About.

The Castleberry ISD Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization composed of community leaders and businesses, working together to enhance the quality of education in the Castleberry Independent School District. 
 
Private donations to the foundation benefit students and teachers by supporting activities not funded by tax dollars. The foundation’s innovative teaching grants allow teachers to take a more creative approach to education and dream bigger.  Student scholarships are awarded annually to help ensure that Castleberry ISD graduates continue their path to success, even after they leave the district.
 
Grant and scholarship recipients are chosen carefully by our voluntary board of directors and community partners on an anonymous basis to ensure every student, teacher or staff member is judged on merit.

Established in July 2017

Transforming education together means that we all help to make a collective impact to our educational ecosystem.  ​

Our Goal

The CISD Education Foundation is dedicated to providing teacher grants and student scholarships within CISD. ​

Board of Directors 

Renee Smith-FAulkner
District Superintendent

Renee is a 1982 Castleberry graduate. She holds a Bachelor's in Secondary Education from TCU and a Master's Degree in Learning Technologies from UNT. She has worked in
Castleberry ISD for 34 years and currently serves as the district's Superintendent. In April of 2015, the Texas Library Association (TLA) honored Renee by awarding her Administrator of the Year for the state of Texas. 

claudine avila
PUBLICITY/MEDIA

Claudine serves as the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Ace Project Director for Castleberry ISD. She started her career in education 20 years ago as a paraprofessional. 
Avila received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College. She is further expanding her expertise by pursuing a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Management. Avila’s educational journey reflects a deep commitment to both personal and professional development, with a focus on positively impacting individuals and organizations alike. 

stephanie balster
​Director

Stephanie is a proud 2003 graduate of Castleberry High School and a former Air Traffic Controller in the United States Navy. She earned a dual bachelor's degree in Exceptional Student Education and Elementary Education from the University of West Florida, graduating summa cum laude. Stephanie serves as the district's Lead Innovation Leader, helping teachers integrate technology into their classrooms in meaningful and impactful ways.​

Jerry Cantu
​Director

Sandra Cervantez
​Recording Secretary

Sandra is a 2004 graduate of Castleberry High School, who has worked for the district the past 15 years. Sandra currently serves as the Executive Secretary to the Executive Director of Teaching, Learning, and Innovation. Throughout the years, Sandra has developed a love for the students and families of Castleberry ISD and takes joy in serving the district in various capacities while building relationships with stakeholders.
Sandra is married to Samuel and together they have three children, Samuel, Solomon, and Sally, all of whom attend Castleberry ISD schools. 

Elena Fernandez
Director

Elena Fernandez joined the Education Foundation in 2019 And is a partner at Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP. Elena practices in government receivables focusing on delinquent property tax collection and delinquent fines & fess collection. She is a member of the Firm’s Management Committee as well as a member of the Firm’s national marketing team. She is a licensed attorney in Texas, Illinois, and Arizona. Elena is very active in the community, serving on several nonprofit boards, that speak to Education, homelessness, and empowering young women.  She enjoys spending time with her family and playing softball. She has served as the Foundation’s Secretary and as president.

Samuel Cervantez
Board President

A 2003 graduate of Castleberry ISD, Samuel has led a life marked by dedication and service.
After high school, he proudly served as a Fire Fighter/Crash Rescue specialist in the U.S. Air Force, deploying to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Samuel's military service showcased his courage and commitment to safeguarding others.
In 2016, he graduated from Texas Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in History
Today, Samuel serves as the Safety and Security Coordinator for Castleberry ISD, continuing to demonstrate his unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of the community.
 He is married to Sandra Cervantez and has 3 children all who attend CISD. 

sal limas
Grants

Sal serves as the Principal of REACH High School and TRUCE Learning Center, also referred to as the district's Alternative Learning Center. Beginning his career as a special education paraprofessional, Limas has spent 15 years in education, all of which have been within Castleberry ISD. Since then, he has taken on roles as an elementary teacher, at-risk coordinator, and most recently, advanced academic/college and career readiness advisor.
Limas earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management, as well as 2004 Indoor Track All-American honors at Northwood University. He went on to earn a Master of Science in Special Education from Walden University and completed the Principal Certification Program at Lamar University.

