Born and raised in Texas, Dr. Merrie Fox grew up in a large extended family that valued hard work, education, and community. Living in the Houston area as a child, Merrie played with siblings, friends, and cousins by riding bikes, exploring the neighborhood, creating games, and dreaming about their futures. Finances were often limited, but that didn't take away from family gatherings with homemade meals and lively rounds of card and board games or participation in community events including parades and school celebrations.

In 1982, Merrie and her immediate family moved to Canyon Lake to mitigate the impact that air pollution was having on her father, who had emphysema. She attended Mountain Valley (which was K-8 at the time) and Smithson Valley High School, graduating in 1987. During that time she excelled in athletics and began to grow her leadership skills through Student Council and as the Senior Class President. Merrie also worked throughout high and college to pay for a car, gas, insurance, tuition, and spending money.

Merrie graduated from Southwest Texas State University in 1992 with a Bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sports Science and a minor in Biology. Her first teaching job was at Smithson Valley Middle School. She had the privilege of working as a science teacher and coach for more than a decade and treasures those memories!

After earning a Master's degree in Education Administration from Texas State University in 2003, Merrie was hired as an assistant principal at Bill Brown Elementary. She went on to work as a middle school assistant principal and as a principal at both the elementary and middle school levels. During that time, she became involved with Raise Your Hand Texas (RYHT), a non-partisan organization that advocates for public education, and received a scholarship to attend a Summer Institute at Harvard's Principal Center in 2009. In 2018, Merrie not only earned her PhD in Educational Leadership from Northcentral University, but she was also selected by RYHT to serve as a Principal Legislative Fellow during the 86th legislative session.

Merrie retired from public education in June 2023 and now serves as the Executive Director of Circle Arts Theatre in New Braunfels. She has continued to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Riverside Pride, and her church choir, all of which bring her immense joy!

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