I am writing to share the news of my resignation as General Counsel of TCSA and to announce Christine Nishimura’s transition to the role. Christine and I have worked closely together as the TCSA Legal team for the past few years, and I know TCSA will be in good legal hands under her leadership.

This announcement is bittersweet for me as TCSA has been my professional home for almost six years. It has been an honor and a privilege to have worked with and on behalf of our member schools, and the public charter school students of Texas. I have enjoyed the relationships I have formed with our schools and the many colleagues, partners and members of the TCSA family with whom I have had the privilege to work over the past several years.

Looking back on my time with TCSA, we have achieved many successes on behalf of the charter school movement and I am proud to have played a key role in this important work, including TCSA’s efforts in the rewrite of our charter law in 2013, and fighting for equitable funding and the constitutional rights of charter school students at the Texas Supreme Court. My last day with TCSA is July 31st. I look forward to my next professional adventure, and look forward to continuing the work, relationships and friendships I have made in the public charter school sector.

With my departure, I am happy to announce that Christine will be stepping into the role of TCSA General Counsel. Christine started out as Director of Legal and Policy, and then transitioned to the Deputy General Counsel role. She came to TCSA as an expert in special education, student discipline, and foster care law. Christine was instrumental in our successes during the 85th Legislative Session, including leading the charge to fix the ‘minutes’ issue for our membership. Christine’s rich knowledge of the charter law and her relationships at TEA and at the Capitol will continue to serve TCSA well.