About ESC Region 12

We partner with schools and communities to achieve student success.

2101 West Loop 340
Waco, TX  76712 (map)
Phone: (254) 297-1212
Main Fax: (254) 297-2960

 

Hours of Operation: 
Monday - Thursday:  8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday - 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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TEXAS EDUCATION SERVICE CENTERS EXIST TO SUPPORT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Education Service Center Region 12 is a nonprofit service organization devoted to supporting educators and school personnel in their efforts to improve student outcomes. We are passionate about helping schools ensure an equitable education for every student and maintain efficient, economical operations.

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Everything we do focuses on helping schools align systems and planning to maximize district efficiency. Our effective, economical programs and services assist schools in three impact areas: educator success, resource development and community outreach.

View our brochure to learn more >

map of region 12 with counties and districts. 12 counties, 413 campuses, 76 districs, 11 charter schools, 30 private schools
  • Region 12 schools rely on us to provide personalized, relevant and affordable professional development opportunities that meet the needs of today's learners. Training is developed in response to district and student needs as well as state and federal requirements, accessible to even the most rural areas. Areas of service include Leadership, Alternative Certification Preparation, Business Information & Finance, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Federal Programs Support, Data Management, Special Education Services and Technology. We offer professional development through a variety of delivery methods designed to fit the schedules, learning styles and location constraints of all educators in our region. Training incorporates blended and flexible learning and features expert instructors with research-based strategies.  View our training opportunities >
  • Corsicana ISD Technology Foundation CheckAs legislators seek to resolve complicated funding issues with the Texas school finance system, education service centers are diligently working to help schools operate more efficiently. Efficient operations mean that more dollars can support the classroom, which is critically important to adequately prepare students for higher education and careers. The services are available to schools on demand, which also saves significant dollars in staffing.
  • Education is our highest priority. The success of our students depends on the unified leadership of Texas legislators, educators, business leaders and communities. ESC Region 12 is proud to serve as a hub for two-way communication and collaboration as we seek better ways to improve Texas education. We are serious about advocacy for public education. With so many complicated issues facing our schools, it is more important than ever to stay informed about evolving legislation that impacts school funding and accountability.

For an overview of our ESC's impact and performance details for ourselves and our region in 2020-2021, please enjoy the resources provided below.

 

 

Vision & Mission
The Education Service Center Region 12 provides professional training and technical assistance for the purpose of improving student performance for all students. Per HB 452, resources and services provided by ESC Region 12 are aligned with, and designed to support, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) adopted by the State Board of Education.

Vision
Innovative Solutions. Empowered Learners. Educated Communities.

Mission
We partner with schools and communities to achieve student success.


Strategic Priorities
ESC Region 12 is committed to the Continuous Improvement Model for enhancing programs and services as defined in the following four strategic priorities:

-Assist school districts in improving student performance

-Assist school districts in increasing effectiveness and economy of operations

-Assist school districts in the implementation of statewide and regional initiatives

-Provide timely and relevant information as the key to productive partnerships with schools and communities

 

Quality Policy
Provide services and solutions of the highest standards to satisfy our customers’ expectations.

Fiscal Goal
Maintain resource sustainability and growth through the delivery of superior and cost-effective services and solutions.

Green Initiative
Establish and sustain a commitment to continuously improve the ESC Region 12 environmental footprint.

texas map, region 12 highlightedTexas System of Education Service Centers
ESC Region 12 is one of 20 Education Service Centers in Texas and is a part of the Texas System of ESCs. Learn more at https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/other-services/education-service-centers.

Public Information Requests
Please send public information requests to publicinformationrequests@esc12.net. 

Or fill out our Public Records Request form. 

 

 

 

 

 

Map of Texas ESCs, Texas Education Agency

Jerry Maze

Jerry G. Maze
Executive Director

Phone: (254) 297-1201
Email: jmaze@esc12.net

Twitter Logo@jgmaze

 

Dr. Jerry Maze is the Executive Director for Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 in Waco, which provides professional development and support to educators and school personnel in 77 school districts and ten charter schools in 12 Central Texas counties. Maze became executive director in May of 2011. His vision for the Center is to continually develop and provide innovative, responsive and relevant solutions for the needs of educators and school personnel. The center employs 250 employees, including offsite employees that work in school districts as part of several large grants.

Maze has served in education for 35 years in several districts and capacities, including teacher, director, consultant and principal in Livingston ISD. Before joining ESC Region 12, he served as superintendent in Hillsboro and Hubbard ISDs. He serves as the chair of the Association of Education Service Agencies (AESA) National Foundation, and is a past president of the AESA.
 
Maze received his Doctorate of Education from Lamar University and his Master of Education from Sam Houston State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Journalism from Texas A&M University and certifications in Secondary English and Journalism, Texas professional mid-management and Texas superintendent.
 
Maze and his wife Sherry reside in Waco near the Bosque River with their grand dog Kyah, a Border collie mix. They have five children and seven grandchildren. He enjoys photography, playing with his grandchildren, reading and fishing.

