Our Leadership

Meet Our Leadership Team

Get to know the dedicated individuals leading ACET and driving our mission forward.

President
Dr. Leslee Schauer

Dr. Tami Knight

Executive Director
Laura Witte

Laura Witte

PResident Elect
Valerie Buhidar

Dr. leslee Schauer

Immediate Past President
Dr. Tami Knight

Dr. Mark Ybarra

A Message from our Executive Director

A Warm Hello to our Members!

My name is Laura Witte, and I am the new Executive Director. I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to serve you! My background is in both education and law and includes a Bachelor of Arts from Sam Houston State University and a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s Law School…

Meet Our Officers

Officers serve on ACET’s Executive Council and lead our organization with their expertise and knowledge. Officer terms vary, but all elections are held at ACET conferences.

President elect

Valerie Buhidar

Valarie Buhidar is an Education Specialist at the Education Service Center, Region 2 in Corpus Christi, TX. With 32 years in education, she supports and provides professional development to districts and charter schools in various federal programs including ESSA, ESSER, and State Compensatory Education.
Valarie’s extensive experience encompasses roles as a teacher, literacy coach, curriculum specialist, and Federal Programs Specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a specialization in Reading, as well as a Master of Science in Elementary Education and Principal Certification. Since joining ACET in 2019, Valarie has served as Regional Director, Committee Chairperson, and Program Planning Committee member, and has contributed as a presenter.

Vice President of Membership

Sherry Harris

Dr. Sherry Harris has over 38 years of leadership experience. Her experience includes being an officer in the U.S. Army and a senior IT manager at the high-tech giant Dell prior to transitioning into public education, where she has served the last 20 years. She completed her doctoral degree with a research project on Parent and Family Engagement. She holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a BS from the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. She loves assisting others in being successful with their federal grant requirements and has been working in this area for the last 5 years. She has been an instrumental member of ACET for several years as a Pre-conference, ESSER, PFE, and Virtual Academy presenter; served as an assistant regional director; and served on the program planning committee. Her goal is to passionately serve You by increasing and benefitting membership.

Treasurer

Lauren McKinney

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Review Annual Reports & Financial Documents

Secretary

Amber Reed

Dr. Amber Reed serves as the Program Coordinator for the EANS/GAPS grant at Region 10 Education Service Center. With more than 20 years of experience in education, she has held various roles, including Special Education teacher, Behavior Intervention Specialist, and leadership positions at both campus and district levels. Dr. Reed firmly believes in providing equitable, high- quality education for all students, and her extensive experience has reinforced this belief. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies from Abilene Christian University, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Dallas Baptist University, and a Doctorate in Supervision, Curriculum, and Instruction from Texas A&M University-Commerce. Dr. Reed, a product of Dallas ISD, is dedicated to serving her community and ensuring that every student has access to the necessary resources for success. Additionally, she is a strong advocate for excellence in education across Texas and is passionate about the mission of ACET.

Parliamentarian

Brande Bass

Hi Everyone! I am the Director of Federal and State Programs for New Caney ISD. I have been a proud ACET member for 16 years! In 2017 I began presenting at ACET conferences and my first presentation was on EDGAR.

View Governance Documents

NAFEPA Representative

Sharon Sanchez

Sharon has been married for 23 years, has two beautiful daughters and a beloved Schnoodle! She enjoys running, being outdoors, podcasts, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

View NAFEPA News & Updates

NAFEPA Representative

Robin Cranmer

Robyn is the Assistant Superintendent of Support Services for Canyon ISD. She has worked in the education system for 29 years and has been blessed to hold many different roles during those years. She began participating with ACET in 2008.

View NAFEPA News & Updates

Executive Council

Each region elects an Executive Council representative every two years. These representatives serve on ACET’s crucial leadership body and help plan upcoming events and offerings for ACET membership. Click on your region’s executive council member to learn more about what is happening in your region.