Governor Abbott Names Donna Bahorich Chair of State Board of Education

June 18, 2015 | Austin, Texas | Appointment

Governor Greg Abbott today named Donna Bahorich Chair of the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) for a term to expire February 1, 2017.

Donna Bahorich was elected to the SBOE in November 2012 and took office on January 1, 2013. She serves on the Committee on School Initiatives, which oversees agenda items related to charter schools, State Board for Educator Certification rules, and the appointment of school board members for districts located on military bases, which she previously chaired. She is also a member of the board's Ad Hoc Committee on the Long-Range Plan for Public Education.

After graduating from Virginia Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree in financial management, Bahorich went to work in the telecommunications industry. She was first employed by the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company, under the AT&T umbrella, and later transferred to Mountain Bell. During her time at Bell, she handled multi-million dollar contracts and earned recognition as one of the top five district manager candidates in the company. She also served as a loaned executive to the United Way in her community. In 2007, Bahorich was named the Senate District 7 Volunteer of the Year and also served as the 2010 Harris County Republican primary director, assigning polling locations and assembling election personnel for 885 precincts for primary and runoff elections. An active community volunteer, Bahorich served as a member of the West Houston P-16 Council, graduated from the Leadership Houston program, served as president of the Daughters of Liberty Republican Women and is a member of the pastor’s council at Houston Vineyard Church. In 1990, Bahorich earned a Master of Arts degree in counseling from Liberty University.

As the District 6 SBOE representative, Bahorich represents part of Harris County.