Going Up

In this episode of the Going Up Podcast, rotating host, Skylar Gallop interviews AmTech Principal, Dr. Jay Barrett. Jay Barrett is principal at both Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning (AACAL) and Amarillo Virtual Academy—positions within the Amarillo Independent School District (AISD) he has held since 2008. Barrett was appointed on June 15, 2015, to fill an unexpired two-year term on the AC Board of Regents, a term of service extending through April of 2017.  In May of 2017, he won the election to the board for a six-year term in a field of nine candidates. An administrator within AISD since 1991, Barrett previously has served as principal at Travis Middle School and Forest Hill Elementary School, and he has worked administratively at both Palo Duro and Tascosa high schools. Barrett is no stranger to public service.  He presently is serving on the Board of Directors of the Panhandle Workforce Development Board and is Secretary of the Community College Association of Texas Trustees.  He also serves as a deacon of First Baptist Church in Amarillo and is a member of the Board of Directors of Maverick Boys and Girls Club of Amarillo. Barrett was HEB Secondary Principal of the Year for the North Texas Region in 2019 and was the winner of the Elbert K. Fretwell Outstanding Educator Award presented by Boys Scouts in 2019.

In the next episode of the Going Up Podcast rotating host, Sabrina Meck Perez interviews local lawyer and nonprofit founder, Eric Matthews. In the interview, Eric discusses the nontraditional path his career and passions have taken him. Eric Matthews' bio: Eric Matthews is a husband, father of three, and attorney in Amarillo, Texas. Eric and his wife, Kimberly, founded and operate 25:35 Water, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that drills water wells and provides food and medical supplies to impoverished areas of Uganda, Africa. Since its inception in 2016, 25:35 Water has drilled more than 60 water wells across Uganda! Professionally, Eric is a corporate attorney at Brown & Fortunato, specializing in mergers and acquisitions (legal-speak for buying and selling businesses), business formations, and corporate governance. He is an Amarillo transplant from the distant city of Lubbock, where he was born and raised. Apparently, only Amarillo could pull him away from Lubbock, as he also earned his undergraduate and law degrees there at Texas Tech University. Eric is an avid traveler, below average CrossFitter, crypto junkie, and, perhaps, unfortunately, lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan. Eric and Kimberly spend most of their time wrangling their three kids: Layla, RJ, and Sunny.

In the premiere episode of the Going Up Podcast rotating host, Skylar Gallop, interviews Texas State Representative, Four Price. In the episode, Price discusses how his role as a leader has evolved throughout his career in public service. *Video versions of episodes are exclusive to Elevate Amarillo members, podcast recordings will be made public one week later.* Four Price's bio: State Representative Four Price, a fourth-generation Texan from Amarillo, has the privilege of serving as the results-oriented voice for constituents residing in five Texas Panhandle counties – Carson, Hutchinson, Moore, Potter and Sherman. In 2020, Price was elected to a sixth term in the Texas House of Representatives where he continues to vigorously advocate for the betterment of the Texas Panhandle and the entire Lone Star State. Representative Price serves on the House Public Health Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee. Price also co-chairs the Health and Human Services Transition Legislative Oversight Committee which was established pursuant to legislation he sponsored. Price also served on the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission for four years, including two of those years as vice-chairman, where he led the Commission's House member delegation. These committees provide Representative Price with additional leadership opportunities in helping influence and shape significant public policy on numerous matters directly impacting the well-being of Texans on a daily basis – the delivery of healthcare services and the sustainability of a reliable water supply. Price believes that access to quality healthcare and clean water, along with sound public education and higher education opportunities, are foundational to the quality of life, job growth and the prosperity of individual Texans and their communities. He further believes that they are especially essential to the sustainability of rural Texas. In the 2021 Regular Legislative Session, Price authored and passed into law significant legislation regarding telemedicine and telehealth, House Bill 4, and the further strengthening of mental health parity through House Bill 2595. Also, Price helped shape the future of broadband infrastructure in Texas as one of four joint authors of House Bill 5. Additionally, he was the primary House sponsor of Senate Bill 1474, which could aid in the further development of Interstate 27 in Texas.