Moak Casey
Proven Leaders Advancing Texas Schools
Texas School Policy Network
Strategic Thought Design & Continuous Improvement
The Moak Casey team is comprised of strong professionals with deep experience within Texas school districts, the Texas Legislature, Texas state agencies and education organizations. Our unparalleled breadth of experience and diversity of skill sets equips our consultants to provide clients cutting-edge, personalized, full-service solutions.
Lynn Moak
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Lynn Moak has served as managing partner of Moak Casey since its inception in 1998. His vision of a public service firm capable of providing school finance and accountability analysis, leadership, and support continues to be the guiding principle of Moak Casey. He has been involved in virtually every major education finance policy change since 1967 and has developed research presented in every major case regarding public school finance since the Edgewood litigation in 1984. He has specialized in large-scale data analysis, development of research-based school finance policy positions, and the integration of assessment, accountability, and finance issues. Prior to 1998, he held senior staff positions in the Texas Education Agency, the Texas State Comptroller's Office, and the Texas Lieutenant Governor's Office.
The University of Texas at Austin – Graduate Studies
The University of Texas at Austin – Bachelor of Arts
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND HONORS:
Lifetime Achievement Award, National Education Finance Academy (NEFA)
Region 4 ESC Superintendents Award
National Education Finance Academy
Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP), formerly American Education Finance Association (AEFA)
Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
Association of School Business Officials (ASBO)
American Educational Research Association (AERA)
Paramount Theater, Advisory Council
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Lady Bird Society
Daniel Casey
Daniel Casey has served as a partner of Moak Casey since its inception in 1998. He serves as a senior consultant with the Fast Growth School Association and is recognized as one of the state's leading experts on school district property taxes, economic development property value limitations, and freeport exemptions. He has assisted school districts in their consideration of more than 300 property value limitations for major economic development projects over the last 20 years. Dan has more than 40 years of public school and governmental finance experience. In addition to state agency service with the Texas State Comptroller's Office and the Legislative Budget Board, Dan is also a former Associate Director for the Texas Association of School Boards. Over the past four decades, Dan has participated in a wide range of school finance and consulting activities.
The University of Texas at Austin – Master of Public Affairs
The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor – Postgraduate study in the College of Education
The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor – Bachelor of Arts with Distinction
American Economic Association (AEA)
American Political Science Association (APSA)
American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
American Statistical Association (ASA)
Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO)
Walker, Billy D., and Casey, Daniel T, The Basics of Texas Public School Finance. Austin, Texas Association of School Boards, 1992.
Dr. Buck Gilcrease
Buck joined Moak Casey, and as its Executive Director, maintains focus on its guiding principle of a public service firm providing school finance and accountability analyses, leadership, and support to our clients. With almost 30 years of experience in Texas public schools, serving the last 15 as a superintendent first in a small, rural district, then in a mid-sized district and lastly in a multi-high school, fast growth district, he has extensive experience in successfully navigating his district through all areas of school finance and accountability including bond elections, TREs, budget planning, implementing Teacher Incentive programs and raising student performance on academic measures.
Strategic Thought, Design & Continuous Improvement
Texas A & M University – Doctor of Education
Tarleton State University – Master of Educational Administration
University of North Texas – Bachelor of Arts
Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA)
Terry Faucheux
Terry specializes in analyzing accountability and assessment data to generate consumer-ready data displays. She facilitates data interpretation for school improvement purposes with district and campus leadership teams and models the statewide impact of policy changes in academic accountability. She has worked in the public education field for 23 years, starting as a school volunteer in Round Rock, moving to Austin ISD as a data analyst and later Coordinator of Accountability, and returning to Round Rock ISD where she was the Associate Director of Academic Data Analysis before joining Moak Casey.
