Dr. Shirley J. Neeley, Commissioner of Education for the Texas Education Agency, spoke to an inspired audience Wednesday morning at the Hallsville High School Auditorium. Neeley was named the Texas commissioner of education in January, 2004, by Governor Rick Perry. As commissioner, she serves as the head of the Texas Education Agency, which oversees 1,037 school districts and about 200 charter schools.

A former elementary school teacher, assistant principal, and principal, Neeley served as superintendent of Galena Park Independent School District from 1994-2004. Under her leadership, GPISD became Texas’ largest exemplary district from 2002-2004. A product of Galena Park ISD, Neeley received her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston.