The Texas Tribune hosted a conversation on school finance reform with state Reps. Dan Huberty and Diego Bernal, education policy adviser Todd Williams, and Nicole Conley Johnson, CFO for Austin ISD. This conversation was moderated by Evan Smith, co-founder and CEO of The Texas Tribune.

Huberty, R-Houston, has represented House District 127 since 2011. In the 85th Legislature, Huberty served as chairman of House Committee on Public Education. He also sits on the Pensions Committee. Previously, Huberty served as chairman of the board of the Humble Independent School District.

Bernal, D-San Antonio, has represented House District 123 since 2015. He currently serves as vice chairman of the House Committee on Public Education. He also sits on the Administration and Urban Affairs committees. Previously, Bernal served as an attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund in San Antonio.

Williams is the founding chairman and executive director for The Commit Partnership and also serves as the education policy advisor to Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. He is a trustee and former board chair for Austin College and serves on the regional advisory board for Teach for America Dallas-Forth Worth, where he was the founding chair.

Conley Johnson has been Austin ISD’s chief financial officer since 2009. She is responsible for the overall fiscal condition of the district and oversees the implementation and consistent application of sound management practices and controls. Conley Johnson supervises both local general funds and state, federal and private grant funding. 

Source: Texas Tribune Blue Government News