TEMPLE, Texas — Temple Independent School District educator JoMeka Gray has been appointed to the State Board for Educator Certification by Governor Greg Abbott.
Gray, a kindergarten teacher at Kennedy-Powell Elementary School, will serve a term that expires February 1, 2031. She will be one of 11 voting members on the 15-person board and will be one of four classroom teachers to serve on the panel. The other voting members of the board include a school counselor, two administrators, and four citizens. The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) also includes four non-voting members who represent higher education. The SBEC was created by the Texas Legislature in 1995 to recognize public school educators as professionals and grant educators the authority to govern the standards of their profession. The board oversees all aspects of the preparation, certification, and standards of conduct of public-school educators and also develops certification and continuing education requirements for public school teachers.
“They value my voice, and they value the expertise that I can bring to the table. I have been one of the teachers to implement high-quality instructional materials and I have prior experience with national board certification and have collaborated with teachers from all varieties of school districts. All of that has prepared me for this role and to be a voice on this type of board,” Gray said. “I am looking forward to ensuring that the teachers we have coming into the field have the preparation they need to be successful in the classroom. I am excited about working with other educators who have different backgrounds but working towards the same goals. I am just really grateful to be one of the voices that is allowed to be on this board, and I am ready to serve Texas.”
Gray has been in education for 13 years and has taught kindergarten and first grade at Kennedy-Powell and several other Temple ISD campuses for nine of those years. She was also the 2025 Region 12 Elementary School Teacher of the Year and was one of three elementary school finalists for the 2025 Texas State Teacher of the Year. Gray will also be one of five educators from across the country to be recognized with a Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence by the NEA Foundation next week in Washington, D.C.
Gray is a member of the Texas State Teacher Association, the Texas Classroom Teacher Association, and the National Education Association. She has an Early Childhood National Board Certification, Generalist (EC-6) Certification, and English as a Second Language Supplemental Certification. Gray has earned a Master’s designation through the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) Teacher Incentive Allotment.
“For one, I think it is appropriate to assign appointments to those with relevant experiences, especially when it comes to policy decisions,” said Dr. Bobby Ott, superintendent of schools for Temple ISD. “Mrs. Gray will bring a voice of reason and an eye towards ensuring that teachers are treated with the dignity and professionalism they deserve.”
Gray’s term will begin following her swearing-in that should occur later this month. The SBEC is required to meet at least once per quarter of the calendar year.