MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Behind every REF initiative is a remarkable board of parents, alumni, educators, and community leaders. Their leadership is what drives our mission forward.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Cindy Tayem
President
Community member, ONCOR retired
Lacy Deckard
VP, Awards & Grants
Ebby Halliday
Logan Lance
Treasurer
American National Bank
Ryan Cochran
Secretary
Guaranty Bank & Trust
BOARD MEMBERS
Wade Gent
Linebarger, Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP
Shelbi Hemphill
Rockwall ISD
Michael Henry
Rockwall Floor & Paint
Shannon Hernandez
Deloitte; RISD alumni
Lesli Johnson
Rest Haven Funeral Home; RISD alumni
Andrea Jones-Henderson
Rockwall ISD
Scotty Lovett
Integrity Mortgage
Robert Miller
Community member; RISD alumni
Dr. Sherry Packer
Rockwall ISD Trustee
Sheri Parks
Community member
Jana Rose
Community member
Dr. JJ Villarreal
Rockwall ISD, Superintendent
ABOUT THE REF
The Mission Behind Our Work
The Rockwall ISD Education Foundation is a non-profit organization that operates independently from Rockwall ISD in governance, but is united in purpose. We work to enrich the lives of students and teachers throughout the district, providing learning experiences that would otherwise not be available.
Since 2003, our vision to foster innovative learning experiences has blossomed into 20+ years of teachers igniting curiosity, students discovering their passions, and futures being forever changed. That is the power of investing in our students and teachers in a world where public schools face increasing challenges and resources are stretched thin.
A Community-Driven Initiative
We are a 100% community-funded organization, receiving generous donations from business partners and RISD families across the district to continue bridging the gap between what public funding can provide and what our students and teachers truly need to thrive.
When our community invests in education, futures change, and together, we’re proving that the power of possibility lives right here in Rockwall.
A Note from our Executive Director
When I walk into a classroom and see a teacher’s idea come to life because of a grant we’ve provided, I’m reminded why this work matters so deeply.
It’s not just about funding projects, it’s about the spark in a student’s eyes when they discover something new, the confidence a teacher gains when they have the tools they need, and the ripple effect that touches families and our whole community.
Leading the Rockwall Education Foundation has shown me that when we invest in people, we change futures. Thank you for helping make those moments possible every day.
Ashlei Neill
Executive Director of the Rockwall Education Foundation
OUR CLASSROOM CHAMPIONS
2025 RISD Teachers of the Year
Each year, we welcome the district's two Teachers of the Year to become honorary board members of the REF, ensuring that active educators have a seat at the table so that our decisions reflect the real needs of today’s classrooms.
NOELLE CUMMINGS
2025 RISD Elementary Teacher of the Year, Linda Lyon Elementary
GENNIE HOLCOMB
2025 RISD Secondary Teacher of the Year, Rockwall Heath High School