Heather Mayfield
​​​Director

lauren miller
​Director

Lauren serves as the ACE Site Coordinator for A.V. Cato Elementary, where I am dedicated to creating opportunities that inspire and empower students. With five years of experience in education at CISD and over 20 years of working with students in the community, I am passionate about supporting the growth and success of both students and teachers. As a proud Castleberry High School alum, I understand firsthand the importance of investing in our schools and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to realize their full potential.
I believe that our students are world changers, and by providing them with the right resources, encouragement, and opportunities, we can help them shape a brighter future. Giving back to the community that shaped me is not just a passion—it’s a responsibility.
I have been married for 16 years to my husband, Ricardo Jauregui, and we are proud parents of three children, all of whom attend Castleberry ISD schools. Our family is deeply rooted in this community, and I am committed to making a positive impact for generations to come.

Adrian Galvan
​Director

Cristal Hernandez
​Director

maribel moreland
​Director

Maribel Moreland is a dedicated member of EECU’s Community Relations & Business Development team, bringing a wealth of experience and a passion for service. She began her journey with EECU in 1994 as a teller, later advancing through various roles, including accounting, where her aptitude for numbers shone. However, her natural ability to connect with people and represent EECU externally led her to transition to the Marketing team in 2015.
In her current role, Maribel plays a key part in EECU’s commitment to the community, leading numerous volunteer initiatives focused on education and children's health. Her leadership extends beyond EECU, as she also serves as an active board member for the Fort Worth Chapter of Credit Unions, further strengthening her impact in the industry.
Bilingual and deeply service-oriented, Maribel is passionate about programs that foster training, development, and empowerment for individuals and businesses. Her dedication aligns seamlessly with EECU’s roots—founded by teachers for teachers—ensuring that the institution's unwavering commitment to education continues to thrive, even as its membership has expanded to serve a broader community.

Allen Pennington
Advisor

Allen is a native of River Oaks and a 5th generation Texan. He graduated from Castleberry High School in 1975. He received his B.B.A. from Baylor University in 1977, summa cum laude, with concentrations in economics and finance. In 1981, he received his J.D. (law degree) from Notre Dame, cum laude. Today, Allen is an active commercial trial lawyer in Fort Worth. 

dewey taliaferro
​​Director

Mr. Taliaferro has served on the Castleberry Board of Education since 2023 and previously served on the Board from 2015-2021. 
Mr. Taliaferro is the branch manager of a nationwide construction subcontractor. Dewey and his wife Melisa have two grown children.
Mr. Taliaferro graduated from Castleberry in 1986. He is the second of three generations of Castleberry graduates. ​

bree tomlinson
Treasurer 

Bree serves as the Executive Secretary to the Chief Financial Officer for Castleberry ISD. ​

kathryn walker
Director 

Kathryn Walker as the district’s new Gifted and Talented (GT) Instructional Coach. Walker spent her youth in Clear Lake City outside of Houston. After high school she moved to the DFW area and graduated from Texas Wesleyan University. In 2018, Walker earned her Master of Education in Gifted and Talented Education from Hardin Simmons University. Throughout her career, Walker served on multiple committees including district curriculum writing, district improvement planning, and Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented (TAGT) membership involvement.
Walker believes in the importance of social and emotional learning to build self-awareness and healthy relationships. She also promotes critical and creative thinking to foster the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators.

Brandon Weaver
​Director

We're Here for the Students of CISD

Castleberry ISD Administrators were facing the challenge of financing quality, public education.  So with the efforts of key district personnel and a core group of concerned citizens, the idea for an education foundation to support CISD came to fruition.  The education foundation concept was presented to the CISD Board of Education where it received unanimous support.  On July 27th, 2017, the Castleberry ISD Education Foundation was established as a public, non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax status kicking off its Employee Giving Campaign and a Community Meet and Greet in September of 2017. ​