Spotlight: Crystal Scanio, CEO of the Irving Schools Foundation

Spotlight: Crystal Scanio, CEO of the Irving Schools Foundation

CrystalScanio

With contributions from Tony Scanio

When she was a child, she wanted to be a dentist. People told her to be a lawyer. She pursued architecture instead. But life had a completely different plan for her at Texas Tech University. Businesswoman Crystal Scanio, pursued her business degree, moved to Dallas, and now leads one of the top educational foundations in the country. Keep reading to learn more about her journey as President & CEO of the Irving Schools Foundation and to celebrate her 10 year anniversary on the job.

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          Born in Singapore, in the nearest hospital to where her parents resided in Indonesia, Crystal’s legacy begins on the other side of the world. Her childhood consisted of travel and discovery across Lhokseumawe, Jakarta, then Qatar, and eventually, San Antonio. After two years of high school in Texas, Crystal was admitted to Texas Tech University in pursuit of an architecture degree. 

  
When she was a kid, Crystal always wanted to be a dentist. As we can see now, life took her on a different path. Her husband, Tony, tells us about the time they met on campus: a Spanish for Business class. Her ultimate decision was to major in International Business, and the life skills she developed growing up would make her the best candidate for that. Tony says, “She credits having to move to new schools every few years as helping her be more outgoing.” 
         
From being an RA to working at Old Navy during college, Crystal was a dedicated student. When the time came to decide what her plans were after graduation, Tony remembers that, “as much as I tried to convince her to stay with me in Lubbock after graduation, by the time we started dating, she already knew that she wanted to move to Dallas.”
After graduation, Crystal began her career with AXA Advisors in Dallas. After a couple of years, she was hired at the Arlington branch of Merill Lynch and later transferred to Irving/Las Colinas. During this time, Crystal served as a financial advisor but realized that her heart belonged to the community. That’s where she wanted to be.
 
“By chance, one day she was talking to a former co-worker from her time at AXA Advisors, and they decided to meet for lunch. While discussing her career aspirations, Crystal mentioned that she was looking for something different than the financial advisor position, and described something where she would be able to help the community, preferably the children, so that they were able to receive better opportunities to prepare them for life.” This is how she learned of the Irving Schools Foundation.
Her lunchmate, Karry Chapman, was at that time serving as the Interim Assistant Superintendent of Personnel and Administration of Irving ISD. She told her that the foundation was looking for a new Executive Director. Tony says, “Karry recommended that she apply for the position, and the rest, they say, is history.” 
CrystalandTonyScanio    When she first began her work at ISF, Crystal’s dedication to understanding the Irving community and the school District was a priority that took a long time. There were times when it was just her at the foundation or just one other employee. Nonetheless, she was committed to fulfilling the mission of the foundation to help students and educators thrive. Throughout her time at ISF, Crystal has helped develop new programs and build up her “dream team” of staff that focuses on certain areas of the foundation.
 
Over the last ten years as the President & CEO of the Irving Schools Foundation, Crystal’s accomplishments have established a legacy. From being the recipient of the 2014 Nissan America’s Diversity Ambassador Award to opening a warehouse to house ISF programs to being a hardworking mother, Crystal has been a leader in the community in extraordinary ways.
 
Crystal, thank you for empowering students and teachers, embracing your challenges for a greater good, and for always saying “yes” to those in need. The community wouldn’t be the same without you. Congratulations on 10 years of excellence with the Irving Schools Foundation!
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Bethlyn Fisher

Programs Assistant

Randy Randle

Board Member

Bethlyn is a native to the Wise County area and holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in Elementary Education from Tarleton State University.

Bethlyn comes to Irving Schools Foundation with a background in teaching. Prior to her time with ISF, she taught in Irving ISD at Elliott Elementary for 6 years. She also has experience in Irving ISD as a swim instructor for the district’s Swim Safe program. Bethlyn’s main passions include helping the community and teaching others.

Bethlyn lives in Bedford with her husband, Dillon, and 2 cats, Gadget and Gizmo. Her hobbies include swimming, reading, baking, crafting, exercising, and caring for her plant collection.

Adriana Colunga

Development Manager

Adriana Colunga

Development Manager

Margie Stipes

Director Emerita

Margie Stipes

Director Emerita

Margie Stipes has been an Irving resident since 1955. She and her late husband, John, raised three children together, Randy, now deceased, Larry, and Stacie. Margie worked 30 years as a secretary at American Airlines, receiving the company’s Customer First Award.

She has been active in schools and the community, serving on several bond program committees and with the city’s Charter Review Committee. Margie was president of the Nimitz High School Booster Club for several years and has been a longtime member of both the Keep Irving Beautiful Board and the Irving Schools Foundation Board of Directors.

Margie’s accolades include the High Spirited Citizen Award, Greater Irving Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award, Irving Schools Foundation Gala Award, and multiple local and national PTA awards for extended service. In 2014, she was inducted into the Irving Sports Hall of Fame. Margie is honored to be a namesake for IISD’s John and Margie Stipes Elementary School in south Irving.

Randy Randle

Board Member

Randy Randle

Board Member

Randy Randle is a lifelong resident of Irving. He attended Otis Brown Elementary School, Bowie Junior High School and graduated from Nimitz High School.  Randy attended The University of Texas at Arlington and received a Business Administration degree in accounting.

