Two new trustees are getting their first taste of life on the El Paso Independent School District board.
Matthew Reza and Brian Kelley were recently appointed by the EPISD board to fill vacancies in the Coronado and Franklin feeder patterns. The appointments come as the district navigates budget challenges and demographic shifts.
El Paso Inc. spoke briefly with the El Paso natives to learn more about their professional backgrounds, what prompted them to join the board and what they’re hearing from their communities.
Q: What’s your profession?
Reza: I’m a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and recently worked for a company based out of Alabama. I work from home and see patients in local and county jails across the country.
Kelley: I started my career teaching English as a second language overseas, then taught economics at UTEP and EPCC. I’ve been working at Hunt Companies since 2007 as a real estate analyst and asset manager and real estate developer.
Q: What inspired you to seek a board appointment?
Reza: I thought about it a little bit a couple of years ago when we moved back to El Paso. A couple months ago, I started looking into info coming out of the citizens bond steering committee. They’re doing some amazing work – very detailed, professionally driven. I kept looking at it and looking into the district and found they had done a lot of good work over the last six to seven months. I want to be part of the positive change from the old into the new.
Kelley: I’ve been monitoring the board’s activities for a while. I was made aware of the prior trustees’ resignation, and with a little bit of short notice, I learned this opportunity was available. I put in my application, and the rest is history.
Q: Are you originally from El Paso?
Reza: Born and raised. I went to Hawkins, Hacienda Heights and then Cadwallader elementary schools. I went to Riverside Middle and Riverside High School.
Kelley: I live in the house I was raised in. I went to school at Putnam, Morehead and Coronado. I went to UTEP and got a math degree, taught overseas then came back and got my master’s in economics.
Q: Do you serve on any other boards?
Reza: I’m not on any other boards. I have done some volunteering with El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank.
Kelley: I just joined the United Way board within the last couple of months. I’m on the Downtown Management District’s board.
Q: What are the top concerns you’ve heard in your feeder pattern?
Reza: I’ve heard concerns about the student-to-teacher ratios. The district is definitely focused on getting the ratios right and making sure everyone is on board with the plan.
Kelley: I haven’t gotten a lot of direct input from my feeder pattern. I’ve had a few parents reach out with respect to some voting concerns, facilities and some of the parking and condition of the parking lot at Coronado. I haven’t had a chance to engage with the voters in my feeder pattern. I have made contact with the PTA president at Coronado.
Q: Will you run for the seat when the appointment term expires?
Reza: I am committed. My family and I made that decision over the past weekend to commit to run. I was first going to wait and see. But after that board meeting last week, and getting to know everyone, I’m really enjoying it so far. I’m still learning a lot every day and can hopefully get that up to speed quickly.
Kelley: I’m committed to seeing this appointment through to its natural termination in May. I will look at the slate of candidates starting to emerge as we approach the February deadline. If I see some candidates that could ably take my place, I might just let that election process unfold.
But if I see folks who might not have the best interest of the district in mind or are not qualified, I will put my name in the hat and let the chips fall where they may.