  •  

    Dr. Jerry Maze is the Executive Director for Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 in Waco, which provides professional development and support to educators and school personnel in 77 school districts and ten charter schools in 12 Central Texas counties. Maze became executive director in May of 2011. His vision for the Center is to continually develop and provide innovative, responsive and relevant solutions for the needs of educators and school personnel. The center employs 286 employees, including offsite employees that work in school districts as part of several large grants.

     



    Experience

    Maze has served in education for 35 years in various capacities, including as a teacher, director, consultant, high school principal, superintendent and as an executive director. 
     
    Originally from southeast Texas, Maze began his 17-year career in Livingston ISD as an English teacher at the middle and high school and later taught journalism at Livingston High School. He went on to serve as assistant principal, associate principal for curriculum and instruction and then as principal of the high school. Maze served as the media/public relations consultant and developed the district’s public relations and bond communication programs. He also served as director of community and academic alternative programs and advanced the development of district-wide academic support programs for serving at-risk students, including acceleration, credit recovery and a school of choice. In this position, he also managed district communications, community programs and a multi-million dollar scholarship program.
     
    While serving as superintendent in Hubbard and Hillsboro ISDs, Maze emphasized student achievement and focused on financial efficiency. In Hubbard, he led the district through the construction and opening of a new middle school and established a district/community scholarship foundation. Before becoming executive director, he served as an associate executive director for administrative leadership & business services at ESC Region 12. In this position, he managed administrative leadership and school finance services as well as satellite offices. 
     
    Maze has a genuine spirit of collaboration and a passion for creating a culture of high expectations and innovative thinking. Through his vision, the ESC Region 12 Technology Foundation was formed in 2012 to help schools place instructional technology into the hands of Region 12 students. The foundation has awarded $532,333 in grants, serving 23,566 students. 
     
    Maze is always looking for strategic partnerships and solutions that will help increase student achievement and save schools money. More recently, he worked with leaders from Baylor University and Huckabee, an architect firm, to create the Learning Experience Collaborative. The LEx Collaborative, located at the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative, researches the intersection of professional development and the built environment to determine the impact on student engagement and the learning experience.  
     

     



    Awards

    Maze received the Peter C. Young Award in 2022 from the Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA) for outstanding contributions to educational service agencies and service to AESA. Maze is the 2019 recipient of the Thomas Poe Regional Service Center Leadership Award in recognition of his leadership to school administrators. Maze received the national E. Robert Stephens Award in 2011 from the Association of Education Service Agencies (AESA) for research and writing in connection with his dissertation study on education service centers in Texas, “Superintendent Perceptions of their Professional Development in Leadership for Student Achievement at Texas Regional Education Service Centers.” 

     

     



    Service

    The southeast Texan is passionate about giving back to his industry and community. He serves as the chair of the Association of Education Service Agencies (AESA) National Foundation, a member of the AESA Perspectives Editorial Board and he is a past president of the AESA. He serves on the boards and committees for the McLennan County Pack of Hope, the Texas Association of School Administrators, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, Waco Business Leaders, Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy (GWAMA) Executive Board and Prosper Waco. He also serves as a superintendent mentor for TASA and is a faculty member for international programs at Louisiana College. 

     

     



    Education

    Maze received his Doctorate of Education degree from Lamar University and his Master of Education degree from Sam Houston State University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Journalism from Texas A&M University and holds certifications in Secondary English and Journalism, Texas professional mid-management and Texas superintendent.

     

     

     

    Personal

    Maze and his wife Sherry reside in Waco near the Bosque River with their grand dog Kyah, a Border collie mix. They have five children and seven grandchildren. He enjoys photography, playing with his grandchildren, reading and fishing.

     

     

     
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Terry Marak

TERRY MARAK

Chief Financial Officer,

Business Office & Financial Services

Phone: (254) 297-1178
Email: tmarak@esc12.net

Tammy Becker

TAMMY BECKER

Senior Director,

General Education Services

Phone: (254) 297-1240
Email: tbecker@esc12.net

Charlene Simpson

CHARLENE SIMPSON

Deputy Executive Director,

Academic & Administrative Services

Phone: (254) 297-1106
Email: csimpson@esc12.net

Larry Robinson

LARRY ROBINSON

Senior Director,

Human Resources

Phone: (254) 297-1203
Email: lrobinson@esc12.net

The center is governed by an eight-member board of directors, seven elected by members of local district boards of trustees and one from a charter school. The panel oversees the center’s budget and develops policies regarding management, operations, programs and services. 

Bill KillianBILL KILLIAN, Chairman 
McLennan County

Bill Killian began his career in education in Crosbyton, Texas as a history teacher and coach for junior high football, basketball and track. Throughout his career, he also filled the roles of junior high athletic coordinator and principal in Midway ISD before retiring in 2005. Mr. Killian graduated in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University, followed by a master’s degree in school administration from Baylor University in 1982. He joined the ESC Region 12 Board of Directors in 2006.

 

 

Rex Daniels

REX DANIELS, Vice Chairman
Lampasas & Mills Counties

Rex Daniels began his career in the field of education in 1971 as a teacher and coach in Garland ISD. He filled the roles of assistant principal and principal and retired in 2006 as an assistant superintendent in Lampasas ISD. Mr. Daniels is a past member of the Texas Association of School Personnel Directors, a lifetime member of the Texas Association of School Administrators, and a member of the Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in education from Stephen F. Austin University. Mr. Daniels joined the ESC Region 12 Board of Directors in 2007.

