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