of the Month
August 2017Meet Ashley Paz
Trustee at Fort Worth Independent School District
“Fort Worth schools are known for ‘random acts of excellence.’ We need schools that are great across the board and that is what I have spent the last four years working to achieve.”
Meet August’s Fort Worth Woman! Ashley Paz has always been a part of business ventures that reflect her moral values which include personal and social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and cultural awareness. She originally launched her career in local event planning and brand management but has now been elected to the Fort Worth ISD Board of Education. Ashley believes that it is our responsibility to leave something great to pass on to the next generations. She ran for the school board as soon as she became concerned about what kind of educational opportunities were being created for the children in our city as her own daughters Vera (9) and Vivian (6) are attending FWISD schools. Her mission is deeply personal.
Ashley describes that “Fort Worth schools are known for ‘random acts of excellence.’ We need schools that are great across the board and that is what I have spent the last four years working to achieve.” In order to do this Ashley has had to look at leadership outside the typical box to explore different examples of doing business. She has found mentors that span across the country thanks to an organization called Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS). She has grown through the ranks of this organization over the years, escalating into their leadership structure. Leading this organization has enabled her to sharpen her own skills while also giving her the opportunity to bring back millions of dollars’ worth of resources to our FWISD every year.
Ashley loves that Fort Worth “boasts a rich and diverse culture, as well as people who are willing to put in the work to continue the trend. From Historic Stop Six to Near Southside and The Stockyards in the Northside, our city has a rich history and people working to preserve it.” She also boasts about the active philanthropic community working to give back to numerous social causes in our city.
When asked about her one word that describes her impact as a businesswoman on Fort Worth she referenced her social entrepreneurship. From the first day she opened her event planning business in 2006 Ashley has been focused on a socially responsible career which has allowed her to consistently adapt to the changing social needs of whatever market she is serving. There is a social entrepreneurship movement growing across our city and Ashley has definitely paved the way for so many in this regard. Ashley, thank you for who you are, the impact you have made on our city, and the ways you are improving FWISD for future generations!