Academics, Assessments & Accountability
The University of Texas at Austin – Master of Arts
John joined Moak Casey in 2018, focusing his practice on leading clients through the Chapter 313 economic development process, conducting legislative analysis for clients, and advising clients on Teacher Retirement System and school finance issues. John also handles various legal matters for the firm. Prior to his time at Moak Casey, John spent almost two decades as a lobbyist and employment attorney in both the public and private sectors, primarily focusing on school law. John has served as general counsel to numerous school boards, spent time at the Supreme Court of the State of Texas and the Texas Legislative Council, and served on the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Council of School Law Attorneys.
Southern Methodist University School of Law – Doctor of Jurisprudence,
Collegiate Powerlifting National Champion
Josh Haney
Josh started his career at the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts after he graduated from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin. While at the Comptroller's office, he provided forecasts of state revenues and fiscal impact analyses of proposed legislation. He also led efforts within the agency to improve its revenue tracking and reporting processes.
Josh joined Moak Casey in 2019 just as the Legislature was beginning to develop House Bill 3. Josh enjoys the privilege of serving school districts through this transformational period in school finance.
The University of Texas at Austin – Bachelor of Arts in English and Bachelor of Journalism
Austin ISD Campus Advisory Council, Member
Gretchen Hoffman
Gretchen joined Moak Casey in 2019 and focuses on property tax value limitation agreements associated with the Texas Economic Development Act (Chapter 313) as well as analyses of other public-private partnerships, including Foreign Trade Zones and Freeport Exemptions. Throughout her career, she has worked alongside educators to provide solutions that meet their unique needs. Previously, she served as a higher education executive recruiter for SP&A Executive Search (formerly Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates), placing academic officers in public institutions across the country and in Texas, including The University of Texas System and The Texas A&M System. She spent eight years as a manager in the software industry, where she helped academic administrators to implement comprehensive technology solutions at primary and secondary schools nationwide.
The University of Texas at Austin – Master of Business Administration
Davidson College – Bachelor of Arts
Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC)
Amy Ma
Amy joined Moak Casey in 2021 from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). At TEA she played a critical role in implementing HB 3 (86th Legislature) by helping over 1,000 school districts compress their Tier 1 tax rates. She performed advanced financial analysis and regulatory work related to various allotments and funding elements in the state's school finance formulas through the Foundation School Program.
After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, she started her career at the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), where she prepared fiscal analyses of proposed legislation, developed budget and policy recommendations, and testified to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees. She has worked as the Assistant Committee Clerk in the Texas House of Representatives and at the Austin City Council, and through UT Austin's UTeach Program, Amy has tutored and mentored economically-disadvantaged students. At Moak Casey, Amy focuses on school finance and providing legislative services.
The University of Texas at Austin – Bachelor of Economics
Texas Women in Public Finance (TXWPF)
Kathy Mathias
After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, Kathy started her career at the Texas Education Agency. While at TEA, Kathy developed a background in school district data and analysis, eventually serving as the PEIMS Division Assistant Director. While in PEIMS, she was involved in the development of the system design and end user customer tools. Kathy then joined Moak Casey where she maintains and enhances a statewide, in addition to a district-specific, school finance revenue model. Kathy became involved early on with the implementation of Chapter 313 property value limitations for school districts and enjoys working closely with school districts on their projects. She runs staffing and student data analyses and legislative impact analyses utilizing an extensive database of school district information and is constantly working to develop and improve Moak Casey data products.
The University of Texas – Master of Arts
Arkansas State University – Bachelor of Science,
Magna Cum Laude, Outstanding Mathematics Student Award
Education Connection – Literacy Partner, Blanton Elementary School
Dr. Toni Riester-Wood
Toni is an experienced public education leader. In addition to teaching and serving as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, she has held several administrative roles including Principal, Director of Curriculum & Professional Development, Chief Instructional Officer; Deputy and Interim Superintendent, all in the San Antonio geographic region. In her most recent positions, she has facilitated strategic planning and worked with divisions to develop "key work processes" to cultivate employee engagement and role clarity, while also promoting the organizations' capacity to work in-concert to achieve high expectations for literally, all students.
