JoLisa Hoover
Austin Metro Area,Texas
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Teacher Specialist/Regional Advocacy Director
Raise Your Hand Texas
Austin, TX
10.2019 - Current
- Curriculum Development & Instructional Design: Designed and led comprehensive advocacy training programs for educators, including materials and digital resources for legislative engagement.
- Advocacy & Leadership: Facilitated statewide teacher advocacy, organized Capitol visits, and led online symposiums to engage educators in policy discussions, increasing teacher involvement in public education policy.
- Team Leadership & Mentorship: Supervised and mentored a team of Regional Advocacy Directors, providing strategic guidance to enhance advocacy efforts across Texas and ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.
- Collaboration Across Departments: Worked cross-functionally to develop strategic initiatives addressing teacher workforce challenges and policy recommendations.
- Data Systems & Digital Advocacy: Led the development and implementation of NationBuilder and Ujoin platforms to track advocate engagement, measure impact, and streamline outreach efforts.
Teacher & Learning Specialist
Bryan ISD/Leander ISD
Bryan/Leander, TX
08.1992 - 09.2019
- Led Curriculum Design and Instruction: Developed district-wide instructional resources and led the implementation of the Leader in Me program, fostering leadership and collaboration across faculty and students.
- Delivered Professional Development: Designed and facilitated educator training on instructional strategies, technology integration, and continuous improvement to enhance teaching effectiveness.
- Mentored and Guided Teams: Held multiple leadership roles, including fourth-grade team leader, mentoring peers, and contributing to campus-wide instructional planning and at-risk student intervention programs.
Senior Education Policy Fellow
Teach Plus Texas
Austin, TX
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Served on Founding Advisory Committee: Helped shape the direction and priorities of the state's inaugural Policy Fellowship.
- Co-authored Policy Papers: Provided recommendations on teacher mentoring, school finance, teacher leadership, and student mental health to legislators.
- Testified Before the Texas Legislature: Advocated for teacher preparation, mentoring, and school safety.
- Mentored Policy Fellows: Supported fellows in policy analysis, legislative advocacy, testimony and op-eds.
Teaching Ambassador Fellow
U.S. Department of Education
Washington, D.C.
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Led National Educator Engagement Initiatives: Managed digital strategies for the Teach to Lead initiative, including Edconnecter, website redesigns, and social media campaigns.
- Facilitated High-Level Dialogues: Organized the "Tea with Teachers" series, hosting monthly conversations between educators and the Secretary of Education.
- Orchestrated Key Educational Events: Planned and moderated significant events like the 'Codegirl' documentary screening and Teach to Lead National Summit.
- Developed Policy Recommendations: Collaborated with senior officials to create strategies on assessments, family engagement, technology, and teacher leadership.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Multidisciplinary Studies III
McMurry University
Abilene, TXMaster of Arts - Educational Psychology
Texas A & M University
College Station, TXSkills
- Curriculum Development & Instructional Design
- Advocacy Leadership & Training
- NationBuilder & Data Tracking Systems
- Texas Legislative Process & Education Policy
- Project Management & Resource Development
- Leadership, Mentorship & Collaboration
Honors And Awards
- Ann Spence Servant Leadership Alumni Award, McMurry University (2025)
- H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards: Austin Regional Finalist (2019), Statewide Semi-Finalist (2013), Houston Regional Finalist (2005)
- Spirit of McMurry Award for Distinguished Young Alumni (2012)
Relevant Published Works
- “Texas Educators Face Unprecedented Challenges; Let's Support Them” – Austin American-Statesman
- “Smart Start: Mentoring for New Teachers Benefits Kids” – Teach Plus
- “Prioritizing Education, Prioritizing Texas: Teachers' Views and Recommendations on School Financing” – Teach Plus
- “Bringing the Oxygen Back into the Classroom” – U.S. Department of Education Homeroom Blog
- “Listening to Teachers: Why It's Important We Hear Your Voices” – U.S. Department of Education Homeroom Blog
Relevant Conference Presentations
- SXSW EDU: Panelist, Speaker, Mentor (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025)
- Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) Midwinter Conference: Moderator (2024, 2025)
- Texas Association of Black School Educators (TABSE): Presenter (2024)
- Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts (TCTELA): Presenter, “Writing Op-Eds” (Zoom and Section Meeting, 2024)
- Texas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (Texas ASCD): Presenter (2024)
- Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching (CAST): Presenter (2024)
- Learning Forward Texas Annual Conference: Presenter (2024)
- Learning Policy Institute Webinar: Panelist, From Shortages to Solutions: Unpacking Texas's Teacher Workforce Challenges and Opportunities (2024)
- National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY): Presenter, Denver Conference (2024)
- Trustee Advocacy Program (TAP): Moderator, Teacher Voting Panel (2024)
- Across the Lawn, Raise Your Hand Texas: Moderator (2022)
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD): Facilitator and Presenter (2018, 2019)
- U.S. Department of Education, Teaching Ambassador Fellows Summit: Presenter (2008, 2009, 2012, 2014–2016, 2018)
- Texas Education Agency: Panelist, Learning Roundtable: Recruiting, Retaining, Preparing Top Teachers (2018)
- Leander ISD Continuous Improvement Conference: Presenter (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2024)
- Great Lakes West Region Comprehensive Center & Teacher Quality Content Center: Teacher Leadership Panelist (2009)
- Texas Education Agency, Texas Educators Exchange: Committee Member and Panelist (2009)
Timeline
Teacher Specialist/Regional Advocacy Director
Raise Your Hand Texas
10.2019 - Current
Senior Education Policy Fellow
Teach Plus Texas
01.2016 - 01.2019
Teaching Ambassador Fellow
U.S. Department of Education
01.2014 - 01.2016
Teacher & Learning Specialist
Bryan ISD/Leander ISD
08.1992 - 09.2019
Bachelor of Science - Multidisciplinary Studies III
McMurry University
Master of Arts - Educational Psychology
Texas A & M University
Similar Profiles
Jennifer S. KapralJennifer S. Kapral
Director of Education and Outreach at Asia Society Texas CenterDirector of Education and Outreach at Asia Society Texas Center
Cohen Kraus He/TheyCohen Kraus He/They
Restorative Justice Coordinator at Repair The World, Raise Your HandRestorative Justice Coordinator at Repair The World, Raise Your Hand
CLAY Lewi SiosiCLAY Lewi Siosi
Fellow at American Association of Hand Surgery (AAHS) – Scripps Hand Surgery Clinics, Valley Hand Surgery Centre, San Diego, California, USA. OrthoCarolina Hand Surgery, South Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Texas Childrens Hospital, Houston, USA.Fellow at American Association of Hand Surgery (AAHS) – Scripps Hand Surgery Clinics, Valley Hand Surgery Centre, San Diego, California, USA. OrthoCarolina Hand Surgery, South Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Texas Childrens Hospital, Houston, USA.
Kaylie FontenotKaylie Fontenot
Teacher and Head Coach at Ross S. Sterling High SchoolTeacher and Head Coach at Ross S. Sterling High School
Shaunta J. McRaeShaunta J. McRae
Senior Information Governance Specialist at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLPSenior Information Governance Specialist at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP