Our Pillars
High Expectations 
Our curriculum promotes the critical thinking, problem solving, writing and technical skills necessary to pursue young dreams.
Individualized Support
We collect scholar achievement data to make informed decisions on the pace and appropriateness of learning plans for every scholar.
More Classroom Time
Our longer school days and longer school year add 259 hours of classroom instruction annually, providing more opportunities for scholar learning and growth.
Teachers as Leaders
We focus on recruiting the best educators and empower them to shape curriculum and school culture.
Parents as Partners
We view parents as partners in their children’s education. Parents receive regular updates on their child’s progress and opportunities to participate both at home and at school.
Safe & Nurturing Community
Our schools are safe and stimulating learning environments. We unite school and community through our Parent Advocacy Committee and after school partnerships.
What Makes Austin Achieve Unique
Rigorous College Readiness
Our high school scholars attend an hour-long college prep class every day. This four-year class series will empower them to enroll, persist, and thrive at the best-fit universities.
Teaching Beyond the Classroom
Our "whole child" approach includes guidance counseling, restorative justice, and family-based social services. Free after-school programs provide scholars with further opportunities to hone leadership skills and pursue academic excellence.
Conquering the Digital Divide
Scholars learn two programming languages via daily classes in digital literacy and coding, supported by our 1:1 scholar-to-computer ratio. Our programming curriculum includes Snap!, Python, and Java.
Restorative Practice
Our Restorative Practice program includes peer-to-peer mentoring, community service, and college and career lunch events to encourage leadership and emotional preparedness. Our zero suspension policy ensures at-risk scholars stay in school.
Kindergarten Readiness
Academic success starts long before kindergarten. Our full-day Pre-K programming is designed to cultivate the social and emotional skills necessary to develop a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Commitment to Diversity & Social Justice
Designed within a social justice framework, our language arts and humanities curriculum aims to broaden scholar perspectives and develop informed global citizens. We challenge scholars of all ages to think critically about equity issues in our society relating to race, class, gender identity, sexuality, and ability.
What is a Charter School?
Charter schools are public, tuition-free, and open to all students. Unlike a traditional one-size-fits-all approach to education, public charter schools put the needs of students first by giving them the time and personalized attention they need to really learn. Charter schools are given greater flexibility to serve students’ individual needs, and with that flexibility comes greater oversight than traditional public schools. They are held accountable to high financial, academic, and managerial standards by oversight boards made up of parents, teachers, and community members. Charter schools currently educate 6% of Texas public school students, but make up more than 60% of A-rated districts in the state
Scholars & Families
Are charter schools private schools?
No. Charter schools in Texas are required to adhere to specific enrollment rules and regulations outlined by the Texas Education Agency. Austin Achieve currently serves a broad cross-section of scholars with a variety of academic and social & emotional needs.
Do charter schools "weed out" low performing scholars through discipline or suspensions?
We have a zero suspension program so that our most struggling scholars stay in school at all times. With this program, we ensure all scholars have access to the academic and emotional supports they need to stay in school at Austin Achieve.
Do charter schools offer special education programs?
Yes. In fact, 13% of scholars at Austin Achieve receive special education services. This is a higher percentage of special education scholars than in the Austin Independent School District.
Operation & Structure
Are failing charter schools allowed to continue to operate?
No. Charter schools are required to adhere to the public school accountability system and are held to higher standards than traditional public schools. If a charter school receives a negative accountability rating for three consecutive years, the school will be subject to closure. Traditional public schools are not subject to this “three strikes, you’re out” rule.
Do charter schools want to remove the need for traditional public schools?
No. At Austin Achieve, we recognize that some traditional public schools do not meet the needs of all scholars. Charter schools exist to provide those scholars alternatives, and also create competition with surrounding schools.
Why do we need charter schools? How do charter schools increase the quality of education?
The larger goal is for all schools to be high-performing, and when charters share their innovation and best practices, it helps foster education reform which benefits all scholars no matter which school they attend.
Funding
Some people say charter schools divert funds from regular public schools. Is this true?
Charter schools receive state and federal funding based on the number of scholars enrolled at the school, and public funding follows each scholar. If a scholar is enrolled at a charter school, public funds flow to the charter. However, charter schools in Texas receive $1,200 less per scholar per year than traditional public schools.
