During Monday's regularly-scheduled meeting, the Joshua ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the hire of Debra Brakel as the District's first Strategic Compensation Coordinator.

This is a newly-created position from a competitive grant with the Texas Education Agency that was awarded to JISD. Brakel will work to strategically continue to expand and develop the district's compensation and benefits for all district staff.

"I am excited about being selected for this role," Brakel said. "I am looking forward to helping JISD expand and develop the district's compensation and benefits plan for all staff."

Brakel currently serves as the Principal at Elder Elementary, where she has been since 2019. She also has administrative experience as an Assistant Principal at North Joshua Elementary and at Bess Race Elementary in Crowley.

Additionally, Brakel has had teaching stints at North Joshua Elementary, Crowley ISD's Bess Race, Deer Creek, and Meadowcreek Elementary Schools, and South Elementary in Alvarado. She earned her B.A. in Business Administration from Howard Payne University and her Master of Education with Principal Certification from the University of Texas-Tyler. Brakel also holds a Teacher Certification from Tarleton State University.