Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Lufkin chiropractor Dr. Keven Ellis chair of the State Board of Education. Pictured, from left, are Ellis, Abbott, and Ellis' wife, Shelli. Courtesy 

Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Lufkin chiropractor Dr. Keven Ellis chair of the State Board of Education.

Although the members of the board are elected, the governor appoints the chair from among the 15 board members. The Texas Senate must confirm the appointment, according to an email from Ellis.

“It’s an honor to be given this position of trust,” Ellis said. “The State Board of Education plays a key role in our state’s public education system. It sets the curriculum standards, adopts instructional materials, and oversees the country’s largest educational endowment, just to name a few of our responsibilities. I pledge to work with all members and lead the board in a bipartisan fashion as has my predecessor Donna Bahorich.”

Bahorich said she was delighted for Ellis to take on the role.

“I hope Dr. Ellis finds this role as rewarding and meaningful as I have,” said Bahorich, who, after four years as board chair, has served the maximum time available in that leadership role.

“He has already demonstrated tremendous statewide leadership during his tenure as vice chair of the Texas Commission on Public School Finance, which laid the groundwork for our state’s new school funding law,” she said.

Ellis was first elected to the State Board of Education in November 2016, after serving as board president of the Lufkin Independent School District board of trustees.

As the state board’s District 9 member, Ellis represents about 1.7 million residents in 31-county area, including Smith, Anderson, Cherokee, Henderson, Rusk, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood counties.

— Staff Reports