Do charter schools pay their teachers less than traditional public schools?
We are proud to say we pay our teachers nearly 10% more than traditional schools in our area and provide paid maternity leave, an on-site daycare, and a variety of other benefits that aren’t found at other traditional or charter schools.
Board of Directors
The Austin Achieve Board of Directors is the steward of our mission, vision and goals. Dedicated to strategic growth, the board provides leadership and guidance to ensure Austin Achieve continues to thrive as a premier charter campus.
Required Postings & Documents
Board Meeting Agendas & Minutes Board Position Description Commissioner of Education Rules ESSER III Federal Grant Funding ESSER Use of Funds ESSER Use of Funds (Spanish) ESSER Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan ESSER Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (Spanish) Information on Delayed or Denied Evaluations & Compensatory Services Media Releases Notice of Procedural Safeguards Parent’s Guide to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Process Policies & Official Documents Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, and Copyright Public Information Act Public Notices Resources on Special Education in Texas SBOE Rules SBEC Rules Senate Bill 139 - Information for Families Texas Transition and Employment Guide Texas Transition and Employment Guide (Spanish) Title IX-
James Nortey
Board Chair
James Nortey
Board Chair
JD, Harvard Law School
Mr. Nortey is an Associate at Duggins Wren Mann & Romero, LLP. His practice includes commercial litigation, commercial transactions, administrative law, and energy matters. Mr. Nortey provides legal, business, and policy solutions to clients in regulatory proceedings before state agencies in Texas.
Born in Dallas and raised in El Paso, James is the son of two immigrants from Ghana in West Africa. He attended Baylor University in Waco where he studied Philosophy and Criminal Justice. Afterwards, James attended law school at Harvard University. He interned for Attorney General Greg Abbott and worked for City Council Member Sheryl Cole before becoming an attorney. As a young child, James was blessed by a community of devoted parents, educators, ministers and civic leaders. As a young adult, he was always grateful to his mentors for honing his leadership skills and developing his natural curiosity for knowledge. Now, as a young professional, he is empowered to reinvest the blessings bestowed upon him to help open doors of opportunity for others.
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Thomas I. Queen Jr.
Vice Chair
Thomas I. Queen Jr.
Vice Chair
JD, University of Richmond; BA, History, James Madison University.
Thomas was recently selected by Best Lawyers in America® as 2018 Austin Lawyer of the Year for Mergers and Acquisitions. In 2017, Best Lawyers in America® selected Thomas as Austin Lawyer of the Year for Corporate Law.
Prior to co-founding Queen Saenz + Schutz, Thomas was a partner with Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody, where he served as practice group leader for the firm’s corporate practice. Following law school, Thomas clerked for the Hon. Robert G. Doumar (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia) before working as a corporate attorney for the international law firm of Hunton & Williams.
Thomas is a member of both the Texas and Virginia bars, and previously served as the Chair of the M&A Committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. At the national level, Thomas is an active member of the American Bar Association’s M&A Committee, having served as a member of the ABA’s “Deal Points” task force for the last 10 years. Thomas has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® (by Woodward White, Inc.) since 2014 in the areas of Corporate Law, Corporate Governance Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. He has also been listed in Super Lawyers® (a Thompson Reuters service) since 2014.
When he is not working on a deal, Thomas enjoys spending time with his wife, Sarah, and their two young daughters. Thomas received his law degree from the University of Richmond—where he was editor-in-chief of the University of Richmond Law Review and presented with the Charles T. Norman Award for Most Outstanding Overall Graduate—and a B.A. in History, with honors, from James Madison University.
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Kathrin Brewer
Secretary
Kathrin Brewer
Secretary
BS, Chemical Engineering, University of California Berkeley
Kathrin is an award-winning CEO, thought leader and visionary who earned national recognition for her work at the intersection of technology and education. An acknowledged leader of innovation in education, she retired as superintendent and CEO of KIPP Austin Public Schools in 2011 after a decade of public service. As executive director of Austin Partners in Education, Kathrin developed a new model for student …
and community engagement to accelerate student learning, which gained endorsement from the National Education Association. She arrived in Austin in 1984 to join the growing semiconductor industry and held several engineering and management roles, moving toward the practice of leadership in maximizing the potential of organizations and communities. As a semiconductor executive, Kathrin created a nationally recognized college bridge and internship program to build technical capacity in the Austin workforce. An involved community leader and Leadership Austin graduate, Kathrin serves on for-profit and nonprofit boards focused on education and professional growth, and recently joined the Make-a-Wish foundation as president and CEO of the Central and South Texas region. Along with her husband, she proudly supports her daughter on the University of Michigan and USRowing crews.
