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University Registrar
Texas is a boomerang transplant to East Texas, returning to LeTourneau University after serving as Registrar at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth and as Registrar and Director of Institutional Research at Austin College in Sherman. Dr. Rüegg is a two-time alumnus of LeTourneau, earning both his graduate and undergraduate degrees in Business followed by a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Leadership from Northcentral University.
After losing his first wife to cervical cancer at age 35, only 6 months after the birth of their pre-mature son Lukas, Texas discovered the power of Post Traumatic Growth which has created the opportunity for him to share his testimony and the importance of work/life balance at leadership events and conferences around the country.
Dr. Rüegg’s presents from an accumulation of personal and professional experience that spans both public and private higher education as well as significant leadership roles in state, regional, and national professional organizations as well as serving on the board of his Rotary Club and on the board of the Nesbitt Fire Department.
Texas is an Eagle Scout, a firefighter, an avid cyclist, triathlete, and advocate for health and wellness as well as a certified Stephen Covey 7 Habits instructor and an award-winning public speaker and leadership trainer. Dr. Rüegg’s family has a long history of leadership in the East Texas community from his grandfather V.H. Hackney serving as Superintendent of Marshall ISD in the 60s to his uncle Howard Hackney serving as now retired president of Texas Bank and Trust. Dr. Ruegg carries that legacy forward through service at LeTourneau University and as incoming president-elect of the Longview-Greggton Rotary Club and Board Member of the Nesbitt Fire Department. His wife, Shana, works for Longview Regional Hospital as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and Co-chief of Anesthesia. They have two beautiful children at home, Lukas (9yrs) and Vivian (6yrs).
Founder/CEO of ECE Training Dynamics, LLC
Marlyn Kramer is the Founder/CEO of ECE Training Dynamics, LLC, a certified Child Care Health Consultant, an Ages and Stages Trainer, and a Master Registered Trainer with TECPDS. She has a master’s degree in early childhood special education and an undergraduate degree in early childhood education. She has taught in both the private and public education sector.
School Literacy & Culture, Rice University
Devin has worked in the early childhood field for over 10 years. Her educational background consists of an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood - fourth-grade education from Baylor University and a Leadership Certificate in Early Childhood Literacy from Rice University’s School Literacy and Culture. She was a part of the School Literacy and Culture Early Literacy Leadership Academy (ELLA) for cohort one and has continued with the project as a mentor teacher for the Developing Oral Language, Storytelling Project, and the ELLA programs. Devin has worked in Houston ISD in both traditional classrooms and as a specialist in an Oral Language Development Lab as part of a collaboration with Rice SLC. She is currently a seminar leader with Rice SLC.
Lead Trainer & Owner of Confident Director
Debbie Tonne Jones is the lead trainer and owner of Confident Director, which provides in-depth courses and a networking community for directors. She enjoys guiding directors and teachers to reach their unique potential in their professional roles. She has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education, including 18 years as a director and administrator, with experience working with faith-based and secular programs. Debbie received her Bachelor of Arts with teaching certification from Howard Payne University, she hold a Texas director certificate, and and she has continued to grow and learn through courses, conferences, professional literature, and train the trainer events. She maintains active membership in NAEYC/SECA/TXAEYC and the ELEA. She enjoys training, including her own staff, staff of other centers, as well presenting at the annual Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA) National Administrator & Pastor Conference, the annual Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA) Conference, and the annual Texas Association for Education of Young Children (TXAEYC) Conference. She also enjoyed several years (pre-COVID) of planning and hosting the annual Region 4 ELEA Conference to provide quality training for directors and teachers in faith-based programs.