Tomball ISD Educator Susanne Whitley Appointed to Texas Classroom Commission

TOMBALL — Tomball ISD is proud to announce that longtime educator Susanne Whitley has been appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to serve on the newly established Texas Classroom Commission, a teacher-led initiative designed to bring the voices and experiences of Texas educators directly into discussions about the future of public education.

Whitley is among the 22 educators from across Texas selected to serve on the commission, which will develop practical, classroom-informed recommendations for the Governor, Texas Education Agency and Texas Legislature ahead of the 90th Legislative Session. The commission will focus on strengthening classroom instruction, supporting teachers, improving the learning environment and helping Texas students succeed.

Whitley brings 34 years of experience in education, including 22 years with Tomball ISD. She currently serves as a fifth grade math teacher and team leader at West Intermediate School. Prior to WIS opening in 2025, Whitley spent the first 20 years in Tomball ISD teaching at Northpointe Intermediate. 

During her tenure in Tomball ISD, Whitley has taken on numerous leadership roles, including leading professional learning communities and team meetings, mentoring new teachers, supervising student teachers, supporting colleagues as a technology instructor and leading campus initiatives focused on student engagement and achievement.

Prior to joining Tomball ISD, Whitley spent 12 years teaching fourth and fifth grade in Alief ISD, where she led team planning meetings and developed and taught curriculum for the Alief Institute for Math and Science.

Whitley’s appointment grew from her involvement in the Texas Education Agency’s Teacher Leadership Fellowship. She is completing her third and final year in the fellowship and had expressed an interest in becoming more involved in education policy and the legislative process. There was not a formal application process for the commission; Whitley was recommended for the appointment based on her involvement in the fellowship and her leadership experience.

“I received a phone call from the Governor’s office,” Whitley said. “Due to my involvement in the Teacher Leadership Fellowship through TEA, I was recommended for the position. I felt incredibly honored to be appointed to the commission, but alongside that honor came a deep sense of responsibility.”

Throughout her career, Whitley has pursued opportunities to grow as an educator and teacher leader. Her professional development includes the N2 Learning Teacher Leadership Institute, Master Teacher Cohort through The University of Texas at Dallas, Apple Teacher Cohort, Great Expectations and numerous mathematics, science, technology and instructional leadership programs.

“Ms. Whitley is an incredible teacher whose leadership extends beyond the classroom,” said Dr. Caitlin Cain, West Intermediate Principal. “Being selected to serve on the Governor's Committee is a testament to the impact she makes at West Intermediate, in Tomball ISD, and across our state.”

She has also been recognized for her work in education, including being named a ConocoPhillips/Astros Math Teacher of the Month Grand Prize winner, an A+ Teacher, a Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher Contest honoree and a campus Math Teacher of the Month.

“Susanne represents the very best of what it means to be a teacher leader,” said Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora, Superintendent of Tomball ISD. “She has made a tremendous impact on so many students and educators in Tomball ISD during her years serving our Destination District. Her commitment to growing as an educator, supporting her colleagues and finding innovative ways to engage students makes her an outstanding representative for our District and for educators across Texas. We are incredibly proud of her and this well-deserved opportunity to serve on the Texas Classroom Commission.”

Whitley said representing Tomball ISD on the statewide commission is both an honor and a responsibility.

“Representing Tomball ISD on a statewide commission is both an incredible honor and a tremendous responsibility,” Whitley said. “I am very proud to represent a district that is committed to excellence and to the success of its teachers and students. I feel humbled by the trust placed in me and purposeful in my commitment to represent the students, teachers and community of Tomball ISD.”

Whitley brings experience working in both rural and inner-city districts, along with more than three decades of firsthand classroom experience. 

“I have witnessed firsthand the evolution of education—from the rapid growth of technology and new pedagogical approaches to changes in curriculum and instructional practices—and I have experienced what it takes to turn those changes into meaningful learning for students,” she said.

Whitley hopes to use that experience to advocate for teachers and help bridge the gap between education policy and classroom practice.

“My classroom experiences, along with the leadership cohorts and roles I have been fortunate to serve in, have strengthened my belief that classroom teachers need a strong voice at the table,” Whitley said. “I hope to bring an authentic, informed and solution-focused perspective to the commission—one that represents not only where education has been, but where it can go.”

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Whitley holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Mathematics. She is certified in K-6 all subjects and K-8 mathematics and science and holds endorsements in English as a Second Language and Gifted and Talented education.

The Texas Classroom Commission was launched by Governor Abbott in 2026 to elevate the perspectives of classroom educators and develop recommendations to help strengthen public education in Texas. Commission members will work ahead of the 90th Legislative Session, which begins in January 2027.

Tomball ISD congratulates Susanne Whitley on this distinguished appointment and is proud to have one of its veteran educators bringing the voice of the Tomball classroom to the statewide conversation about the future of public education.

ABOUT TOMBALL ISD
Tomball ISD educates students to become responsible, productive citizens by providing innovative, individually rigorous, and personally valuable educational experiences. Founded in 1908, Tomball ISD now encompasses 83 square miles in northwest Harris County and southwest Montgomery County, and is located approximately 30 miles from downtown Houston. The district currently educates over 23,300 students across 26 campuses.