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Jonathan Pearce
Treasurer
Jonathan Pearce
Treasurer
MPA; BBA, Accounting, University of Texas at Austin
Jonathan joined Blue Sage Capital in 2013. Previously, he worked as a Senior Associate at Avista Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm with $4 billion under management, specializing in investments primarily in growth oriented energy, healthcare, communications & media, industrial and consumer companies.
Prior to Avista, he worked as an Analyst in Credit Suisse’s Global Energy Group in Houston where he advised on mergers, acquisitions, financings and other strategic advisory assignments in the sector. He also previously worked as an Analyst in the Private Bank at J.P. Morgan Chase where he was responsible for a variety of investment and financial advisory services to high net worth clients.
Jonathan graduated from The University of Texas with MPA and BBA degrees in Accounting from the Master in Professional Accounting Program and a minor in Finance. He is a Certified Public Accountant.
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Kyle Clark
Kyle Clark
MEd, Education Administration, University of Texas at Austin; BA, Psychology with a Certificate in African and African-American Studies, Oklahoma State University
board@austinachieve.org
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BiNi Coleman
BiNi Coleman
MBA, Business Management,
University of Phoenix; B.A., Journalism with a specialization in Public Relations,
University of Texas at AustinBiNi has over 20 years of business administration and financial management experience. She has been leading innovative best practices reflected in the community impact work currently underway across Central Texas and beyond.
As founder and CEO of 212 Catalysts, BiNi currently provides consulting services to nonprofit organizations, corporations, education systems, and government agencies, to help them improve their mission-critical business operations.
BiNi was a member of the University of Texas Women’s Volleyball team, and is now a happy wife and mother living in amazement of her beautiful 4-year-old daughter.
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Andy Greenawalt
Andy Greenawalt
MS, Industrial Engineering (with honors), Lehigh University; BS, Mathematics (with honors), Millersville University
Andy retired from Dell Computer Corporation in September 2000 after a successful 24-year career in information technology. He has since directed his efforts toward various personal projects, volunteer efforts and consulting. Primarily focused on education, he serves on two advisory councils at the University of Texas-Austin and one at his alma mater, Lehigh University, chairing two of them. He co-chairs an advisory task force for the UTeach program in the College of Natural Sciences at UT-Austin and is active with various nonprofits throughout the Austin area. While at Dell, Andy served for seven years in various capacities as IT vice president and Group CIO at Dell. From 1991 to 1993, he was vice president, Processing Services, at the Continuum Company (now CSC Financial Services). His IT career began in 1976 at Air Products and Chemicals in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he served 15 years in different IT and general management roles.
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Temp Keller
Temp Keller
MBA, Business Administration, University of Chicago; BA, Politics, Princeton University
Temp is a K-12 education entrepreneur who’s launching a new student-curated learning lab model, largely informed by his work in 2012 as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Austin’s Acton Academy. He is the former managing director of Innovations for Learning, as well as founder, former president and chairman of Resources for Indispensable Schools and Educators (RISE). In 2004, Temp was awarded the Ashoka Fellowship, one of only 150 social entrepreneurs in the U.S. to be recognized for “innovative, entrepreneurial solutions to some of the world’s most pressing social problems.” Prior to RISE, Temp taught 5th grade at East Palo Alto Charter School in California. Temp lives in Austin with wife Kerry and their two children.
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Michael Lofton
Michael Lofton
Michael Lofton is a well-known Austin philanthropist, whose influence
and passion has significantly impacted a host of at-risk populations
including youths and families throughout the greater Austin area.
Michael’s activism initially took flight in 1993 with the debut of the
“Michael Lofton Talk Show” which aired weekly on public television.
The show provided Michael a platform to relay educational information
to disenfranchised communities while instilling positive attributes
including self-esteem, respect, and equality.
In 2005 Michael spearheaded a group of parents, educators, mentors and community leaders alike
to address the growing concern taking shape on both a local and national level. The concerns
centered on the low high school graduation rates for African American and Hispanic male
students- which were in contrast to the overrepresentation of this population regarding expulsions
and suspensions. As a result, Michael Lofton and the community members involved created the
African American Men and Boys Conference (AAMBC). The goal of the conference was to have
African American men serve as mentors to help impart the value of education to elementary,
middle and high school aged young men. Since its inception, over 100 conferences have been
held.
Due to the success of the AAMBC, the first African American Women and Girls Conference was
held in 2007. Both conferences were inspired and fueled by Michael’s belief that a community
working together by engaging parents, students and providing the proper resources, can make a
positive impact.
Michael Lofton also serves as the driving force behind the creation of the African American Youth
Harvest Foundation (AAYHF), which originally stemmed from the success of the African
American Men and Boys Foundation. 2011 marked the opening of the African American Youth
Resource Center (AAYRC). The goal of the AAYRC is to serve as a central location for those
youth and adults primarily in Northeast Austin and Northeast Travis County to receive programs
such as summer camps, technology and STEM training and overall academic enrichment. In 2012,
one year after AAYHF’s opening, over 3500 youth and adults have participated in conferences
and/or received social services. Since AAYHF's inception, approximately 70% of the clients have
been African American, 25% Hispanic and 5% Caucasian. In 2013 and 2014, over 8500 youth and
families accessed services through AAYRC.
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Christine Nishimura
Christine Nishimura
JD, University of Texas at Austin; BA, History and Political Science, University of Michigan
Christine, originally from Southern California, is an education and student advocate. Christine started her education career as a Teach For America corps member, teaching upper elementary school is Los Angeles. Christine took her experience from the classroom with her to law school, where she focused her learning in education law and policy. Following law school, Christine earned an Equal Justice Works Fellowship to work at Disability Rights Texas as a special education attorney advocating for appropriate, and culturally responsive interventions for low-income families. Christine also worked at the Texas Public Charter Schools Association as the Director of Legal and Policy Services as well as General Counsel, advising charter schools throughout the state and advocating for more equitable policies at the Texas Legislature.
In 2019, Christine became the founding Executive Director of Teach For America Austin, the first alumni focused region. Under her leadership, Teach For America Austin is focused on supporting and developing equity-minded leaders prepared to meet the needs of ALL Austin students and ensure all students have the opportunity to learn, live, and thrive in Austin.
Christine earned a B.A. from The University of Michigan and a J.D. from The University of Texas. Christine lives in Southeast Austin with her husband and toddler son.
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Austin Rodriguez
Austin Rodriguez
MBA Candidate; BA, Government, University of Texas at Austin
board@austinachieve.org
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Catherine P. Thompson
Catherine P. Thompson
BBA, Accounting, University of Texas at Austin
Catherine Thompson was CEO and co-Chair of the Board of Motion Computing from March 2011 until December 2014. As CEO, she worked closely with Motion’s Board of Directors in setting strategic goals. She oversaw the company activities focused on innovation and industry leadership. She identified and recommended her successor.
Cathy joined Motion in 2009 at the COO with responsibilities of operations, service, finance and legal. She led the focus on Customer Experience as a key differentiator.
Prior to joining Motion, Ms. Thompson served in various leadership roles with Dell. She began her career with Dell in 1993 as Vice President, Internal Audit. She also held roles as Vice President and Corporate Controller, Vice President of Business Operations, Vice President of Customer Support for the Relationship Business, Vice President of the Global Customer program and Vice President of Finance/CFO for the Americas and various other business units.
Before joining Dell, Ms. Thompson was a partner at the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen where she was the director of the Dallas/Ft. Worth telecommunications and utilities audit and financial consulting practices. She served as an expert witness before administrative agencies and the Texas legislature.
Earlier in her career, Cathy was on the staff of the Public Utility Commission of Texas and a staff accountant with Haskins and Sells (now Deloitte).
Cathy is a Certified Public Accountant and received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Texas. She is a board member of Ballet Austin and the Capital Area Food Bank. She has served as a judge for the TCU Values and Ventures Competition, a panelist for the Austin Technology Council CEO forum and an Executive in Residence at Tarleton State University, a member of the Texas A&M University System.
