Implementing and maintaining a culture of excellence is what Chad Elms does.

Ronald Reagan famously said in 1967 that “freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction.”

Our nation depends on the next generation stepping up and preserving that freedom and it starts with educating our youth and preparing them for the challenges ahead.

Educating our youth is complex and there are many ideas on how that should be done. Making those decisions require strong leaders who can not only help cultivate an environment of excellence for our students, but be an example of what living a life of excellence looks like beyond the class room.

I can think of no greater example of what it looks like to live a life of excellence than Chad Elms. Although I have a bias being his cousin, there is no better person to be both the implementor and example of a culture of excellence for Stephenville ISD.

Implementing and maintaining a culture of excellence in a large organization is no easy job much like steering a large ship with a small rudder. Chad has proven he knows how to not only steer a large ship but build one as well.

He started a physical therapy practice in Helotes that through strong leadership and high level of customer care blossomed to 16 locations. The success landed his company on the Inc. 5000 list and being voted best place to work in San Antonio multiple years. Implementing and maintaining a culture of excellence is what he does.

Away from the office as a friend and family man he is also a great example of what a life well lived looks like. He is someone that students from SISD can look up to and see what the culmination of decades of sound decision making looks like from someone that walked the same hallways they are now.

Chad carries on a tradition started by our grandfather, G.K. Lewallen. “Papa Lew” was an extraordinarily successful businessman here in Erath County but he never lost his humility.

It is really refreshing to see extremely humble people like Chad not have to become “Mr. Wonderful” from Shark Tank to get ahead. Treating people with respect and exhibiting strong leadership skills with humility is what he does.

Chad Elms is someone I am proud to call family, proud to have as a friend and proud to be my choice for SISD School Board.

Sincerely,

Aaron Lewallen

Stephenville