FISD Board Member Profile (2002): Richard A. Beaver

When Richard Beaver ran for school board in 2002, he says that seeking board service was just a natural progression of involvement for him.

He ran for the position vacated by Libby Maus, who did not seek reelection after serving on the board for 12 years.

Mr. Beaver grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, and after graduating from high school, he attended Southwest Texas State University, majoring in computer science and mathematics. He hired into Texas Instruments, which brought him to the Dallas area, and that is where he met his wife, Jill Roach Beaver. They married in 1990 and moved to Frisco in 1992. They have three children, twin girls Melissa and Kristen; and a son Sam. Today he is a director at Adventa Control Technologies, Inc., a software company that was divested from TI in 1998 to become an independent entity.

When the Beaver's children began school, they immediately became involved -- Jill more on the campus level through PTA and as a volunteer, and Richard at the district level, working on bond committees. He served on the 1998 Citizen’s Bond Committee and chaired the 2000 committee. Mr. Beaver also stays involved with young people through the youth sports associations -- coaching soccer, t-ball, softball and basketball through the years.

"I enjoy helping out where I can when it comes to our youth and their education," Mr. Beaver said. "I felt that becoming a school board member was a way I could continue service to the district and make a difference for all students."

The greatest challenge he sees in the future for Frisco ISD is continuing to keep up with the growth and maintaining and improving quality operations during that high growth. He sees a continued focus on attracting and retaining the best teachers and on providing a well-rounded, quality education in a fiscally responsible manner.

"This community is supportive of the schools and believes in educational philosophies and programs that work best for students, such as smaller high schools that allow more students the opportunity to participate in things, " he said. "I feel privileged to be a part of a community and school system that puts students first."

Although board service is time consuming and involves a continual mode of learning, Mr. Beaver says it is very fulfilling, as is all parental and community involvement within the district and with the schools.

"I encourage everyone to be involved in the schools," he said. "It will have more of a lasting impact than any other thing we can do. If we want to make Frisco great 20 years from now, we need to focus on the kids -- they are our future leaders and will be the ones running the show!"

And when he is not investing in the future by working as a parent, board member and coach, Mr. Beaver says he enjoys genealogy research. His wife Jill has very interesting family roots, with ties to Frisco since before Frisco was formed, so it makes for some intriguing research in an area so rich in history.