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Steve Clark
Board Member Emeritus
Steve Clark
Board Member Emeritus
MBA, Business Administration, Harvard Business School; BA, Management Science, Duke University
Steve is chairman and partner at Cypress Real Estate Advisors, an Austin-based realestate investment and development company. Prior to founding Cypress in 1995, he was a managing director at Harvard Private Capital Group, a subsidiary of Harvard Management Company, where he directed the group responsible for real estate investment activities. From 1982-1989, Steve was employed by Trammell Crow Company as the partner in … [click for more] charge of Philadelphia’s commercial activities. He is actively involved with the Urban Land Institute and is a former director of Hill Country Conservancy and Wyndham Hotels. Steve, wife Joan and their three daughters are members of Good Shepard Episcopal Church.
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Sterling Lands, II
Board Member Emeritus
Sterling Lands, II
Board Member Emeritus
Ph.D., Divinity and Pastoral Studies/Counseling, Master’s International School of Divinity; BS, Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering, Southern University-Baton Rouge
Sterling is pastor of Austin’s Greater Calvary Bible Church and president of the African Bible Church International Fellowship. In 2005, he was crowned development chief of the Village of Doryum, Ghana in West Africa. His corporate career as a registered professional control systems engineer spans 25 years in various management positions at Fortune 500 companies. Sterling is president of ANAK Consultants, a firm specializing in character-centered project management, facilitation, training, organization development, managerial analytics and systems design. He is president and CEO of both Rites of Passage Development, which specializes in affordable housing and community and economic development, and Greater Calvary Rites of Passage, focused on character-centered youth and young adult development. An international speaker, author, developer, musician, recording artist, producer and manager of “The Warrior Gospel Band,” Sterling and his wife, Lady Mable, have two sons and 10 grandchildren.
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Bruce Todd
Board Member Emeritus
Bruce Todd
Board Member Emeritus
BBA, Accounting, University of Texas at Austin
Bruce has spent a lifetime in the public arena — as elected official for more than a decade and as an expert in public and governmental affairs since leaving office. As Austin mayor, he led the second-fastest growing city in the nation to record levels of job production and environmental protection, and spearheaded the conversion of Bergstrom Air Force Base to a $500 million civilian airport. Bruce led the successful joint city/county effort to preserve thousands of wilderness acres in Travis County and was instrumental in the effort to involve the community in youth programs and provide school-to-work opportunities for Austin scholars. He continues to serve on a variety of boards and committees for public benefit, including Austin Community College’s Center for Public Policy and Political Studies (current president), Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council (current Executive Committee member) and the Long Center for the Performing Arts (board member).
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Laurence G. Walker
Legacy Member
Laurence G. Walker
Legacy Member
Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology MS, Electrical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology BS, Electrical Engineering, Princeton
Larry is a partner at Capital Factory, an Austin-based technology incubator, and co-working group. He is the former VP of Strategy and VP/general manager for the Network & Computing Systems Group at Motorola and Motorola Solutions. Larry has served as an advisor and angel investor in public, private and non-profit companies. He holds or has held a number of director roles: Texas Instruments Lehigh Valley; ColdStor Data, C-Port, FINsix and Adbm; Mintera Corporation and Ciclon Semiconductor Device Corp.; Silicon Laboratories; Autocell Laboratories; Tier Logic (chairman); McDATA Corp. (lead director); and Oasis Semiconductor. Larry has more than 25 years of experience in the management of sales, support, engineering and manufacturing of networking, microprocessor and computer products. He began his career with HP, and later co-founded C-Port Corporation and served as its CEO. From August 1996 to May 1997, Larry was CEO of CertCo. From 1981 to 1996, he held a variety of management positions at Digital Equipment Corporation, including VP and general manager of the Network Product Business Unit.
board@austinachieve.org 
Shared Services Team
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John Armbrust
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
John Armbrust
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
BS, Civil Engineering, Duke University
John has spent a decade serving as teacher and school-site and central office administrator, in both traditional public and charter schools. In South-Central Los Angeles, he served as director for Teacher Effectiveness for the Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF), a network of high-performing charter schools. John’s responsibility was to administer a $60 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation measuring teacher effectiveness and performance. While at ICEF, he was a Strategic Data Project Fellow through Harvard University. John began his education career in Atlanta through Teach For America, which helps ensure low-income youth receive quality education. He recently founded Crossbow Educational Consulting, which supports districts and states as they implement improved teacher evaluation processes.
