Nine Staff Attorneys
TCTA staff attorneys are widely recognized as experts in both successful teacher legal representation and in legislative and educational policy influence at the State and Board levels.
Jeri Stone, Executive Director & General Counsel
Jeri earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence at the University of Texas-Austin and joined the TCTA staff in 1978. Jeri has been practicing law for more than 25 years and has led the organization and its legislative advocacy efforts since 1985.
Lonnie Hollingsworth, Jr., Director of Legal Services & Governmental Relations
Lonnie earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence at the University of Texas-Austin and has been with TCTA since 1986. Lonnie has practiced law for more than 20 years. In 2005, Lonnie served as Chair of the School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.
Dohn Larson, Chief Staff Attorney
Dohn earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence at the University of Texas-Austin and joined the TCTA staff in 1987. Dohn has practiced law for 20 years and has extensive experience in the intricacies of districtwide legal issues.
Holly Eaton, Director of Professional Development & Advocacy
Holly earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas-Austin and joined the TCTA legal staff in 1996. Holly has practiced law for 19 years and deals extensively with state and federal education agency rules, including NCLB.
Michael Currie, Staff Attorney
Michael earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Syracuse University's College of Law in New York and joined the TCTA legal staff in 1999. Michael has practiced law for 13 years. Previously, he worked at the law firm of Henslee, Fowler, Hepworth & Schwartz, and at the Office of the Attorney General.
Gerald Francisco, Staff Attorney
Gerald has practiced law for 20 years and has represented Texas teachers for the past 15 years, including nine years as a member of the TCTA legal staff. He is also a certified teacher and taught high school social studies at McAllen High School for five years.
Lindsay Gustafson, Director of Public Affairs
Lindsay earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center in 2001 and joined the TCTA legal staff that same year. Lindsay has practiced law for seven years, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Coalition for Public Schools.
Julie Leahy, Staff Attorney
Julie earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center in 1997 and joined the TCTA legal staff in 2004. Prior to her arrival at TCTA, Julie was an attorney for the State Board for Educator Certification. She has practiced law for 11 years.
Paige Bruton Williams, Staff Attorney/Governmental Relations
Paige is the newest member of our legal staff who joined TCTA in October 2008. She earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas-Austin in 2007. Before joining TCTA, Paige clerked for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, and the Texas Association of School Boards. She also has extensive experience at the Capitol, having worked for Rep. Rob Eissler and as a legislative aide during the 78th and 80th legislative sessions.
Updated: 10/1/08
