Sandy Kress is a partner with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld LLP, one of the nation's largest law firms. Sandy Kress' practice focuses on public law and policy at the state and national levels. Mr. Kress served as senior advisor to President Bush on Education with respect to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. He previously served as president of the board of trustees of the Dallas Public Schools. He has served on two statewide committees to recommend improvements to Texas public education. 

Appointed in 1998 by Governor George W. Bush, Mr. Kress serves on the Education Commission of the States. He has also served as counsel to the Governor's Business Council and Texans for Education, and as a member of the Texas Business & Education Coalition.

Mr. Kress was appointed by Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock to the Educational Economic Policy Center. He was later asked to chair the Center's Accountability Committee. This committee produced the public school accountability system that
was later adopted into Texas state law and recognized as one of the most advanced accountability systems in the nation. Mr. Kress was also appointed by Lieutenant Governor Bullock to serve on the Interim Committee to study the Texas Education Agency.

Prior to joining Akin Gump, Mr. Kress was a partner in the Dallas law firm of Johnson & Wortley, P.C. He also served as deputy assistant secretary for legislative affairs at the U.S. Treasury Department.

Mr. Kress received his A.B. in 1971 from the University of California, where he was
a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his J.D. with honors in 1975 from the University of Texas School of Law, where he served as president of the student government.

Mr. Kress is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the District of Columbia Bar, and is involved with many civic organizations. He serves on the board of directors of the Texas Business & Education Coalition and the Austin Area Research Organization.