Abbott appoints new SBOE chair

Curriculum | Instruction TEA | Commissioner | SBOE Privatization | Vouchers Deregulation | Charter Schools
Date Posted: 12/18/2023
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Aaron Kinsey (R–Midland) chair of the State Board of Education (SBOE) Monday in a term set to expire Dec. 17, 2025.
Kinsey replaces Dr. Keven Ellis (R–Lufkin), who will continue to serve on the SBOE. Ellis has previously been endorsed by the pro-public education group Texas Parent PAC. In contrast, Kinsey was elected in November 2022 with support from the Freedom Foundation of Texas (FFOT) PAC, funded by staunch proponents of private school vouchers and expansion of charter schools.
Kinsey, an Air Force veteran, is the CEO of an aviation oilfield services company. He is a member of the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund and chair of the Committee on Strategic Planning and Policy. In addition, Kinsey is also a member of the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) Liberty Leadership Council. TPPF is a far-right think tank backing private school voucher initiatives.
CONVERSATION
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

08/01/2025
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: Aug. 1, 2025
Questions about HB 2? Be sure to check out ATPE’s new House Bill 2 resource page. Plus: What the STAAR rescoring issue tells us about the need to get a testing bill right.

08/01/2025
STAAR rescoring issue highlights need to slow down, get testing bill right
A Dallas Morning News article highlights the pitfalls of AI test scoring—and the need for school districts to have a means of seeking transparency and accountability from TEA.

07/29/2025
Alert: Opportunity to serve on T-TESS advisory committee
Interested educators may apply to TEA by Aug. 4 to serve on a stakeholder committee that will recommend updates to the state’s teacher evaluation system.