Toni has also published articles on themes of social justice, while serving as an adjunct faculty member for Trinity University, Texas A&M San Antonio, and the University of Texas, San Antonio (Superintendent Certification Program).
Toni joined the Moak Casey & Associates team in June 2021. She works with the Accountability, Academics and Assessment team analyzing new legislation related to these areas and the future impact on curriculum and instructional leadership. She is also honored to serve districts and schools as they strive to meet rising accountability standards with the wide-ranging needs in our classrooms today.
Texas A&M University, College Station – Doctorate: Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Trinity University – Master of Arts: School Psychology & Educational Administration
Texas Tech University – Bachelor of Science: Education & Psychology
Past President: Alamo Area ASCD (AAASCD); AY 2021-22
Board Member: Phi Delta Kappa, San Antonio Chapter
Recipient: T.M. Stinnett Fellowship, Texas A&M University, Educational Administration: Excellence in Research, Writing & Scholarly Achievement
Recipient: TEA Promising Practices Award: Redirection Connection
Impact San Antonio (ISA), Environment, Recreation & Preservation Grant Co-Chair
City of San Antonio Hardberger Park Conservancy
South Texas Children's Bereavement Center, Board Member
Greg Gibson, Ed.D.
Greg joins Moak Casey specializing in strategic planning and continuous improvement processes. Dr. Gibson is also the Executive Director for Texas Association of Mid-Size Schools (TAMS), coming to this role after a career in public education which includes 21 years as Superintendent of Schools.
University of North Texas – Doctor of Education
Midwestern State University, School Administration – Master of Art
Midwestern State Secondary Education – Bachelor of Science
Board of Directors, Texas Teacher Retirement System
National Baldrige Examiner and Judge
Named to the Baldrige Board of Overseers by the US Department of Commerce
Lloyd W. Graham
Lloyd brings 25 years of experience as a Texas public school superintendent to his work with Moak Casey specializing in strategic planning and continuous improvement processes. Lloyd has extensive experience in turning around financially and academically distressed districts as well as overseeing bond issues, major construction, personnel management, property value limitation agreements (Ch. 313), and crisis and disaster recovery and mitigation. He most recently served for 12 years as superintendent of schools in La Porte ISD, which during his tenure had two campuses earn National Blue Ribbon School honors, experienced and recovered from two major hurricanes, completed one major bond issue, passed another, and delivered $380,000,000 in new construction or renovation.
The University of Texas at Austin, Superintendency Cooperative – Doctoral Fellow
Southwest Texas State University – Master of Education
Texas A & M University – Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences
Tax Relief/Pollution Control Property Advisory Committee, Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
Dr. Larry Groppel
Larry currently works primarily with Strategic Thought, Design, and Continuous Improvement while also spending time with financial projects, and some accountability endeavors. He served for more than 35 years in Texas public education, and for the last twenty-five of those years, Dr. Groppel held major administrative positions, including Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District. While serving in virtually all areas of administration, he was involved in creating various business models focused on developing and implementing systems approaches to continually improve educational opportunities for Texas' youth. He had direct responsibility for substantial school budgets up to more than $1 billion and made over twenty-five final budget presentations without having any opposing votes to any of the recommended budgets. Dr. Groppel has also served in numerous capacities for state and national education organizations.
East Texas State University – Doctor of Education
Prairie View A&M University – Master of Education
Baylor University – Bachelor of Science
Ronnie Kincaid
As a consultant for Moak Casey, Ronnie Kincaid specializes in property value limitation agreements and strategic thought, design, and continuous improvement. After a 43-year career, Ronnie retired from public education in 2018 having served in many roles from teacher/coach and campus administrator to district superintendent and Executive Director of Region 14 Education Service Center. He has successful experience in school finance, long-range district financial planning, district accountability, strategic planning, school board training, and superintendent searches.
