THE BOARD

Kerrie Brown Patterson

Founder

An experienced educator, coach and former student-athlete that is intrigued by the development of students and the way they learn.  Due to her inquisitive nature, Kerrie is determined to produce a catalyst or change and growth in the academic and athletic arena, by commingling the parity of successful students and a mental, physical, and social cognizant student.  She has extensive knowledge and skills based on academics and athletics, which has allotted her the experience to design a distinctive learning platform that encourages the development of the complete student-athlete.Kerrie began the design process for Legacy in her research studies within her doctorate program in Education Administration.  

She has done extensive research in Early College High School programs and the student’s success within those programs.  She has also directed her studies towards student-athletes and the demands that they are asked to endure, academically and athletically.  Kerrie believes that the two programs that require a 100% commitment from the student can coexist and make for a well-rounded student-athlete and construct a critical and innovative approach to ensure that the curriculum will meet the promise of a ‘career-ready’ student-athlete, rather it is on or apart of the field of play.

​Through her studies, she was able to determine that student-athletes have the grit and fortitude to have success in any situation when provided the tools that are needed to make them successful.  She sought others that shared the same vision (Board listed below). After researching and studying the student-athlete for over fifteen years, Kerrie has created a school model that will change the perception of athletes and their commitment towards academics. Kerrie is eager to rid the term ‘dumb jock’ through the graduates of Legacy, by enhancing the college and post-graduate success rate.

ExecutiveDirector Salary

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LaToyia Pierce

Board President

LaToyia is a Senior Claims Counsel with XL Catlin Insurance Company in Dallas, Texas.  LaToyia retains and manages outside counsel to defend professionals who are sued in courts, before regulatory bodies, and in arbitrations across the country.  She oversees cases involving errors and omissions insurance, miscellaneous professional liability insurance and other forms of coverage.  LaToyia actively participates in all aspects of litigation and practice and risk management for insureds and their counsel.

Prior to joining XL Catlin Insurance Company, LaToyia had more than 10 years of experience handling complex and diverse litigation, representing individuals, companies, and professionals. Her practice was devoted primarily to commercial litigation and professional malpractice, in which she prosecuted and defended claims for broker-dealers, investment advisers, insurance agents, lawyers and real estate professionals, among others. She handled cases involving errors and omissions insurance and provided all associated services, such as litigation, practice and risk management, regulatory, investigations and ethics, associations and networks, and transactional matters. She often counseled clients on risk avoidance issues and was called upon regularly to provide in-house continuing education seminars. LaToyia has successfully settled or tried cases in state and federal court as well as in arbitration hearings before FINRA panels.

LaToyia holds a J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas, an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, Texas, and a B.S. in Economics from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

Devora Cooper, DBA

Board Treasurer

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Devora Alyce Cooper is a Chief Financial Officer who currently works for a management company that oversees the operations of several businesses.  She has worked for the same entrepreneur in multiple business endeavors for the past 25 years and understands the value of following acceptable accounting principles and ensuring companies have a process in place to ensure financial transparency and accuracy. She prides herself on training others to work ethically and diligently for the good of the company.

In the capacity of Treasurer of the Board of Directors for Legacy the School of Sports Sciences, Devora ensures the school remains financially whole in an effort to assists students in the Houston, Texas area to achieve their goals by obtaining an education in the areas of sports sciences and to encourage higher education.

Devora believes her personal, professional, and educational experience will help Legacy achieve its goal to educate more youths and to motivate students to seek careers in sports other than athletes.

In addition to her previous work with young people as the director of a church gospel choir, Devora has self-published an inspirational romance novel that emphasizes the need to cultivate and treasure lasting relationships.

Devora holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business from Marygrove College, a Masters of Business Administration (with a concentration in Accounting) from the University of Phoenix, and a Doctorate of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Leticia Serna

Secretary

Leticia Serna has served Texas students at the campus, region and state level since 1999.  Leticia began her career in education as a campus bookkeeper and principal secretary in Austin ISD where she gained valuable experiences in grants and campus funding that propelled her to seek additional opportunities at the Texas Education Agency.

At the state level, Leticia provided support to over 1,000 Texas public school districts and charter schools receiving federal grants.  She served as a negotiator for multiple federal programs including School Improvement where she provided statewide support to identified schools and soon thereafter led the efforts of the multi-million dollar, federally funded Texas Title I Priority Schools program.  Leticia oversaw the identification and distribution of federal funds to priority and focus schools and gladly accepted the opportunity to identify Texas reward schools.  This experience provided Leticia valuable opportunities to identify key practices and strategies to further her support for all schools.

Currently, Leticia provides contract and grant support at the regional level.  She oversees contracts, grants, and procurement for an education service center and is responsible for the billing and services to over 80 school districts.  She assists clients with interpreting guidance, program implementation, budgeting, and program monitoring and evaluation.  Leticia takes great pride in developing systems of support and ensuring all clients receive the highest quality service.

Leticia is a mother of four children who attended Texas public schools.  She spends her free time attending her children’s sporting events or watching her oldest daughter coach middle school soccer and basketball.  Leticia holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Business and a Master’s degree in Education-Advanced Literacy from Concordia University in Austin.  She will complete her doctoral studies from the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education in May 2018 with a dissertation focusing on the impact of prison education programs on the continued pursuit of education post-release.  Aside from focusing on her children and time spent at work, Leticia also volunteers at the Travis County Prison assisting and encouraging students participating in prison education programs.

Christopher Campbell

Member

Mr. Campbell is an industry veteran with 20 years of energy capital markets experience as both a sell-side and buy-side analyst (10 years) and the remaining as an energy executive with experience in the areas of investor relations, strategic planning, and corporate finance & accounting.  He is currently Vice President, Finance and Accounting, at Huntley & Huntley Energy Exploration, a private E&P natural gas company located in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Prior to his current role, he spent nearly a decade at Anadarko Petroleum Corporation with increasing roles of responsibility, including Director of International Finance and Accounting. Prior to joining Anadarko Petroleum,, Mr. Campbell worked primarily on Wall Street as a financial research analyst at Morgan Stanley and Jefferies & Co. and as a credit investment analyst at Prudential Capital Group. Throughout his career, he has analyzed, evaluated and recommended investment decision on various energy securities ranging from E&P, oilfield services, midstream, and utilities.  A native of Waco, Texas, Mr. Campbell holds a BBA magna cum laude from Southern Methodist University, a CPA license in the state of Texas and the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.  He, his wife, Andrea, and three sons reside in Houston, TX.