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Angela Arroyo
Development Manager
Angela Arroyo
Development Manager
BA, Liberal Arts, Holy Names University
Angela was born and raised in Stockton, California. After high school, she attended San Joaquin Delta College. She received six associate's degrees ranging from education and political science while also working full time for political campaigns or volunteering to better her community. While working full-time for a non-profit as a development associate, Angela took night courses to earn her degree in liberal arts from Holy Names University in Oakland, California. She is the first female in her family to have obtained her degree.
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Laura Avila
Director of Operations
Laura Avila
Director of Operations
Laura is a proud El Pasoan, having been born and raised in west Texas. She obtained her degree from the University of Texas at Austin and started her education career as an AmeriCorps Volunteer for College for All Texans and worked at Del Valle High School from 2007-2008. She then joined Teach For America - Dallas as a founding corps member in 2009. She taught for three years and then pursued a masters of social work at Columbia University. After graduating, she moved back to Austin and continued a career in school based operations.
In her spare time, Laura enjoys anything water-related: kayaking, swimming, and taking classes at the Texas Rowing Center.
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Brittany Bazaldua
Development Associate
Brittany Bazaldua
Development Associate
BS, Human Development & Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
Brittany was born and raised on the sunny southern border of Texas in the city of Mission. Later, she attended The University of Texas at Austin as a first-generation college student. She supported numerous fundraising campaigns at her alma mater for the College of Natural Sciences and the Vice President for Student Affairs. Her experience kickstarted her love for philanthropy and understanding of its power. She is excited to see how her work can open new doors for the scholars at Austin Achieve.
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Ricardo Chavana
Advocacy and Community Engagement Manager
Ricardo Chavana
Advocacy and Community Engagement Manager
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Claudia Coquis
Director of Child Nutrition
Claudia Coquis
Director of Child Nutrition
After pursuing a successful career in the Peruvian government, with a background in Law, Claudia has been armed with an exceptional ability to digest federal and state laws, and create programs that allow organizations to understand and comply with such regulations.
Claudia is a Certified Forensic Auditor with extensive professional experience in the consulting and auditing of public and government institutions. Currently, she’s using her skills to run an efficient and successful Child Nutrition Program at Austin Achieve.
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Rafael Coquis
Director of Facilities
Rafael Coquis
Director of Facilities
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Priscilla De La Torre
Family & Community Engagement Manager
Priscilla De La Torre
Family & Community Engagement Manager
BA, Sociology, University of California Santa Barbara
Priscilla was born and raised on the sunny Southern California coast before she moved to an equally beautiful Santa Barbara to complete her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In 2018, she traded the sandy beaches of the South Bay for the violent crown sunsets of Austin where she found she could foster her passion for helping people. Priscilla hopes to share the importance of education with prospective and current families of Austin Achieve through community engagement and data driven initiatives. You can commonly find Priscilla traveling or conjuring up her next adventure (sometimes simultaneously!) because "the best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you didn't even think to ask".
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Isabella Flores
Child Nutrition Coordinator
Isabella Flores
Child Nutrition Coordinator
An Austin Native, Isabella completed a two-year degree in Business Administration at Austin Community College, where she graduated with academic excellence standing. She is now studying computer science. She has two siblings, one older sister, and a younger sister. In her spare tine, she enjoys photography and music especially playing the piano. She also enjoys studying cultures and am learning how to speak Japanese and Korean.
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Naina Gonsalves
AmeriCorps and Special Programs Manager
Naina Gonsalves
AmeriCorps and Special Programs Manager
BA, Denison University BA; M. Ed., University of Texas at Austin
Naina first began teaching in 2008. She taught in both South Texas and Washington, D.C. before moving to Austin Achieve in 2013. Naina first fell in love with teaching as a volunteer at the Salvation Army. She brings her love of children’s literature and excitement about literacy to her position each day.
