President: Linda Hoppas ‘79
Linda Hoppas earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Texas A&M University and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. Her area of specialization is Earth Science, and she holds a principal certification. Linda taught at the elementary level in Spring ISD for 38 years and was a Math Coach at Anderson Elementary in Spring for 3 years. Prior to teaching in Spring, Linda taught fourth grade in Fort Bend ISD and sixth, seventh, and eighth grade science in Kaufman ISD. During her education career, Linda has been a team leader, a science curriculum writer, a supervisor of student teachers, a Campus Improvement Plan member, a new teacher mentor, a cheerleader sponsor, and a workshop presenter in Spring and at the Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching. Linda has served as Muster co-chair for the Spring Area Aggies since 2015 and is currently a Class of ’79 Class Agent. She also served as the first Secretary of the Aggie Educator Network and is a charter member. Linda retired in 2020 after 41 years in education and enjoys time with her family, traveling, hiking and whitewater rafting.
President-Elect: Clark Nelson ’09
Clark graduated from Texas A&M with Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and English. He received his alternative teaching certification through the College of Education and Human Development and is currently enrolled in the M.Ed. in Public School Administration program. Clark is presently employed as an Advanced Placement Social Studies Instructor with Waco ISD at University High School. Along with his teaching duties, Clark also serves as an Academic Coach and UIL Campus Coordinator, Baylor University PDS Clinical Instructor, AVID Site Team Member, UTD Center for Brain Health SMART Ed Instructor, and Senior Class Sponsor. Prior to teaching, Clark worked as a management professional in the hospitality industry. Clark has been married to his lovely wife, Marchelle, for 23 years and they have two sons.
Past President: Jeffery Smith ’83
Jeffery Smith graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1983 and a Master’s degree in EdCI-Science Education in 1989. Jeff has been involved in education in many forms, working with the U.S. Navy, the Virginia Institute for Marine Sciences, NOAA, the Smithsonian Institute, and Texas A&M, where he taught elementary and secondary science methods, supervised student teachers, worked with student athletes, and directed summer programs at Texas A&M Galveston. Jeff currently teaches Biology and Aquatic Science for Spring Branch ISD. He was named the Outstanding Marine Educator by the National Marine Educators Association; is listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers; and is a 2013 recipient of the Dean’s Roundtable Award at Texas A&M. An Aggie throughout, you can typically find Jeff promoting the Spirit of Aggieland to potential students.
Treasurer: Katie Loftus ‘96
Katie Loftus ‘96 graduated from Texas A&M’s College of Liberal Arts with a bachelor’s degree in history. She also holds a Master of Education from the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development at SMU. She is currently in her 25th year as an English teacher at Allen High School. She is an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization of women educators and serves as the State Sergeant-at-Arms. She has worked with the Collin County A&M Club and has served as Muster Chair and scholarship chair. Katie teaches an ESL class at Prestonwood Baptist church and enjoys reading, all things Aggie, and spending time with family. Katie previously served as an At-Large Member of the Board of Directors.
Katy Battersby: Secretary ‘11
Katy Battersby graduated from Texas A&M University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. After student teaching in the STEM program in North East ISD in San Antonio, Katy taught 8th grade U.S. History in Corpus Christi, Texas at Tuloso-Midway ISD. She then became an 8th grade U.S. History teacher, UIL Academics Co-Coordinator/Social Studies Coach, and Master Mentor Teacher at Nimitz Middle School in North East ISD in San Antonio. Katy is currently a a Social Studies Special Education Co-Teacher at Churchill High School in North East ISD.
At-Large: Kristiana Hamilton ’04
Kristiana Hamilton, Member-at- Large, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 from Prairie View A&M University and a Masters of Education Administration in 2004 from Texas A&M University. Her commitment to education extends over 26 years and ranges in the fields of teaching, counseling, and administration. She currently serves as the proud principal of Southwood Valley Elementary School located in the College Station ISD, and is a very active leader, volunteer, and participant in many Brazos Valley community organizations, as well as several state and national educational organizations. Mrs. Hamilton is happily married to Bryan native Cedrick Hamilton, and they share three wonderful adult children. Kristiana served as a charter member and the first president of this great 13th constituent of the Association of Former Students Aggie Educators Network.
At-Large: Sue Ellen Young ’87
Sue Ellen Young has been an educator in Texas for four years. She began her career in
education as an elementary Social Studies and Writing teacher. She has been teaching 6th
Grade Science for the last two years at Brady Middle School.
After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University
in 1987, Sue Ellen became a veterinary sales representative. This was a perfect combination
of working for the benefit of pets, livestock, and veterinarians in Texas. After more than
twenty-eight successful years in the veterinary industry, she and her husband retired, left San
Antonio, and moved to her home county (McCulloch) to build their life a few miles from the
geographic center of Texas. Sue Ellen began substituting at schools throughout Brady ISD in
2015, eventually became a paraprofessional, and then became a certified teacher in 2019.
Educating students and celebrating their successes is a wonderful adventure for Sue Ellen!
She strives to master content and hone her skills as an educator through professional
development opportunities and to glean knowledge from experienced educators. Sue Ellen
had the honor to serve as a TAMUG Sea Camp counselor in the summer of 2022. As an AEN
Board Member in the center of Texas, she is dedicated to assisting all Aggie educators to
reach their goals in their profession and to become the most effective, successful, and joyful
educators in the field.
At-Large: Betsy Carpenter, ‘72
Betsy received her Bachelor of Science in Curriculum & Instruction at Texas A&M University in 1972 and her master’s (1983) and doctoral (1996) degrees at the University of Texas at Austin. She has over forty years of experience in the education field that includes teaching in public and private Christian schools; teaching undergraduate and graduate courses at SMU; and serving as Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator; as International Baccalaureate Coordinator, and as Head of School at private and charter schools. Betsy co-authored the Gifted and Talented Evaluation Scales (GATES). She has also published professional journal articles and has made presentations at area, state and national conferences. Over the past thirty years, she has served on local and state professional education advisory boards and Texas Education Agency special committees. As Center Director of McKinney Roughs Environmental Learning Center, she co-founded McKinney Roughs Writers, a grant writers’ network in central Texas. McKinney Roughs Writers facilitated the funding of over 125 million dollars to network members from 1998 to 2004. Since 1981, she has provided consultant services through BC Enterprises to the non-profit sector including formal and informal education organizations. Betsy has received many awards in her educational career including the Dean’s Roundtable Award at Texas A&M. She has been married to her husband, Bob ’70, for 52 years, and they have a son, daughter and five grandchildren.
