TEAM OF EIGHT SYMPOSIUM

Patrick Murphy is an innovative educational leader with over two decades of dedicated service across PK–12 campuses, district administration, and regional support networks. He currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director at Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 in Waco, Texas, where he directs strategic ESC initiatives, collaborates with executive leadership, and builds vital partnerships with district, board, and state leaders.

A veteran of the Texas education policy world, David Anderson became the managing partner of STRIVE Public Policy Resources, LLC, in late 2024 after leading the HillCo Partners education policy team for almost twenty-two years. As both the founding partner of STRIVE and a partner at HillCo, David is recognized across Texas and the country for his insights on educational policy and in the educational marketing and sales arena. He has managed client interests that run the gamut of public education policy and practice. He is often engaged for work with occupational regulatory issues in Texas.

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.

Greg Smith serves as a recognized leader in building capacity in others, Greg served as superintendent for 20 of his 40 years in public education in two high performing fast growth school districts (Alvin ISD and Clear Creek ISD).

Dr. Smith currently serves as the Executive Director of the Fast Growth School Coalition, Associate Director of the Thompson Executive Leadership Institute and Field Service Agent for Region 13 ESC.

As superintendent, Smith was honored as Texas Superintendent of the Year by TASB, Administrator of the Year by TCTA, Distinguished Administrator of the Year by TMEA, and Superintendent of the Year by Texas PTA. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Oakland University, Master’s Degree from University of Houston-Clear Lake, and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.

Throughout Greg’s career he has built a culture of excellence at the campus and district levels, by holding employees accountable, and building a community-based accountability system to support local control.

Hudson Huff is a Senior Advisor with Zonda, where he has worked with school districts and communities in analyzing demographic trends, enrollment projections, housing markets, and long-range planning strategies. With more than 30 years of experience in construction management, educational support, and school operations, he has led facility planning, bond programs, attendance boundary studies, and demographic forecasting initiatives for districts across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.  Hudson is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University and has lived in the Fort Worth area for the past 30 years. He is passionate about translating complex demographic and housing trends into meaningful insights that help school districts maintain stability, evaluate growth, and plan confidently to serve their community’s specific needs.

Nicholas West is a board trainer and school finance agent at a Region 12 Education Service Center, where he has served for five years. His experience also includes service as a superintendent, five years as an assistant professor, and 15 years in district leadership roles across public and private schools in Texas.