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Emilio Gonzales
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Manager
Emilio Gonzales
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Manager
BS, Early Childhood Education, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi; M.Ed., Math Education, University of Texas at Arlington
Emilio grew up just down the road in Kyle, Texas, is a first generation college graduate and is a first year doctoral student in the Cultural Studies in Education Program at UT Austin.
Emilio first worked as an elementary school teacher in San Marcos for four years before moving to Guatemala where he taught life skills, math and science, and worked as a K-12 school director at Colegio AMA, an international school on the shores of Lake Atitlan. At Austin Achieve Middle School he has taught math, helped establish the school’s first Social Justice & Equity Committee, and most recently worked as the Dean of Math and Science. With ten years experience in schools, Emilio is committed to activism in education and is very excited for his new role in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Austin Achieve.
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Ashcon Habibi
Senior Director of Special Services
Ashcon Habibi
Senior Director of Special Services
A native Austinite, Ashcon has taught students with various disabilities at both an elementary autism unit and a functional life skills unit. He also has served as a coach in swimming, bowling and track and field for Special Olympics Texas. During his graduate studies, Ashcon developed a keen interest in applied behavior analysis and positive behavior support for at-risk students. Outside of education, he is an avid foodie who loves to try new restaurants and enjoy the beautiful outdoor activities Austin offers.
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Reece Hartle
Chief Academic Officer
Reece Hartle
Chief Academic Officer
BA, Psychology, Texas State University
Reece was inspired to begin a teaching career after becoming a 2010 Teach For America corps member in Miami-Dade, Florida, where he taught 10th and 12th-grade literature studies and led a successful basketball program. After Miami, he taught middle school students in Harlem, New York. Here at Austin Achieve he maintains a high-energy school environment, emphasizing a rigorous, high-quality, college-prep curriculum, and loves working for an organization where scholars and family come first. Along with his love for education, Reece enjoys relaxing on the river with his dog, Marley, going to hip-hop shows, and playing sports.
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Tyler Heath
Chief Operations Officer
Tyler Heath
Chief Operations Officer
MBA, Vanderbilt University; BA Managerial Finance, University of Mississippi
Tyler has spent over a decade working and serving in the field of operations, in both the private and public sectors. He started his operations career in the United States Marine Corps, in the field of aircraft command and control. After leaving the Marine Corps as a Captain, Tyler received his MBA from Vanderbilt and continued on to Las Vegas Nevada, where he worked for Caesars Entertainment Corporation. While at Caesars, Tyler worked across most casino and resort functions. As a Director of Continuous Improvement and Total Service, he was trained in lean management and responsible for implementing the company’s continuous improvement program at several of their Las Vegas properties. Desiring another chance to do mission-driven work in the service of his community and country, Tyler joined KIPP Austin Public School as a Broad Resident and Director of Operations. Over his four years at KIPP he oversaw transportation, food service, facilities, and construction/real estate as the organization grew from 5 schools to 10. Now at Austin Achieve, Tyler’s responsibilities have grown to include all aspects of district operations.
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Jessica Herrera
Family & Community Engagement Senior Associate
Jessica Herrera
Family & Community Engagement Senior Associate
BA, Psychology & Family and Child Development, Texas State University
A Texas Native, Jessica was raised in Austin. As an older sister to six, she developed a love of nurturing children. She graduated from Texas State where she studied Psychology and Family & Child Development. Her experiences working with scholars and families at Austin Achieve have driven her to pursue a career as a Licensed Therapist with a specific focus on Family Therapy.
When she's not working, she volunteers for SAFE Austin (Formerly known as SafePlace) on the SAFE Young Professionals Leadership Committee and in the toddler classrooms.
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Cesar Lopez Jr.
Facilities Supervisor
Cesar Lopez Jr.
Facilities Supervisor
As an Austin Native, Cesar is proud to work at a local school. In addition to being Austin Achieve's Facilities Supervisor, Cesar is also a senior as Texas State University where he is majoring in Business Management. He is the oldest out of four brothers, and in his free time you can usually find him spending time with his family or watching a good movie.
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Fred Levilly
Director of Information Technology
Fred Levilly
Director of Information Technology
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Kimberly Longo
HR Manager
Kimberly Longo
HR Manager
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Susan Markose
Data & Compliance Coordinator
Susan Markose
Data & Compliance Coordinator
Susan Markose joined the Austin Achieve team in 2020. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing and good music. Outside of dancing, Susan enjoy spending quality time with her family and doing anything outside.