Mr. Randle has been married to Lynda for 28 years and has two sons who attended Irving Schools.  Randy has long been serving in leadership roles in both our schools and our community.  He has served as PTA fundraising chairman, Band Booster president and chairman of baseball concessions for the Booster Club.  Randy has served on two campus improvement committees and the District Improvement Committee.

Randy served on the Irving City Council for six years and was chairman of the finance committee. He also served as chairman of the City of Irving Bond Task Force.

Randy has attended the same church for 66 years and serves as a trustee, as well as chairman of the building committee.  Randy works in the family business, which has been in Irving for 60 years.

Andy Jones

Board Member

Andy Jones

Board Member

Andy is Vice President and Learning Experience Development Team Manager for Texas Capital Bank.

He has received the Volunteer of the Year Award at Texas Capital for the last two years. Andy continues to volunteer at the Resource Center Community Health Clinic (9 Years), the AT&T Performing Arts Center (6 years), Make a Wish Foundation (5 years), Oak Lawn United Methodist Church Administrative Board (1 year) and the Dallas Titans (9 years), a local softball team where he has coordinated raising over $120,000 to give back to the community in the form of back-to-school supplies, food for a local food pantry and sending children with cancer to summer camp.

Andy has a Masters Degree from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor Degree from Winthrop University.

Kitty Boyle

Board Member

Kitty Boyle

Board Member

Kitty has held many leadership positions throughout her 55 years in Irving, TX including founding and serving as past chair for the Community College Association for Texas Trustees. Kitty is presently Chair of the board for the Ranch Academy, a charter school, where she have served on the board since 1998.

All six of her children graduated from IISD as have five of Kitty’s grandchildren as well. In 2011, Kitty and her husband John were named the Irving High Spirited Citizens. Kitty has a genuine heart for the citizens of Irving and it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Tracy McNeil

Secretary

Tracy McNeil

Secretary

Tracy McNeil is a Senior Sales Agent at Liberty Mutual Insurance/Comparison Insurance Agency. Prior, she retired from Enterprise Rent a Car after 27 years, with her achievements ranking her repeatedly in the top 10% nationwide.

In 2015, Tracy was voted Liberty Insurance Rookie of the Year for both Auto and Home. That same year, she joined ISF, serving on the Board of Directors before taking on the role of  Secretary of the Executive Committee. She has volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House Charities for Children and has great passion for the youth in Irving ISD.

Roger Carbajal

Personnel Chair

Roger Carbajal

Personnel Chair

Shannon Brown

Chair Elect

Shannon Brown

Chair Elect

Shannon has been a member of the ISF Board since 2019, having previously held the position of Development Chair. He currently serves as the Chief Compliance Officer at CoreLogic, which has its largest office in Irving and is an established corporate partner of ISF.

Shannon has lived in the DFW area since 1995 and in his spare time enjoys traveling, boating, and tennis; he participates on a softball team that has raised over $150K for DFW charities over the past 11 years. While having no children of his own, Shannon is passionate about helping the Irving ISD students, parents, teachers, and administrators.

David Pfaff

David Pfaff

Chair Emeritus

David Pfaff

Chair Emeritus

Anne Pfaff

Chair Emerita

Anne Pfaff

Chair Emerita

Michael Kelley

IISD Board of Trustees Representative

Michael Kelley

IISD Board of Trustees Representative

Michael Kelley grew up attending Irving ISD schools, and now he is serving them as a Trustee. He attended Townley Elementary School and Bowie Middle School and graduated from Nimitz High School in 2001. Kelley worked in manufacturing for 17 years and has been a realtor in Irving for six years. He and his wife, Stefanie, have two sons – a 10-year-old who attends Farine Elementary School and a 3-year-old who will enroll in the district’s tuition-based PreK program at Clifton Early Childhood School. 

In addition to his role on the Irving ISD school board, Kelley also serves his community in the following ways: neighborhood association president, vice president of the Irving-Las Colinas ABMUCS and youth baseball coach. He also served on the Irving Parks and Recreation Vision Committee. He has been a member of Fellowship Church for 15 years and serves on the church greeting team.  

Michelle Grady

Teacher Representative

Michelle Grady

Teacher Representative

Brook Tretter

Board Member

Brook Tretter

Board Member

Brook Tretter joined CoreLogic in 2006 and has held key client-facing and leadership roles throughout her tenure. She is currently responsible for leading the North America insurance sales organization and driving revenue growth and retention through innovative solutions that help insurance companies optimize their underwriting, risk management, and claims practices. She is passionate about driving growth and helping clients achieve their business objectives through strategic partnerships and a customer-centric approach.

Brook holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics from California State University, San Bernardino, where she developed a deep understanding of the science of language and its impact on society. She is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion and is actively involved in various employee resource groups and a founding member of CoreLogic’s PRIDE.

Allen Treadway

Board Member

Allen Treadway

Board Member

Smita Patel

Board Member

Board Member

Board Member

Smita Patel is an assistant vice president and wealth advisor with Frost Wealth Advisors. She joined Frost in 1997 and enjoys helping her clients reach their financial goals. Frost has been an ISF partner and Legacy Gala sponsor for many years.

In addition to being a member of the Irving Schools Foundation Board of Directors, Smita volunteers often with our Food For Thought program, assembling weekend food bags for IISD students experiencing food insecurity. She is honored to be part of ISF and  enjoys serving the community.

Smita enjoys cooking, traveling, and visiting family in her hometown of Toronto, Canada.

Reena Patel

Board Member

Reena Patel

Board Member

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