TEE Board of Directors
A deep commitment to education
Meet Our Leadership
JOHN PETREE
John Petree serves as the President of TEE. He is a near 30-year veteran of K12 administration having served as teacher, principal, Chief Academic Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. “TEE’s fresh new vision for school boards equips board trustees to do the job for which they were elected while preserving the role and rights of parents, “ said Petree. “Providing quality services with the guidance of common-sense policy is our primary focus at TEE.”
DENISE RIVES
Denise Rives is a former trustee in the Llano ISD. She also has been a teacher, counselor, principal, charter school director, and served in multiple roles at Education Service Centers in different parts of the state. “I am so excited TEE will be offering Texas School Boards an alternative to TASB and I want the opportunity to give back to Texas public school education, “ said Rives.
LONNIE MORGAN
Lonnie Morgan is a seasoned professional with nearly three decades of experience in the field of Educational Technology (EdTech). Throughout his career, he has been a firsthand witness to the remarkable evolution of educational settings—from the days when a single computer was a novelty in a typical classroom to the present era, where entire districts are embracing one-to-one initiatives. He states, "I'm excited for a new opportunity to positively impact the students and families of Texas through TEE, by working with their local school boards to make better, more informed decisions." Lonnie currently serves as Executive Vice President (EVP) of Bright Thinker, Inc.
KARA BELEW
Kara began her career in Dallas as a CPA for PriceWaterhouseCoopers, focusing on the oil and gas and defense industries. She graduated with honors from The University of Texas School of Law and clerked for two justices at the Supreme Court of Texas. Her extensive career includes roles such as Director of Financial Accountability and Senior Education Advisor in Governor Perry’s office, and Senior Counsel to Attorney General Greg Abbott.
Kara played a key role in Texas school finance litigation and served as Executive Liaison to both the Texas Department of Health and Human Services and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Upon Governor Abbott’s election, she served as Statewide Budget Director in his office before transitioning to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) as Deputy Commissioner of Finance.
Kara holds several TEA certifications, including Lone Star Governance School Board Coach, Research Based Instructional Practices Facilitator, STAAR, TEKS Alignment, and related CPE Trainer. She is also a former CPA, holding a BBA and BA in Accounting and Political Science from Southern Methodist University, and a JD from the University of Texas School of Law. She is currently a candidate for the Rice University Doerr Institute.