Project Education Product Advisory Board

Project ELL


  • Arthur Chou
  • Academic Learning Company, LLC
Mr. Chou is a social entrepreneur. He advocates the biliteracy and dual language school movement to promote education equity for English Learner students, encourage multilingualism and prepare every student to become a global citizen. Arthur Chou is the founder and managing director for Academic Learning Company, LLC which operates SealofBiliteracy.org, DualLanguageSchools.org and Velázquez Press. Arthur has helped more than 30 states establishing their state Seal of Biliteracy and build an online community for dual language school educators, parents and administrators. He is the publisher of Velázquez Press, which published the oldest and largest Spanish and English dictionary based in the United States. Velázquez Press is the preeminent authority of academic language and authentic biliteracy and has sponsored 30,000+ Biliteracy recognition medals for the Seal of Biliteracy movement. Arthur backpacked in South America in his 20’s and learned Spanish during his travels. Besides Spanish and English, Arthur speaks 4 other languages and has traveled all 50 states and 50+ countries.
Mr. Chou is a social entrepreneur. He advocates the biliteracy and dual language school movement to promote education equity for English Learner students, encourage multilingualism and prepare every student to become a global citizen. Arthur Chou is the founder and…


   

  • Kathleen Leos
  • Education Neuroscience Foundation Inc.
Kathleen Leos has devoted her career to championing academic excellence for English Learners, immigrant, and at-risk students. She is the founder of the Education Neuroscience Foundation Inc. and CEO of The Global Institute LLC, which works to transform educational systems based on education research and governmental legal requirements.

She served a six-year presidential appointment in the US Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition as Assistant Deputy Secretary and Senior Policy Advisor, where she provided expert guidance and oversight of the congressional Elementary and Secondary Education Act’s Title III federal legislation. Her duties included developing national, state and local district standards, and assessment and accountability systems for English and Dual-Language Learners.

Prior to those posts, Kathleen served as a School Board trustee for the Dallas Independent School District, holding positions as Board President, Vice-President, and Chair of the Business, Personnel, and Education Committees. As DISD’s State Legislative Education Liaison, Kathleen co-authored the state’s HB 103 or the “English Learner No Exemption” Bill to include ‘minority and immigrant students’ language and academic achievement in the State Accountability System for the first time Texas public education history.
Kathleen Leos has devoted her career to championing academic excellence for English Learners, immigrant, and at-risk students. She is the founder of the Education Neuroscience Foundation Inc. and CEO of The Global Institute LLC, which works to transform educational systems…


   

Project Truancy


  • Judge John Payton
  • Payton, Nix & Associates, LLC
Judge Payton has made working with kids and families his lifetime legacy. Judge Payton created the Collin County Truancy Court and has presided over 98,000 student cases. Through innovative programs Judge Payton has a success rate of 98.8% with getting kids back home, off drugs, and graduated. Judge Payton created Students on Service (SOS) in 1995. Judge Payton created a community service program for at-risk youth connecting them with Habitat for Humanity, creating food banks for families out of his court that the kids administered, and partnered with Allen ISD to create a farm program teaching kids how to go from the farm to the table. Judge Payton created the Collin County Teen Court Program that has been in place for 28 years.

Judge Payton graduated from Collin College Magna Cum Laude; he was awarded USA Todays All American All Academic College 2nd team; first team Texas All College Academic Team; officer of Phi Theta Kappa International Collegiate Honor Society; 600 Continuing Legal Education hours through Texas State University; National Parliamentary Debate Association; Judge Payton attended Dallas Baptist University.

Interestingly, Judge Payton was elected in 1990 as the youngest “Judge” in the world, and is featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as such. He was elected at the age of 18 years old and continued in 7 straight elections until he retired to open up Payton, Nix, & Associates in December of 2018.
Judge Payton has made working with kids and families his lifetime legacy. Judge Payton created the Collin County Truancy Court and has presided over 98,000 student cases. Through innovative programs Judge Payton has a success rate of 98.8% with getting…


   

  • Dr. Charles Nix
  • Payton, Nix & Associates, LLC
Dr. Charles Nix began his service in public education at West Mesquite High School as a Nationally Certified and State Licensed Athletic Trainer. After 10 ½ years, he was asked to serve as an Assistant Principal at the same high school, east of Dallas Texas, where he became the High School Principal two and half years later at the age of 35. The low SES campus experienced significant gains academically and athletically for the next three years (’94-97); prompting the district leadership to persuade/encourage him to take the leadership role of Mesquite High School.

