A native Houstonian, Laurie Bricker is a graduate of the University of Texas, with a Bachelor of Education degree, and a graduate of the University of Houston, with a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Laurie currently works as a consultant and strategist for numerous clients – all related to education and the workforce. She is a retired Vice President with the Wall Street firm, Jefferies, and is a former teacher.For over 25 years, Laurie worked with families and corporations who were relocating to Houston to recommend the most effective schools for their children.

In July 2004, she was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and in 2010, she was appointed to the State Board for Educator Certification, then reappointed in 2013. She currently serves as secretary of that board.

She has served on the boards of Leadership Houston, Houston Holocaust Museum, YMCA of Greater Houston, Jewish Community Center, All Kids Alliance, American Leadership Forum, The University of Texas 40 Acres Scholars, and the University of Texas Library Board. Laurie chaired the K12 subcommittee of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Education Committee on which she also served. She currently serves on the University of Houston’s Dean of Education’s Advisory Council, Houston ISD’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Advisory Board. Laurie is a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum and is a member of the University of Texas Commission of 125.

As a passionate supporter of education and school reform, she was elected three times as a Trustee of the Houston Independent School District’s Board of Education for 8 ½ years, and served as President of the Board in both 1999 and 2002. She served as President of the Bonham Elementary PTO and Milne Elementary PTA, as well as on the boards of Welch Middle School, High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and Westbury High School. Laurie is a founder of the ADL’s No Place for Hate Youth Summit.

While serving on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, she was instrumental in founding the Greater Houston P16+ Council, which brings together educational, workforce, non-profit and other significant community leaders to create a seamless and relevant educational pipeline. During her term on the THECB, Laurie worked with the Board and Commissioner to support the statewide efforts of Closing the Gaps by 2015, and was honored to serve on the THECB’s State Higher Education Strategic Planning Committee that created 60X30 TX.

Laurie is a recipient of the Jewish Women International’s Good Heart Award, A Woman on the Move recipient, A SAVVY Award winner, and a recipient of the University of Houston’s College of Education Alumna Award.


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