Texas Tech K-12 has a new advisory board that includes fresh faces and longtime members.

This summer Texas Tech K-12 welcomed a new advisory board comprising five active and retired educators, including two members from the original board. 

Cameron Brown is an associate professor in Community, Family and Addiction Sciences in the College of Health & Human Sciences at Texas Tech University. He earned his doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy/counseling from Kansas State University. He is a researcher, graduate-level instructor, clinical supervisor, and professional mentor. He also is the course coordinator of a pedagogically innovative course, CARS 2300: Communication, Civility, and Ethics, where he has found unique ways to reduce financial burdens on thousands of students while also enhancing their learning through hands-on experience. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist as well as a clinical supervisor at Desert Sky Family Therapy. Brown has important applicable experience, including working clinically with teens in high school settings, teenage mentoring, online instruction, therapy group facilitation and community mental health.

Margaret Leifeste, an original member of the board, is well-rounded in the education field. She earned a bachelor’s in elementary education from Angelo State University, a master’s in special education from Lamar University and a mid-management certification from Texas Tech. Her teaching experience includes years in general education and special education classrooms. She has worked as an educational diagnostician at all levels, pre-K through high school, and served as a special education administrator for a shared service arrangement and a single-member district, working as an educational diagnostician at all levels and as special education director. Additionally, she was Special Education Director for the Region 15 Education Service Center. Leifeste retired in 2013 with 41 years’ experience in Texas schools.

Shawn Mason is a veteran Texas educator and public school administrator with over 30 years of experience, primarily serving rural communities. He began his career as a science teacher and coach before moving into campus and district leadership roles, including superintendent of Crosbyton Consolidated ISD from 2013 to 2021. Following his retirement from public school administration, Mason joined Texas Tech’s College of Education in the West Texas Rural Education Partnership, where he is Public School Administrator in Residence. His key role is connecting rural school districts with universities and community colleges to address teacher recruitment and training. Mason earned a bachelor’s in education from Angelo State University and a master’s in educational leadership and administration from Lubbock Christian University.

Jon McNaughtan is an associate professor and associate dean for Enrollment Management in Texas Tech’s College of Education. His research focuses on leadership in higher education from multiple perspectives. McNaughtan completed a doctoral degree at the University of Michigan with a focus on organizational behavior, where he worked with faculty in both education and business. Over the last 15 years he has used his educational background and professional experience as a leadership consultant, working with aspiring corporate, non-profit, and educational leaders to cultivate positive practices designed to expand the capacity of organizations and individuals. Coming from a long line of educators, he finds fulfillment in facilitating meaningful organizational change and teaching engaged learners. 

Kayla Morrison, also an original member of the board, recently retired as superintendent for Lorenzo ISD. Previously, she worked at Roosevelt ISD for 24 years, where she held the jobs of teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent for her last six years there. Morrison also was employed in Klein ISD in Spring, Texas, and at Lubbock-Cooper ISD. She is a graduate of Texas Tech, earning both her bachelor’s in physical education and a Master of Science, participating in the first cohort of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Master Science Teacher program. Education is and has been a lifelong passion for her, and she has enjoyed meeting the challenges in education over a 40-plus-year career.

In October 2020, the State Board of Education adopted a new administrative code requiring Special Purpose School Districts to install and maintain an advisory board. Texas Tech K-12's monthly advisory board meetings are open to the public and can be accessed here, along with other board information and requirements and a place to submit public comments.