Leadership
Charlotte Christian McMurray
Chair
Charlotte Christian McMurray is a third generation VVISD graduate. As a member of the Class of 1984, she was active in cheerleading, sports and UIL competition. She graduated from Texas Women’s University in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Charlotte has spent her career in business development, sales management, as well as serving as a national sales training professional. She has worked for almost 30 years in the corrugated packaging industry. She has received numerous awards, including top national sales and sales manager, working for two of the largest companies in the packaging and paper industry. She currently serves as a sales manager for Packaging Corporation of America. She also has her own property management company, CMC properties, which has been successful since 1997.
Charlotte has been a strong advocate for the Valley View Independent School District since serving on the Booster Club for numerous years and volunteering in several capacities for the school and the community and most currently as chair of the Valley View Education Foundation. She is married to Tom McMurray, a Denton attorney, and both of her children, Chloe and Christian, are VVISD graduates.
Le’Ann Pembroke Callihan
Vice Chair
Le’Ann Pembroke Callihan is vice president of AAPL and NAPE, an energy-focused organization, overseeing NAPE expo — the largest energy prospect expo in the world.
As an Eagle, she graduated from VVHS in 1986 as valedictorian, participating in multiple sports and UIL events, including being a state medalist in prose interpretation. Also a Horned Frog, Callihan earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism, cum laude, from Texas Christian University in 1990, as well as completed a study abroad program at Oxford University. In 1991, Callihan co-founded Publications Partners, which provided writing and design services for a variety of clients ranging from large textbook publishers to small start-up companies.
Callihan has served on the board of directors for the North Texas Chapter of the Women’s Energy Network and is an executive member and leads a mentor/mentee group for WEN’s Fort Worth circle. She was appointed to the Board of Advisors for the TCU Neeley School of Business Energy Institute in 2021; appointed vice chair of the Valley View Education Foundation in 2022; and was recently named a finalist for the D CEO Magazine Energy Awards in the category of Energy Services & Technology Executive of the Year.
A member of Family Life Church, Le’Ann serves as a Kids Zone teacher. She and her husband Mark have two sons, Reece and River, who are both graduates of VVISD pursuing careers in engineering and business.
Lisa Newton Smart
Secretary
Lisa Newton Smart is a fifth-generation Valley View family member and a second-generation VVISD graduate. As a member of the Class of 1988, Lisa was active in FFA, drill team, served as student council president, and was a state medalist in UIL news writing. As a Texas Woman’s University (TWU) Pioneer, Lisa graduated in 2001 with a B.A. in English, and in 2004, with an M.A. in English, summa cum laude. Currently, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition from TWU.
Lisa is an English Instructor at North Central Texas College (NCTC), where she serves as a faculty senator and promotes a student-centered, holistic learning environment while maintaining academic rigor. Recently, the NCTC English Department was awarded the CCCC Writing Program Certificate of Excellence Award and the Diane Hacker Two-Year College Association Award for Outstanding Programs in English, for which Lisa played an integral role. Lisa was subsequently awarded the Robeson Excellence in Teaching Award in 2022.
When not teaching, grading, or continuing to be a life-long learner, Lisa and her husband of 26 years, Jason, enjoy spending time with family and friends. Lisa is excited to serve on the Valley View Education Foundation board with fellow VVISD alumni. Lisa feels honored to have this opportunity to pursue her passion for developing a sense of community and a spirit of mentorship, just as countless others invested in and mentored her.
Susan G. Smith
Treasurer
Susan (Hudspeth) Smith grew up in Valley View and graduated from VVHS in 1983. She received a Bachelor of Science from Texas Woman’s University and a Master of Education from the University of North Texas. She retired in 2021 after spending a 35-year career at Valley View ISD. She taught elementary school for 15 years and then served as the elementary principal for 20 years.
Susan and her husband, David are the owners of D & W Cattle and Hay Farms. Susan is a member of the Valley View First Baptist Church. She is active in the Cooke County Retired School Personnel Chapter of TRTA, Valley View Chamber of Commerce and the Valley View Alumni association. She is excited to be part of the Education Foundation Board and give back to the community.
Amy Ferris
Director
Amy has lived in Valley View for 17 years. She enjoys helping with non-profit fundraising and volunteering for the Valley View schools and community. She has been a member of the Valley View Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on the VV Chamber Executive Committee.
Amy has been in the medical field for 30 years. She and her husband Dr. Rick Ferris own a functional medicine business, RAD Wellness, helping serve the community and beyond with natural alternatives to traditional medicine. They have one awesome son, Devin, who is a VVISD graduate, and they raise miniature donkeys.
Johnny Hinchey
Director
Johnny Hinchey, producing branch manager for Highlands Residential Mortgage, attended all 12 years at Valley View and was a 1981 VVHS graduate, blessed to have been a part of the 1979 State Semi and 1980 State Champion football teams. In addition to his beloved memories and history at VVHS, his dad Bill taught fifth grade for Valley View Elementary for 15 years.
After graduation, he obtained his BBA from UNT and worked for Alan Ritchey Inc, building a transportation commodities business, and selling MFM items to Walmart. After 15 years in the transportation and logistics business, he closed that chapter and started a mortgage branch in Denton, Texas, in 2001 and is still active serving all of Texas and Florida. In 2021, his wife Darla founded Advancing Haiti, a 501c3 organization that focuses on providing college sponsorships in America for the forgotten youth of Haiti.
Johnny is excited and proud to serve on the VVHS Education Foundation with his fellow alumni and welcomes your support.
Joann Sessums
Director
Joann (Rauschuber) Sessums is a member of the 1971 class of VVHS. She attended Cooke County Community College (NCTC) and North Texas State University (UNT). Joann has worked for Alan Ritchey Inc. for more than 55 years and continues to be a proud employee of a longtime Valley View business establishment and great work environment.
Glenn Sessums (class of ’67) and Joann married in 1975. They have three children, Ambre Davis, Andrea Bernard, and Alex Sessums, all graduates of VVHS. The Sessums live at Mt Springs, where they enjoy family and friends, raising cattle, gardening, and fishing at Lake Ray Roberts. They attend First Baptist Church of Valley View, where Joann teaches younger children’s Sunday School class and Wednesday night Awana’s. She is an active supporter of Valley View Fellowship of Christian Athletes at VVHS. Joann previously served on the Frank Buck Zoological Society Board.
Joann maintains her greatest joy is being a grand to the “Magnificent Seven,” her seven grandchildren. Three of the seven are current students at VVISD, completing four generations that have attended VVISD. Joann’s seven siblings are all VVHS graduates. One sister, Ava Nickerson, and daughter, Ambre Davis, both currently teach in the VVISD. For Joann, it is a privilege to be a part of the VV Education Foundation, an opportunity to encourage and support local students as they endeavor to expand their futures after graduating from VVHS.
Charles Bingham
Financial Advisor
Charles and his wife, Mendy, relocated their family to the Valley View area in 2017. Charles currently owns and operates cSquared Wealth, a financial planning and investment management practice. Prior to beginning his career as a financial advisor, Charles earned a B.S. in Economics and Mathematics from Texas Christian University and a M.A. in Mathematics from Rice University.
In the past, he has served on the Board of Katy Youth Basketball, as Treasurer and Finance Chair of VVUMC, and as coach on numerous youth sports teams. Charles is excited to support education in the Valley View community.