McKinney ISD Board of Trustees: (L–R) Trustee Corey Homer, Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Vice President Harvey Oaxaca, Trustee Jennifer Gray, President Amy Dankel, Secretary Lynn Sperry, Trustee Kenneth Ussery, Trustee Larry Jagours
McKINNEY, Texas — August 17, 2026— The McKinney Independent School District Board of Trustees has appointed longtime McKinney resident, parent, community volunteer and former district employee Jennifer Gray to fill the vacant Place 6 seat following the resignation of Trustee Stephanie O’Dell.
The Board approved Gray’s appointment during a special meeting on August 17, 2026. She will serve through the remainder of the term.
“Jennifer has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to McKinney ISD and to public education through years of service to our schools and community,” said Board President Amy Dankel. “Her experience as an MISD parent, volunteer, committee member and employee gives her a valuable perspective on the work of the district. We appreciate her willingness to serve McKinney ISD in this important role.”
Jennifer Gray, McKinney ISD Board of Trustees, Place 6
Gray has called McKinney home since 1995 and brings decades of involvement with McKinney ISD. The parent of two MISD graduates, she has served in leadership and volunteer roles across the district, including as a Walker Elementary PTA board member and president; a McGowen Elementary PTA board member; a McKinney Boyd High School PTO board member; and a McKinney Boyd Orchestra Booster Club board member and president. In 2015, she was named a Volunteer of the Year by both McKinney Boyd High School and the McKinney Boyd High School Orchestra Booster Club.
Her district service also includes membership on the McKinney ISD District Site-Based Decision Making Committee and campus site-based decision-making committees at McKinney Boyd High School, McGowen Elementary, and Malvern Elementary. Gray has also participated in several district bond and facilities initiatives, serving on the 2015 MISD Bond Committee and as a PAC co-chair, the 2021 MISD Bond Committee and PAC, the 2025 MISD Facility Alignment Committee, and the 2025 MISD Bond Committee.
Gray’s connection to McKinney ISD extends to her professional experience. She served the district as a substitute teacher from 2020–2021, a library aide at McGowen Elementary from 2021–2024, and campus secretary at Malvern Elementary from 2024 until her retirement in June 2026 to become the primary caregiver for her first grandchild.
Beyond MISD, Gray has been active in the broader McKinney and Collin County community. Her service includes membership in McKinney Community Action Network and service on the board of Public Schools First McKinney. She was a founding co-lead chapter leader for the North Dallas Chapter of the Travis Manion Foundation from 2023–2025, participated in the Raise Your Hand Texas Community Leader Fellowship, and currently volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), supporting foster children in Collin County.
Gray earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from East Texas State University, now East Texas A&M University. Before joining McKinney ISD, she worked as a paralegal from 1994–2020, spending nearly 20 years working in McKinney and specializing primarily in family law.
Public education has also been a longstanding part of Gray’s family. Her parents served as public school teachers and administrators for a combined 74 years, and her grandfather served as a school board trustee in Dalby Springs, Texas. One of Gray’s two children is now a special education teacher at McKinney Boyd High School. Her other child is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran pursuing a biology degree with plans to attend medical school.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the students, staff, families and community of McKinney ISD as a member of the Board of Trustees,” Gray said. Gray will be sworn in at the McKinney ISD School Board meeting on September 14, 2026.
The vacancy was created by the resignation of Stephanie O’Dell at tonight’s special Board meeting. The Board accepted the resignation and is thankful for the service of Mrs. O’Dell. We will honor Mrs. O’Dell at the September meeting as well. Mrs. O’Dell states, “It is time for this chapter of my life to come to a close. I am grateful for the trust our community placed in me and for the relationships and memories I will carry with me. I know McKinney ISD is in good hands with leaders who are committed to doing what is best for our children and our community. While my time on the school board is ending, my commitment to McKinney is not. I look forward to continuing to volunteer on our campuses and throughout our wonderful community.”