. Some of Savoy’s projects at TYC have been recognized as best practices by the United States Department of Justice. He is also the recipient of multiple Texas School Public Relations Association Star Awards at the silver, gold, and best in category levels.

Savoy holds a Bachelor of Journalism in Broadcast News from the University of Texas at Austin. He grew up near San Antonio, Texas.