Meet the Trustees

Michael is a Partner at Gans & Smith Insurance Agency and was elected to the Longview ISD Board of Trustees in 2018. He and his wife Julia have 4 children, two are current Longview ISD students and the younger two will be soon. Michael is also involved in multiple organizations throughout the community, including the Longview Chamber of Commerce, Longview AMBUCS, Longview Greggton Rotary Club, Greater Longview Soccer Association, Longview Boys Baseball Association, and many more. 

Brett is a Longview native, local attorney, and third-generation graduate of Longview High School. He and his wife, Laura, have two children in LISD schools and a third entering in a few years. An attorney with Ward, Smith, & Hill law firm, Brett earned his business degree, magna cum laude, from Texas Christian University before receiving his law degree, cum laude, from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law.

Samir and his wife Dr. Gana Germanwala have two children who are current Longview ISD students, and he is a cardiologist at Longview Regional Medical Center. In addition, Samir is involved in multiple organizations throughout the community, including "Simple Bare Necessities," a non-profit started by his daughter to create hygiene packets for students in need. He received his medical degree from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been a board-certified physician for more than 20 years.

Virginia Northcutt is the Executive Director for Refuge International. She previously was the Special Events Coordinator for the Buckner Foundation and has also served as the Gregg County Historical Museum's Executive Director. As a parent volunteer, she has served in many capacities at Longview ISD, including as president of the Foster Middle School PTA and Longview High School's PTO. She and her husband Gordon are the proud parents of two children, both Longview High School graduates.

Shan Bauer is a proud 1999 graduate of Longview High School. She earned an MBA from LeTourneau University in 2018. Currently she works as a Sales Coordinator at Skeeter Products, Inc. of Kilgore. Shan is married to Gary Bauer and the couple have three children, all whom attend Longview ISD.

Shan currently serves as a board member for Thrive Longview and is a member of the Texas Caucus of Black School Board Members.

Beard was elected to the Longview ISD Board in 1998 and has served in various capacities, including assistant secretary, secretary, vice-president, and twice as president.

He earned a bachelor’s in human services from LeTourneau University. Beard is a retired sergeant major from the United States Army and a combat veteran of Desert Shield/Storm and Iraqi Freedom. He also retired from the Social Security Administration, where he worked as a technical expert and equal employment opportunity counselor.

Ted currently serves as president of Texas Association of School Boards (TASB)and in 2007, he was appointed to the TASB Risk Management Fund Board and currently serves as chair. He is a 2012 graduate of Leadership TASB and a past president and current member of the Texas Caucus of Black School Board Members.

Ted and his wife Rosalind are the parents of three sons and two daughters.

Dr. Simmons is a local dentist who was first elected to the board in 1986. Dr. Simmons has served the board in various capacities, including assistant secretary, vice president and president. He has also served as president of the Texas Association of School Boards. An ordained minister, Dr. Simmons has a long career of community service that spans decades. Dr. Simmons and his wife Kathleen are the parents of four children, all of whom are Longview High School graduates.