Board of Trustees Bios
Cassandra Hatfield
Background and Education
Mrs. Hatfield grew up in Texas public schools and graduated from Rockwall High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Texas teaching certification in 4th – 8th grade mathematics from Texas A&M University – Commerce. Later in her educational career she went on to earn an M.Ed. in Leadership of Learning with a K-12 Principal certification, an ESL certification, and a specialization in conflict resolution. Additionally, she has taken additional coursework to round out a Kinder - 4th grade master math teacher certification, with an emphasis in coaching.
Public Service
Mrs. Hatfield was elected to the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Board of Trustees in May 2021. During the 2022-2023 school year, Mrs. Hatfield earned the designation of Master Trustee through the completion of Leadership TASB. Prior to the 88th Legislative Session, Mrs. Hatfield also served on the TASB Legislative Advisory Council. Before serving as a Trustee, she served on the District Improvement Council and a Campus Improvement Committee. Additionally, she has served roles on her children’s school PTA. Outside of the district, Mrs. Hatfield has served on the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas STEM Advisory Board and was a Girl Scout Troop Cookie Manager for six years.
Professional and Personal
Mrs. Hatfield is currently serving a dual role as the Director of Operations and Senior Research Project Manager for a research unit at Southern Methodist University. In her role she has managed more than a dozen corporate, state, and federal STEM education research grants focused on student interventions, assessment development or teacher and leader training. Additionally, she supports entry level project managers in honing their leadership skills. Prior to SMU, Mrs. Hatfield spent 8 years in public education in various roles, including teaching elementary and middle school mathematics. She was also an elementary mathematics specialist and three of her years in this role were spent in CFBISD.
Cassandra and her husband, Scott, have two active children who have engaged in the CFBISD Dual Language program. Their oldest attends Blalack Middle School and is active in theater and Girl Scouts. Their youngest attends Stark Elementary and enjoys multiple sports.
Kim Brady
Background and Education
Kim Brady has been an active member of the CFBISD community for over ten years and a resident for twenty years. She graduated from Texas Christian University with bachelor's and master's degrees in special education.
Public Service
Since becoming a mom in 2006, Kim has been highly involved in the CFB community while working as a Special Education & 504 Advocate for students in public school. As a PTA member for over ten years, she has served on several PTA boards in various roles and was twice awarded the PTA Life Member Award.
Ms. Brady serves on several CFB committees, including the Bond Committee, District Improvement Committee, the Student Health Advisory Committee, and more. She is an active volunteer at many events throughout the district.
Professional and Personal
Ms. Brady has served as a middle school special education teacher and a special education coordinator. During her time as a classroom teacher, she was awarded Teacher of the Year.
Kim and her husband Neil were married in 2002 and have two children, Scotty and Casey. Scotty is a Newman Smith High School trojan, and Casey is a Creekview High School mustang. Since kindergarten, the Brady kids have thrived in CFBISD through academics, sports, and the fine arts. The Brady family are very active members at Christ United Methodist Church in Farmers Branch.
Ileana Garza-Rojas
Background and Education
Ileana Garza-Rojas is a 1st generation born and raised in Texas. She graduated from Garland High School and then attended community college at Dallas College before attending Texas Woman's University. She earned her degree in Government with an emphasis in legal studies. Upon graduation, she and her wife moved to Farmers Branch, Texas, to set their roots.
Public Service
Prior to serving on the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Board of Trustees, Ileana served on the Equity and Equality Task Force Committee and was the co-chair of the Student Health Advisory Committee. She has also served on her child's school PTA as a chair for Movie Night and was a homeroom parent and grade level parent. Ileana also was co-manager for Destination Imagination.
Additionally, Ileana has been a Dallas CASA advocate for over ten years, working with children in the foster system. She is one of the lead committee members for Rainbow Roundup in Dallas County and has hosted National Night Out within her neighborhood as a community liaison.
Professional and Personal
Ileana has pressed her way forward in the legal field. In 2005, she started as a file clerk in a small law firm. Since then, her strong work ethic has allowed her to advance through several positions within the legal field with various companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. In 2018, Ileana started her own freelance paralegal business specializing in insurance defense, personal injury and contracts.
Ileana is an actively involved parent. She encourages her children to explore and learn inside and outside a traditional classroom setting. Ileana loves to travel, read self-empowerment books, volunteering and spending time with family and friends.
Marjorie Barnes
Background and Education
Marjorie Barnes was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. In 2003, Marjorie moved back to DFW and worked as a technical writer. She moved to Farmers Branch with her husband in 2009.
