Volunteer Spotlight: Michelle Chamberlain

Chamberlain headshot

Michelle Chamberlain’s involvement in the annual Supplies for Success school supply drive is one of the reasons why the event’s success shines so brightly in the community. As the Volunteer Coordinator of the event each year, Michelle’s hard work and leadership gathers together hundreds of volunteers from different backgrounds and diversities to bring smiles to students of Irving ISD. 

Originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, Michelle Chamberlain moved to Mississippi to go to Millsaps College in Jackson to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics. In August 1995, she began her career in insurance and moved to Texas in June 1999. In 2001, her career led her to Texas Mutual, the largest workers’ compensation carrier in the state of Texas. Michelle serves as an underwriting supervisor. “One of my favorite things about the company is that we live out our mission to support employers and their employees in the state, and we give back to our communities.” You can check out her company here: (https://www.texasmutual.com/

Aside from her 25+ years of experience in the field, Michelle is mother to her teenage daughter, Lauren (fun fact: she’s a dance mom!). This is where her story with the Irving Schools Foundation begins. thumbnail IMG 5503

She says, “As a single mom, I participated in our church’s Single Parent Family back-to-school event when my daughter Lauren was young.“  In 2014, Michelle was at Irving Bible Church when volunteers were being recruited for the Supplies for Success event. She called our office to ask if she could bring her daughter along when she volunteered. 

Soon after, they attended their first Supplies for Success event together and were assigned to greet families in line for dental screenings. Lauren’s 10th birthday was also on that day, so she had her friends tag along to volunteer too! Michelle says, “I woke them up at 5:30 am after the birthday slumber party and we went to the high school to help.”

IMG 5528In thought of her experience that first year of her service, Michelle says, “It was an impactful opportunity for us all to give back to others. I was impressed with how well the event was organized and how many families and students we were able to help. I loved the community fair and seeing all the resources available in the community. And, of course, I will never forget seeing the faces of the students when they got their new backpacks filled with supplies!  There was such a genuine feeling of appreciation and joy coming from the students and their parents, and I knew this would definitely be an event we would participate in for years to come.”

The following year, Michelle began serving as the Volunteer Coordinator of the event. Her company, Texas Mutual, joined her that year and have volunteered annually ever since. The event that year especially was a difficult one for Michelle and Lauren. “I had to call my mom to come pick Lauren up during the event because she wasn’t feeling well.  After the event was over and I got to my parents’ house to check on Lauren, we ended up in the ER and she had an appendectomy just after midnight on her 11th birthday!” 

Photo Aug 11 7 34 54 AM

This scenario, however, hasn’t stopped Michelle and Lauren from returning to the Supplies for Success event every year! We asked Michelle what volunteering means to her: “It is vital to me as a person, a Christian and a mom to serve others and be an encouragement and support to others whenever I can.  It is who I am and something I am grateful every day for the ability to do.”

From the team at the Irving Schools Foundation, thank you for all of your hard work and support, Michelle! And congratulations on 20 years at Texas Mutual! See you next August! 

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

Andrew Knowlton

Board Member

Andrew Knowlton

Board Member

Andrew Knowlton, a 16-year Irving resident, is a driven professional who was recently appointed to the Irving Schools Foundation’s board of directors. He is currently employed at Spectrum Enterprise as a Program Manager, where he leads cross-functional teams and projects that drive business growth.

Andrew is a dedicated philanthropist and entrepreneur in addition to his professional accomplishments. He co-owns the Irving, TX-based Elite Dance Company of Texas with his wife Tiffany, where they provide top-notch dance education and training to students of all ages. Andrew and Tiffany are also the founders of the nonprofit EDCT Cares Inc whose mission is to inspire a lifelong passion for performing arts by providing dance and theater opportunities to children without access.

Andrew brings a love for education and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of students to the Irving Schools Foundation as a new board director. With his diverse background and wealth of experience, he is well-positioned to make a significant contribution to the Foundation’s mission and vision.