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Angela Mendez
Manager of Data and Compliance
Angela Mendez
Manager of Data and Compliance
Angela Mendez was born in Waco, Texas and moved to Austin at an early age. She has worked in education for thirteen years and, in her own words, "lives and breathes compliance." Angela joined the Austin Achieve team in February of 2019 and has been in love with the family, culture, and vision ever since. She is a Certified Texas School Business Official and also owns several businesses, such as My Sweet Cupcakes and Vivid Impressions Consulting.
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Clare Mundy
Director of Development
Clare Mundy
Director of Development
BA, American Studies and Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame
Clare was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. Upon graduation from college, she worked as a fundraiser for a number of political campaigns and committees that took her coast to coast: from Portland, OR to Washington, DC and a lot of places in between. Most recently, Clare was the Associate Director in the President's Office at her alma mater, the University of Notre Dame.
When not working, Clare can be found riding her bike, taking a barre class, or talking about how much she loves the Midwest.
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Lindsay Nussbaum
Event Coordinator
Lindsay Nussbaum
Event Coordinator
BA, Art & Technology, University of Texas at Dallas
Lindsay was born and raised Austin, TX. She went to the University of Texas at Dallas where she studied Arts and Technology and found her love of events through service. Lindsay then moved to Maryland to manage conferences for several federal agencies, but her roots kept calling out to her. Now back in Austin, Lindsay is excited to support the Austin Achieve mission through new fundraising initiatives.
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Jessica Perez
Director of Communications & Outreach
Jessica Perez
Director of Communications & Outreach
BA, Sociology, University of California Santa Barbara
Originally from California, Jessica grew up on the beaches of Santa Barbara where she attended the University of California, Santa Barbra. At a very early age she discovered her passion for sharing stories and communicating with others in any capacity. This childhood passion for striking up conversation with anyone who would listen and writing stories translated into a career in communications and marketing. Coming from a family of educators, Jessica has spent countless hours in and around schools and fiercely believes in the power of education. She loves that her current role allows her to share the stories of growth, transformation and success that she sees daily at Austin Achieve.
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Daniela Rubio
Chief Community Officer
Daniela Rubio
Chief Community Officer
MA, Educational Administration and Policy, University of Georgia /
BA, International Affairs/Latin American and Caribbean Studies, University of Georgia
Born and raised in Venezuela, Daniela moved to Athens, Georgia as a teenager. While attending the University of Georgia, she tutored elementary students and taught English to their families to help them learn the language, just like many teachers had helped her in high school. After graduation, Daniela started her career in education with Teach For America in Atlanta. After teaching in Atlanta, Daniela moved to Texas with her husband, where she worked as a teacher, Assistant Principal, and Elementary School Principal for the last decade. She currently serves as Austin Achieve's Chief Community Officer.
Her experience as an immigrant, an English Language Learner, and a teacher taught her about the educational inequities in our country. It is because of these experiences that she has dedicated her life to overcoming educational inequity and works each day to provide opportunities and access for all children and families.
Daniela lives in East Austin with her husband Cris and their two children, Inés and Manuel.
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Cindy Suarez
Family & Community Engagement Associate
Cindy Suarez
Family & Community Engagement Associate
A Native Spanish speaker, Cindy was born in Mexico and moved to Austin, Texas at the age of fifteen. She has always had a passion for working with families and children, and wanted to work in education at an early age. Helping the families of Austin Achieve has been a rewarding experience and given her the motivation to achieve her own goals. Cindy is also a student at Austin Community College, where she is continuing her education in order to further serve the children and families of Austin Achieve.
In her free time, Cindy enjoys traveling and visiting friends and family.
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Chris Whitt
Transportation Manager
Chris Whitt
Transportation Manager
Chris is a 5-year U.S. Army veteran who has over 20 years of experience in different areas of Logistics and Transportation. His passion for people, working with the youth, and seeing them all succeed is what inspired him to work in the education field. In his spare time, he coaches basketball for his own organizations and is fully committed to the growth of his players. His motto is "It's Bigger Than The Court"!