University of Houston at Clear Lake – Master of Science
Angelo State University – Bachelor of Science
Dr. Mary McKeown-Moak
Dr. McKeown-Moak has over 50 years of experience as an educational administrator working with school districts, Boards of Education, universities, Regents, state legislatures, executive offices, and non-profit agencies. She has served as the senior financial officer of a university system, business manager, professor, school finance specialist, strategic planner, and has been a consultant serving Texas education for the past 25 years. She has developed funding formulas for universities, community colleges, special education, pupil transportation, categorical aid, or general school aid in more than 30 states. She has also served as an expert witness in education finance court cases.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Doctor of Philosophy
Michigan State University – Master of Arts
Michigan State University – Bachelor of Arts
Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP)
National Education Finance Academy (NEFA)
American Education Research Association (AERA)
Society for College and University Planning (SCUP)
National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)
Phi Delta Kappa (PDK)
Association for Education Finance and Policy
President/Chair:
State Higher Education Finance Officers (SHEFO)
Fiscal Issues, Policy and Education Finance (FIPEF)
Futures Research and Strategic Planning (FRSP) Special Interest Groups of AERA
Distinguished Research and Practice Fellow, National Education Finance Association (NEFA)
Lifetime Achievement Award, National Education Finance Association (NEFA)
Lifetime Achievement Award, Marquis Who's Who Board of Directors
Meals on Wheels, Volunteer
Neptune Harbor Canal Owners Association, Treasurer
Impact Austin, Chair of Grant Finance Committee
Boy Scouts, troop leader and Cub Scout den mother
Girl Scouts, troop leader
PTSA Council, secretary
Symphony League, finance committee
Alameda Estates Homeowners Association, president
Faculty Women's Club, president
Dr. Alicia Thomas
Alicia Thomas brings a lifelong interest in teaching, learning, and leading to her work as a consultant for Moak Casey. Dr. Thomas began her career in education as a teacher in the Edgewood Independent School District in San Antonio. She returned to Trinity for a Master of Education degree, and through further graduate work earned Texas certifications that include the Superintendency, Kindergarten and Early Childhood, Special Education-Learning Disabilities, and Educational Diagnostician. Dr. Thomas taught in North East ISD where she also served as a principal, executive director, and Associate Superintendent/Chief Instructional Officer before moving to the Houston Independent School District in 2011 to serve as Deputy Chief Academic Officer. In 1994, she was awarded The Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education for her work in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Trinity University and North East ISD. For fifteen years, (2001-2016), Dr. Thomas was an adjunct professor in Trinity University's Master of Education in School Leadership program.
The University of Texas at Austin – Doctor of Philosophy
Trinity University – Masters of Education
Trinity University – Bachelor of Arts
Professional Affiliations:
Alamo Heights United Methodist Church
Friends Group, Communities in Schools
San Antonio Education Partnership (SAEP), Member, Board of Directors
Snack Pak 4 Kids (SP4K-SA), Member, Volunteer Board of Directors
Prospera Housing Community Services, Member, Board of Directors
Professional Contract Services, Inc. (PCSI), Member, Board of Directors
Harold W. McGraw, Jr. National Prize in Education (1994)
Fellow, Cooperative Superintendency Program, The University of Texas at Austin (1997 – 1999)
San Antonio Masters Leadership Program Class XI
Impact San Antonio (ISA) Board of Directors
Joe Wisnoski
At Moak Casey, Joe conducts a number of school district financial analyses and assists school districts in understanding the intricacies of the Texas school finance calculations and resolving differences between alternative approaches to forecasting. Joe also assists school districts with fulfilling their responsibilities for truth-in-taxation and tax rate adoption.
Formerly the Deputy Associate Commissioner for Finance of the Texas Education Agency, Joe has a 43-year career in the financing of Texas education and state government services, including overseeing the creation and maintenance of multiple school finance revenue models for the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Governor's Office.
Joe started his career at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board assisting in a major study of higher education funding formulas before joining the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts where he gained valuable insight into the state budget, revenue sources, and the legislative process and worked on the early stages of development of a statewide accounting system.
The University of Texas at Austin – Master in Business Administration
Phi Beta Kappa, The University of Texas at Austin
Kari Ruehman
Susan Moak
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