About Coley

Mission

I am committed to serving ALL stakeholders — Students, Parents, Staff, Administration and Community — through advocacy, honesty, and accountability to promote academic excellence, safety and security, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds.

Why I’m Running for GCISD School Board

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I believe my 25 years of human resource experience and record of steadfast volunteer service to GCISD will bring value to School Board decisions and my service will provide a tremendous opportunity for me to give back to the school district that has served my family so well.

I am knowledgeable about the district’s goals and strategic plan due to my extensive experience serving on PTA Local and Council Boards, Campus Excellence Committees and District Community Committees and I pledge to continue learning everything I can in order the make GCISD the best it can be.

I am wholeheartedly committed to this role. I can be trusted to serve all stakeholders, foremost the heart of GCISD – the students.

Basic Values

Academic Excellence — Build an environment of continuous aggressive improvement through curriculum and instructional practices that meet the needs of every GCISD student

Safety and Security — Promote policies, best practices and a culture of safety and security throughout the district

Fiscal Responsibility — Sponsor transparent accounting practices that promote accountability and taxpayer trust

Great Place to Work — Endorse “gold standard” human resources practices and policies that allow GCISD to recruit and retain great teachers, staff and administrators

Meet Coley Canter

I was born and raised in Highland Park, Texas and graduated from Highland Park High School. I majored in Political Science and received my BA from Southwest Texas State University in 1991.

I began my Human Resource career in the temporary and permanent placement staffing industry. I joined the People Department at TDIndustries in 1997 where I have worked ever since. My responsibilities have included training, benefits, compliance, and recruiting. TDIndustries was recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 Best Place to Work for 22 years straight.

I moved to Grapevine when I married my husband of 19 years, Steve Canter. He has worked at TDIndustries for 22 years where he currently serves as Chief Technology Officer. We have three uniquely talented daughters — a Junior and a Sophomore at GHS and an 8th grader at CTMS. Their interests vary from Athletic Training and Oral Interpretation (Competitive Speech) to Volleyball.

My grandfather, Jack Lowe Sr., served as chairman of the multiracial Dallas Alliance Education Task Force, which worked to develop a widely accepted school desegregation plan that was ultimately adopted by the federal courts. He has a DISD school named in his honor, Jack Lowe Sr. Elementary, in Vickery Meadows.

My dad, Jack Lowe, served on the Dallas Independent School District School Board of Trustees for 9 years, many of those as Board President. He counts those year among his greatest accomplishments. He has also been a guest speaker at Glenhope and CTMS for my daughter’s science classes to share his story of working at NASA during the early 1960s.

Organizational affiliations, community & volunteer positions

Glenhope Elementary PTA

President 2012-2014
Elected as the presiding officer and led the Glenhope PTA in cooperation with the other members of the executive board

Co-President 2011-2012
Aide to the President

Gator Guide Student Directory Chair 2011-2013, 2015-2016
Collected directory data and created the document including advertisements for directory printing

Auction Chair 2012, 2014 & 2015
Solicited and collected donations; Coordinated Auction fundraising eventRaised more than $80,000 for Student Programs, Needs Assessment, Teacher and Student Scholarship and Digital Sign

Community Liaison 2011-2013
Report to local PTA on School Board Trustee Meetings and community outreach opportunities

Secretary 2014-2016
The secretary is responsible for keeping accurate records of all association proceedings

Glenhope Inaugural Fun Run Chair 2016
Coordinated and raised more than $17,000 for PE Supplies, outdoor water fountain for recess and Eco- Friendly Water Bottle Fillers throughout the school

Honorary Lifetime Membership Award 2016

Cross Timbers Middle School PTA

Secretary 2014-2016
Responsible for keeping accurate records of all association proceedings

Legislative/School Board Reporting Chair 2015-2016
Report to local PTA on School Board Trustee Meetings

President 2016-2018
Elected as the presiding officer and led the CTMS PTA in cooperation with the other members of the executive board

Needs Assessment and Teacher Scholarship Chair 2018-Present
For the 2018-2019 school year we distributed $3000 in Student Scholarships, $7203 in Teacher Scholarships, $4040 in Needs Assessment funds and $10,000 for Campus Beautification

Grapevine High School PTA

Teacher and Student Scholarship Chair 2018-Present
For the 2018-2019 school year we distributed $5000 in Student Scholarship and $1365 in Teacher Scholarships.

GCISD Council of PTAs

Legislative Chair 2014-2016 2015 and 2017
Attended TXPTA Rally Day and met will the offices of GCISD State Representatives to advocate for GCISD students

Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District

FIRST Committee – Facility Innovation and Readiness Stakeholder Team 2015-2016
FIRST was a community team formed to study and prioritize ways to create the best possible learning environment for GCISD students

SEAT – Stakeholders’ Economic Action Team 2013
SEAT was a community task force commissioned to assist the district with addressing the financial challenges the school district faced as a result of the state school funding system

Glenhope Elementary School

Sky Ranch Outdoor Education Retreat Chaperone 2012, 2013, and 2015
Chaperoned 4th grade students to Sky Ranch

Literacy Mom 2008-2012
Kindergarten and 1st Grade classroom support

Campus Excellence Committee 2014-2016
The CEC is to ensures the implementation of site-based decision making and setting goals designed to increase student achievement in coordination with district goals and strategic plan

Glenhope Choir Room Mom 2014-2016
Coordinated choir events and volunteers

Cross Timbers Middle School

New Principal Selection Team Summer 2016
Selected by the outgoing Principal to assist in identifying her successor to serve as CTMS Principal

Campus Excellence Committee 2019-Present
The CTMS CEC ensures the implementation of site-based decision making and setting goals designed to increase student achievement in coordination with district goals and strategic plan

GHS Project Graduation

Vice President 2019-2020
Aide to the President

Girl Scouts Texas Oklahoma Plains

Troop Leader 2007-2015
Led Troop 1411 through 6 years of scouting including earning their Bronze Award

Service Unit Manager-Vineyard Pride 2013-2014
Led monthly leader meetings and supported team chairs

Service Unit Cookie Chair 2011-2013
Managed local Girl Scout Cookie Program including coordinating troop orders and deliveries as well as local cookie program accounting

World Thinking Day Chair 2012
Coordinated event for 140+ Girl Scouts to explore scouting around the world

Colleyville Soccer Association

Youth Soccer Coach 2010-2012
U4 and U5 Youth Soccer Coach

National Charity League – Colleyville

Provisional Patroness 2015-2016
First Year of service

Patroness 2016-Present
Colleyville Library Summer Reading Program Volunteer Coordinator Lead; Grade Level Advisor

Parliamentarian 2019-Present
Provide guidance on Bylaws and Standing rules