BJ Nelson
Trustee

Betty Jo (B. J.) Box Nelson grew up in Houston, Ft. Worth, and finally in fifth grade moved to Sugar Land and finished her public school years graduating from Dulles High School in Ft. Bend ISD in 1984. She was a state-ranked tennis player and traveled throughout Texas playing tournaments.

She attended Baylor University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis on Health Education. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and served on many committees.

After graduating from Baylor, B. J. started a Real Estate Career in Houston. She then moved to the DFW area with her new husband, Scott Nelson. During her time in the Metroplex area, she served as a substitute teacher in multiple school districts and learned a lot about school dynamics through her interactions with teachers and administrators.

In 1994, she and her husband had their first of three children. They moved to the Houston area and then in 1999, they moved to Victoria for a wonderful career opportunity for Scott in the petrochemical industry.

B. J. volunteered tirelessly at any school where her children were attending from Presbyterian Day School, Chandler Elementary, Crain Middle School, Our Lady of Victory, Nazareth Academy, St. Joseph High School, and Victoria West High School. Their first child, Elizabeth, graduated from St. Joseph High School in 2013 and then received a Performing Arts degree from Texas A&M in College Station. Their second child, Randall, also, graduated from St. Joseph High School in 2015 and Texas A&M in College Station in 2019 receiving a degree in Construction Science. Their third child, Carter, graduated in 2023 from Victoria West High School and is going to attend Texas Lutheran University in the Fall of 2023 to pursue a degree in business and play football for the Bulldogs.

B.J. comes from a long line of educators as her grandmother and mother were both Education majors.  She feels that there is no higher calling than affecting the next generation. B. J. and her family attend Fellowship of the Crossroads and participate in small group leadership and teaching Sunday School.

In 2004, B.J. and Scott started a local trash company and have watched it grow and serve our community.

B. J. is also a Board member of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, on the Victoria Livestock Show committee, and a former member of Make Victoria Beautiful and the Victoria Junior League.

Being a new Trustee for VISD in 2023 is an exciting prospect for B. J. as she wants to use her no-nonsense views and common sense to bring a new vision for the future to the Board.