Shelby Smith
Early Childhood Action Network Coordinator
Shelby Smith is a native West Texan. She was born and raised in Odessa, Texas. After high school, she attended Abilene Christian University where she received a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. After her time at ACU, she moved back to Odessa where she began her career as Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant for Ector County ISD in 2014. Continuing in education, she began teaching third grade in a general education classroom for Midland ISD. She received a master’s degree in special education from Sul Ross State University in 2019. She has also worked as a Special education resource teacher, Diagnostician and most recently as a Child Find Coordinator for MISD.
Shelby has been married to Cade Smith since 2016. They are the proud parents of a son Luxton who is five, and a daughter Emmie who is two. Shelby has a passion for her community and is excited to continue to make an impact through the work of the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and attending Texas Tech sporting events.
Delma Lay
Strategic Initiatives & Collaboration Manager
Delma Lay serves as the Strategic Initiatives & Collaboration Manager at the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin. Born and raised in West Texas, Delma has cultivated lifelong relationships within the community and is deeply committed to its growth and success.
With extensive experience in project management, Delma has a proven track record of leading large-scale events and initiatives across the healthcare and higher education sectors. She previously served as the Director of University Events at The University of Texas Permian Basin, where she managed key events that required exceptional planning and organizational skills. Prior to that, she was the Special Projects Coordinator and Director of WOW Customer Experience at Odessa College, overseeing community engagement efforts and coordinating impactful events. Her earlier roles include leadership positions at Odessa Regional Medical Center Hospital and Medical Center Hospital, where she focused on patient satisfaction and departmental operations.
Delma holds a B.A. in Business Management from Western Governors University. Her passion for service, education, and building meaningful partnerships drives her work. She is dedicated to creating opportunities that make a difference in students’ lives and looks forward to forging new relationships with education partners to support our community’s future.
When she’s not working, Delma enjoys spending quality time with her family. She loves being “Dede” to her four grandchildren, cherishing every moment they share. She and her husband, Kurtis, are committed to nurturing their family bonds and making lasting memories together.
Jennah McKinley, M.A.
Director, The Valley Rural Collaborative
Jennah McKinley, a Carlsbad, NM native and New Mexico State University graduate, has dedicated 15 years to enhancing education in New Mexico. With her Bachelor‘s in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Master’s in Online Teaching and Learning, Jennah’s experience spans from Parenting Education, Nutrition and Youth Development in community outreach settings to STEM, and CTE in secondary education. Jennah has also served as a leader in higher education where she managed and developed workforce training programs while fostering community-industry partnerships.
A standout achievement during Jennah’s teaching career was co-advising a victorious virtual school team at the New Mexico Governor’s STEM Challenge for four consecutive years, earning recognition from prominent organizations such as Facebook, Freeport-Moran, Deloitte, and Meow Wolf. As the founder of Arrowhead Services & Rentals, LLC, an oil and gas service company proudly serving the Permian Basin, she provides unique insights into the critical link between education and industry.
A passionate outdoors enthusiast, Jennah cherishes hunting and fishing with her family and cheering on her children at their sporting events and competitions. As a devoted community member, she is a member of the Delaware Association of Pipeliner’s and the Carlsbad Rotary Club where she gives back to her community and advocates for robust education-industry collaborations, aiming to empower learners and stimulate economic growth in the Permian Basin.
Jordan Clack
PBIZ Director
Jordan Clack joins the EPPB team as the Director of the Permian Basin Innovation Zone (PBIZ), bringing a diverse background in education and the oil and gas industry. A proud graduate of Crane High School, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree from West Texas A&M University before returning to West Texas to begin her career.
Jordan spent several years working in the oil and gas industry, gaining firsthand experience across various career pathways. This industry exposure provided her with a deep understanding of workforce development and the skills necessary for success in the region.
In 2016, Jordan transitioned into education—a role that quickly became her passion. Over the past eight years at Crane ISD, she has taught multiple subjects at both the middle and high school levels, most recently serving as an ESL instructor. Her dedication to student success has been at the core of her teaching philosophy, and she is committed to helping students discover opportunities that lead to fulfilling careers immediately after high school.
As the Director of PBIZ, Jordan aims to bridge the gap between education and industry, creating meaningful pathways for students to enter the workforce with confidence and the necessary skills to thrive.
Most weekends, she can be found at a barrel race or junior rodeo, proudly supporting her daughter as she competes. She enjoys spending this time riding
Jarrett Vickers
BB-RISE Regional Director, Alpine
With over 18 years in education, including eight years in administration, Jarrett Vickers is a dedicated leader committed to fostering student success and staff excellence. He most recently served as the Principal of Alpine High School, where he has led significant initiatives in curriculum alignment, college and career readiness, and instructional improvement. Under his leadership, Alpine High School has achieved above-state-average performance on End-of-Course (EOC) assessments and successfully transitioned into a state-of-the-art $24 million facility.
Before transitioning into campus administration, Jarrett spent five years as an Athletic Director at Shamrock ISD and Claude ISD, where he revitalized athletic programs, increased participation, and led teams to playoff success. His coaching career also included stints at Llano, Sweetwater, and Clyde High Schools, where he mentored student-athletes both on and off the field.
A lifelong learner, Jarrett holds a Bachelor of Science in History from Abilene Christian University, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Sul Ross State University, and is currently pursuing his Superintendent Certification. His certifications include Principal as Instructional Leader (TExES 268), Performance Assessment for School Leadership (TExES 368), and multiple teaching and leadership credentials.
Jarrett is an active member of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and has been a keynote speaker at the Kappa Delta Pi Ceremony and a panelist for the Rural CCMR Accelerator Grant Program Symposium. His passion for student achievement, program development, and relationship-building continues to shape his leadership in Texas public education.
Jarrett is married to Amanda Workman, who is the Athletic Director at Sul Ross State University and they have one son, Jak.
Shannon
Pending...
In Progress...