As Principal of Mesquite High School (’97-’04), the school performance rating improved each year to become a recognized campus under the state’s accountability system (only missing exemplary status by 1 sub-population one subject matter assessment while the student was attending an alternative campus) and also won at state championship in largest classification of football in 2000. As if enough was not keeping Charles busy on a campus of 3345 students and 279 total staff members, he decided he needed to finish his Ed.D. degree (awarded 2002, Texas A&M University-Commerce).

To continuously grow professionally, after seven years in the leadership role as Principal of Mesquite High School, Charles left the district to begin the Principal role at the new high school in Rockwall ISD, Rockwall-Heath High School. Over the next three years (’04-’07), all aspects of construction, solidifying attendance boundaries, budgeting, developing mission/vision, and staffing occupied all energies. The school achieved gold acknowledgement under the state’s accountability system during this tenure. After opening the new campus, Charles pursued a change in career direction to Allen High School.

While at Allen High School, as a House Principal (’07-’18), math achievement received gold acknowledgement; Special Education sub-population and 504 sub-population academic achievement had significant gains each year; Fine Arts received many honors in state and national competitions culminating in being recognized as a Grammy Award winning school. The band was invited to participate in the Rose Parade 2016. Athletic teams won many state championships during this tenure as well in Football and Basketball. Most significantly is the attendance rate during this tenure of 96% and graduation rates of 98% annually.
Dr. Charles Nix began his service in public education at West Mesquite High School as a Nationally Certified and State Licensed Athletic Trainer. After 10 ½ years, he was asked to serve as an Assistant Principal at the same high…


   

Project Sped


  • Clay Boatright
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Clay Boatright has lived in Texas since 1994, where he and his wife Carole raised three daughters, including identical twins with severe intellectual disabilities and autism. With undergrad and graduate degrees from the University of Memphis, Clay managed two full-time careers for almost twenty years. One in the consumer packaged goods industry to pay the bills and another as a nationally recognized volunteer advocate for people with disabilities.
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Clay Boatright has lived in Texas since 1994, where he and his wife Carole raised three daughters, including identical twins with severe intellectual disabilities and autism. With undergrad and graduate degrees from the University of…


   

Project Behavior


  • Honorable Cynthia McCrann Wheless
Judge Wheless received her JD, 1991, SMU Dedman School of Law and is Board Certified in Juvenile Law. She was a member of SMU Law Review (Citation Editor.) She received her BA in Government & Politics from UTD, 1988, cum laude. After law school she worked for Haynes and Boone LLP, Wheless & Walker and served as a Mental Health Master for the Collin County Probate Court. In 1999, she was appointed as Juvenile Court Referee by the Collin County Juvenile Board. In 2004, Governor Rick Perry appointed Judge Wheless to the 417th Judicial District Court, designated as a Juvenile Court. Judge Wheless was awarded the “Voice for Children Award” in 2006 by CASA of Collin County. She was a founding member of the Collin County Women Lawyers Association (2013-2014.) On May 15, 2018, Judge Wheless was appointed to the Judicial Commission on Mental Health, by Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Chief Judge Sharon Keller. Judge Wheless was honored to receive the Texas Women Lawyers Association, 2022 Pathfinder Award. She received the 2022 Award of Excellence from the Collin County Crisis Intervention Team working on mental health.

She graduated Plano SHS in 1982; Go Wildcats! She has been married to Judge Ray Wheless, Regional Presiding Judge for the 1st Administrative Region, for 34 years. Together they have two beautiful boys, Ryan (age 27) and Dylan (age 25).
Judge Wheless received her JD, 1991, SMU Dedman School of Law and is Board Certified in Juvenile Law. She was a member of SMU Law Review (Citation Editor.) She received her BA in Government & Politics from UTD, 1988, cum…