Shannon Torres
Executive Director
Shannon Torres is a dedicated educational leader with over two decades of experience championing student success, instructional excellence, and community collaboration. As Executive Director of the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin, Shannon leads initiatives that advance the organization’s mission: to strengthen education outcomes and workforce readiness across the region.
Before joining the Partnership, Shannon served as Executive Director of School Leadership for Midland Independent School District, where she supervised and supported secondary principals and aligned strategic goals across campuses. Throughout her career as Head Principal at Lee/Legacy High School and Midland Freshman High School, Shannon has been committed to driving innovation, designing impactful professional development, and forging strong community partnerships.
Her leadership has been recognized through numerous accolades, including Region 18 Principal of the Year and multiple Campus of the Year awards. Shannon’s passion for education is rooted in a belief that every student deserves a quality education, which she continuously champions through her work.
Shannon holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from West Texas A&M University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Texas Tech University. A proud member of the Permian Basin community, Shannon and her husband, Wes—who serves as the Executive Director of Athletics—are proud parents to three children. Family and community are at the heart of everything she does, and she brings that same commitment to her role, working to build a stronger educational future for all students in the region.
Cindy Renteria
Executive Assistant
Cindy Renteria brings over 20 years of experience in administrative support to her role as Executive Assistant for the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin. Known for her expertise in executive coordination, communications, and HR support, Cindy has held key positions in both ECISD and MISD, most recently serving as Executive Assistant to the Chief Communications Officer/General Counsel at Midland ISD.
A proud West Texan, Cindy grew up in Odessa, graduated from Permian High School, and attended Odessa College. She has spent most of her life in the Permian Basin and is deeply connected to the community she serves.
Cindy is married to Louie Renteria, and together they share a blended family of 6 sons and 3 granddaughters. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, spending time with friends and family, and especially loved cheering on her sons as they played soccer growing up. You will find Cindy and Louie volunteering regularly at their home parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
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.
Shelby Smith
Early Childhood Action Network Coordinator
Shelby Smith is an experienced education professional and proud West Texas native, born and raised in Odessa, Texas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Abilene Christian University and later completed a master’s degree in Special Education from Sul Ross State University.
Shelby began her career in 2014 as an Early Childhood Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant with Ector County ISD. It was in this role that she developed a deep passion for early childhood education, recognizing the profound impact that early learning experiences have on a child’s long-term development. She went on to teach third grade in Midland ISD and has held additional roles in special education, including Resource Teacher, Educational Diagnostician, and most recently, Child Find Coordinator.
Shelby is committed to improving outcomes for young children and families in the Permian Basin. Through her work with the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin, she is focused on building stronger early childhood systems and increasing access to high-quality resources and supports across the region.
She is married to Cade Smith, and they have two children. In her spare time, Shelby enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and cheering on Texas Tech athletics.
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.