 

 

J TurpinJOHN TURPIN, Secretary 
Falls & Limestone Counties

John Turpin began his career in education in 1982, teaching and coaching in Lovelady, Texas. Mr. Turpin worked in a number of districts before settling in Mexia ISD, where he served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. He retired in 2013 after 31 years in education. Mr. Turpin graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina, with a bachelor’s degree in history. In 1997, he received his master's in education from Stephen F. Austin University. He joined the ESC Region 12 Board of Directors in 2015.

 

 

Rose Cameron HeadshotROSE CAMERON 
Coryell & Hamilton Counties

Rose Cameron was employed by the Joshua Independent School District from 1988-2000 during which time she served as a sixth grade teacher, an assistant principal, principal, curriculum assistant, director of instruction, and assistant superintendent. In the fall of 2000, she assumed the position of assistant professor at Tarleton State University in the Educational Administration, Counseling, and Psychology Department. She taught at TSU for three years before joining the Copperas Cove Independent School District in January 2003. Dr. Cameron assumed the role of Superintendent of Schools in the Copperas Cove ISD on June 1, 2006. She retired in June of 2012.

 


Kerry HansenKERRY HANSEN
Bell County

 

Kerry Hansen began his career in education as a teacher and coach for China Spring, Crawford and Midway ISD, and served as a campus principal for Oglesby and Troy ISD.  He later became superintendent of Lorena ISD. After 33 years in education, he retired as superintendent of Troy ISD in 2011. Mr. Hansen has assisted several school districts in Region 12 as an interim superintendent and guided their school boards through the superintendent search process. He received his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University in 1978 and a master’s degree in education from Tarleton State University in 1989. He and his wife DeeAnn have two sons and six grandchildren.

 

Alexis Neumann

ALEXIS NEUMANN
Charter Schools

 

Alexis Neumann began her career in education as a researcher, practitioner, adjunct, teacher and administrator in higher education, and an administrator in K-12. In 2010, Mrs. Neumann went to Rapoport Academy where she is now superintendent. She received her bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1999 and her master’s of business administration in 2003, both from Texas Tech University. In 2010, she completed her doctorate at Baylor University in the field of educational psychology. 

 

 

NickBrown HeadshotNICK BROWN
 Bosque & Hill Counties

 

Nick Brown began his career in education as a graduate teaching assistant at Angelo State University in 1985 in the Department of Biology.  Mr Brown received his bachelor’s degree in biology in 1985, receiving his Master of Science degree from Angelo State University in 1989. After completion of graduate education at Tarleton State University, leading to a teaching certificate, he took a position as the secondary science teacher at Blum ISD in 1990. During his 21 years at Blum ISD, Mr Brown served as teacher, coach, principal, technology director and superintendent.  In 2011, Mr Brown took a position as director of school finance at ESC Region 12, later serving as senior director and as deputy executive director until 2022.  Mr Brown and his wife have lived in rural Hill County for 33 years.

 

Kevin Stanford

KEVIN STANFORD
Freestone & Navarro Counties

Kevin Stanford began his career in the small West Texas town of Albany as a biology teacher and coach. In 1993, Kevin transitioned into administration becoming a junior high assistant principal and later a high school principal, before serving as a superintendent. After 39 years in education, he retired as an assistant superintendent in a mid-sized district and currently works part-time in sales. Mr. Stanford received a bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Arlington, a master’s degree in biology from Texas Woman’s University, a mid-management certification from the University of North Texas and a superintendent certification from The University of Texas at Tyler. He and his wife Carla live in Eureka, Texas and have two children and two grandchildren. 

 

      Board Meeting Dates 
      October 18, 2018

      December 13, 2018

      February 21, 2019

      April 18, 2019

Since 1967, the Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 in Waco has employed dedicated staff members who provide an array of programs and services to regional districts and charter schools. 

ESC Region 12 is one of 20 centers located throughout the state of Texas. Originally setup by the Texas Legislature authorized the State Board of Education, the goal of the centers is to provide quality training and support to educators and school districts.

Within 6 years, the center’s services and programs outgrew its offices and moved from offices at Baylor University to a larger site in downtown Waco. As the counties in Region 12 continued to expand, so did the need for educational support. In March 1994, the center moved to the facility in which it resides today.

ESC Region 12 continues to experience growth in size and the services it provides to educators, districts and charter schools. Still located in the heart of Central Texas, the center maintains its pledge to provide professional development and technical assistance for the purpose of improving student performance for all students.

The center does not have tax levying or bonding authority, but receives revenue from three primary sources: federal, state and local. The center is governed by an eight-member board of directors, seven elected by members of local district boards of trustees and one from a charter school. The panel oversees the center’s budget and develops policies regarding management, operations, programs and services. In addition, it is empowered to employ and dismiss an executive director, subject to the approval of the State Commissioner of Education.

Serving Texas Students & Schools for 50 years