Candidates for Member At-Large
Christy Watley
Elodia Witterstaetter
Candidate for Vice President
Jaci Underwood
Candidate for NAESP Representative
Lorena Carrasco
TEPSA Election – Jaci Underwood
Candidate for TEPSA Vice President
Jaci Underwood
Lubbock ISD
Region 17
Present Position
Principal, Preston Smith Elementary, Lubbock ISD, Region 17, Early Childhood-5th Grade
Formal Education
- Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies from Texas Tech University
- Master of Education in Educational Administration from Lubbock Christian University
Educational Leadership
- Texas Tech University Principal Fellowship Mentor Principal
- Lubbock ISD Foundation for Excellence Grant Committee Member
- Lubbock ISD Summer Leadership Institute Committee Member
- Lubbock ISD Budget & Finance Committee Member
- Lubbock ISD Future Focus Committee Member
- Region 17 Data Driven Instruction Principal Cohort Participant
- Current campus has maintained an A rating from TEA and earned all possible distinctions
- Lubbock Christian University Summer guest presenter and summer instructor
TEPSA Leadership/Involvement/Awards
- TEPSA Executive Committee Member at At-Large (currently finishing 2-year term)
- TEPSA Programs & Services Standing Committee Chair and Committee Member
- TEPSA Region 17 Board Member (served as treasurer, secretary, president-elect, president, and past-president)
- Region 17 TEPSAN of the Year
- TEPSA Summer Conference Session Presenter
- TEPSA Member for 10 Years
- Led Region 17 to historical membership numbers while president
School Honors/Accomplishments
- Ranked as a Top Elementary School in the area by U.S. News & World Report
- Earned all possible TEA distinctions while maintaining an “A” rating and scoring a 98% in closing the gaps
- Destination Imagine state qualifying team(s)
- Texas PTA award winning campus -National PTA School of Excellence candidate
Community Involvement
- Member of First Baptist Church Lubbock
- Participant in Food to Kids program
- Involved in Kingdom Come Ministries
- Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals (awarded Top 20 Under 40 recognition)
- Actively involved in campus and district Parent Teacher Association
Other Professional Networks
- National Association of Elementary School Principals
- The Holdsworth Center: Campus Leadership Program cohort member
- Learning Forward Texas
- Texas State Teachers Association
Personal Information
I have been married to my husband, Miles, for 14 years. We have 11 year old twins, Olivia and Owen, who are 5th graders at the campus where I serve as principal. My husband is a rancher, and we love spending time at the ranch and attending rodeos. We enjoy traveling as a family and love participating in and cheering at sporting events. I began my career in education 21 years ago as an hourly employee assisting in special education. I moved on to be a teacher, assistant principal at the middle school and elementary school levels, and have been a campus principal for 8 years.
Platform Statement
As a child, I always knew that I wanted to be an educator because of the incredible influence that teachers and school leaders made on my life! During my career, I have greatly enjoyed opportunities to collaborate and network with other educators and leaders. Learning truly is a lifelong process, and educators who work and learn together make a powerful impact on our students! TEPSA has been the greatest source of networking and collaborating to support my work. My passion is serving others through my voice and advocacy. I am a passionate person who is always looking for ways to be innovative as I support leaders, teachers, and of course our students in the great state of Texas.
Public education has always been challenging, but recent years have made our work even more difficult. There were a few golden moments when everyone showed intense respect for educators, but that appreciation quickly faded as education was scrutinized, funding was cut, and the demands continue to grow for educators across the state. My hope is that I can work to advocate for educators and help support leaders across the state as I continue to serve TEPSA members. I am excited about the possibility of continuing to be a cheerleader for public education while supporting and encouraging leaders through connections, relationships, and support!
Making school a fun place to learn and grow is important to me as a leader! Our color run is an exciting way to celebrate and enjoy physical activities together.
My twins are 5th graders at the school where I serve as principal. We have so much fun bringing our family and our school family together!
Our Region 17 TEPSA board works to make our regional meet ups fun and beneficial. We loved gathering at Texas Tech to network and collaborate with area leaders this fall.
At school, we believe in celebrating each other and making meaningful connections within our school community. Last year, some sweet students surprised me with a birthday celebration!
Serving on the TEPSA executive committee for the last 2 years has been a highlight in my career. I’ve loved the amazing people I’ve met, and appreciate all of the learning and professional development I’ve received from this amazing organization.