Public Service
Marjorie became involved in the district through her children’s elementary school PTA. She has served in many
different leadership roles in her PTAs as well as secretary of the CFB Council PTA. In 2023, she was honored with the PTA Lifetime Award for her service. Marjorie served on a Campus Improvement Committee as the PTA representative. She continues to volunteer and support through PTA.
Professional and Personal
Marjorie is self-employed, doing contract work in copy editing and bookkeeping. She also teaches 1st grade Sunday School for her church and enjoys running with the running group she helped start in Farmers Branch.
Marjorie and her husband, Tyler, have three daughters. All three have attended CFBISD schools since Kindergarten and thrived with the many opportunities offered through the district. Their oldest attends R.L. Turner High School. Their second daughter is a Vivian Field MS Viking. The youngest daughter attends Stark Elementary.
Carolyn Benavides
Background and Education
Carolyn Benavides is a 4th generation Texan who grew up in South Carrollton. A CFBISD Alumni, she attended Central Elementary, Dewitt Perry Middle School and earned her diploma from R.L. Turner in 1983. She has earned numerous business and accounting related certifications during her career.
Public Service
As a long-standing philanthropist, she has served the Carrollton-Farmers Branch community, as well as Denton, Navarro, and Fairfield Counties, for many years.
She has served as the treasurer for eight years for the Farmers Branch Little League and ten years with the CFB Soccer Association. She has also served on the CFBISD Educational Foundation board for ten years and five years on the Metrocrest Hospital Authority board.
Carolyn is the Chief Officer for the Benavides Family Charity, serving twenty-four years as an advocate for children, seniors, veterans, and refugees. She is a respected leader and coordinator in the community, bringing together several civic, community, and religious organizations to serve those in need.
Professional and Personal
Carolyn is the Owner/Operator of Joe's Pizza in South Carrollton and a bookkeeper for American TTS, Inc.
Concurrently she serves as the Chief Officer for the Benavides Family Charity organization. Her former roles include President, LBJ Trucking Co., Inc., and bookkeeper for Ramirez Trucking.
She is the proud wife of forty years to her high school sweetheart and a mother of four sons and grandmother.
Paul Gilmore
Background and Education
Paul Gilmore is a CFBISD alumnus who grew up in Carrollton, attending Central Elementary, Dewitt Perry Middle School, and graduating from R.L. Turner High School, Class of ’89,where he also met his wife. He served in the United States Army and went on to a career in law enforcement before entering the world of real estate. Throughout his career, Paul has earned numerous business-related certifications tied to both his police service and real estate work. His foundation in discipline, leadership, and service began early and continues to guide his work today.
Public Service
Paul’s life has been defined by service, from the Army to law enforcement, and now as a trustee for CFBISD. He believes that students and families deserve honesty, accountability, and leadership that doesn't flinch under pressure. Paul advocates for parent involvement, responsible decision making, and a focus on preparing kids for the real world—not just standardized tests. He brings a direct, grounded voice to the board with one goal in mind: doing what’s best for students.
Professional and Personal
Paul leads a real estate team in the DFW metroplex, specializing in both residential, commercial and investment properties. He is also a mentor to fellow agents and a trusted advisor to homeowners facing difficult circumstances. Outside of his professional life, Paul is a husband, father of four daughters, and proud grandfather of three boys. He believes in faith, family, and showing up—every single time.
Cinthya Noda Vazquez
Background and Education
Cinthya Noda is a proud graduate of Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD. She attended Central Elementary School, DeWitt Perry Middle School, and R.L. Turner High School before earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas Woman’s University.
After beginning her career in marketing, Cinthya pursued an alternative teaching certification and discovered her passion for education. She later earned a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Bilingual Education from Texas Tech University.
Public Service
As a lifelong member of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch community, Cinthya believes strong schools are built through meaningful partnerships among educators, families, and community members. In May 2026, she was elected to serve on the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Board of Trustees. Prior to serving on the Board, Cinthya participated in a School Project Design Committee in her children's school district, collaborating with parents, educators, and community members to provide input on the design of learning spaces that support student success.
Professional and Personal
Over the past 14 years, Cinthya has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and currently as a Bilingual Coordinator supporting elementary campuses. Her work focuses on strengthening literacy instruction, supporting multilingual learners, and helping educators provide high-quality learning experiences that promote student success.
In addition to supporting teachers and campus leaders, Cinthya has designed and facilitated professional learning opportunities and has presented at educational conferences, sharing best practices in bilingual education, literacy, and instructional leadership.
Outside of her professional commitments, Cinthya serves as a bilingual wedding officiant and enjoys spending time with her family, including her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Kora. She can often be found hiking, camping, and creating new outdoor adventures with her children and Kora.