Rooted in Houston.
Driven by purpose.

Adeeb Barqawi is the President & CEO of ProUnitas Inc., which, through its technology PurpleSENSE and technical assistance, helps school districts meet the holistic needs of student in a more timely, integrated, and impactful way, ensuring every student is safe, stays in school, and graduates with a purpose.

A former vaccine scientist and award-winning Teach for America Corps Member, Adeeb is the recipient of the Kinder Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award and Texas ACP Beginner Teacher of the Year. He holds degrees from Georgetown University in Physiology and Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University—where he was honored with the JHU Alumni Association Outstanding Recent Graduate Award—and Virginia Commonwealth University, where he was recognized among VCU Alumni’s 10 Under 10.

As a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum, Adeeb has been featured in Texas Monthly and recognized by The Houston Chronicle as one of five individuals shaping Houston’s future. He also served on the Texas Long Range Plan for Public Education steering committee.

With a proven track record of successfully bringing a product to market in the K-12 system, Adeeb is passionate about uncovering systemic levers that drive meaningful and immediate change. As a dedicated advocate for digital integration and data governance, he believes in leveraging technology to systematize predictable tasks—creating space for impactful, human-centered connections.

Alexandra Butt previously served as a legal professional specializing in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and public and private capital markets offerings. With a strong focus on corporate and compliance matters, she also provides valuable guidance to clients on SEC reporting and disclosure obligations.

During her time in law school, Alexandra dedicated her efforts to human rights as a legal intern with Projects Abroad in Tanzania, showcasing her commitment to social justice and global issues.

In her recent notable roles, Alexandra played a key role in the sale of a 25.5 percent interest in Elba Liquefaction Company, L.L.C. by Kinder Morgan, Inc. Additionally, she contributed to the realignment of economic and governance interests in DCP Midstream, LP, and Gray Oak Pipeline, LLC for Phillips 66 through the merger of existing joint ventures with Enbridge Inc.

Education has been a cornerstone of Alexandra’s journey, with achievements including a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Fordham University School of Law, a Master of Liberal Studies from Southern Methodist University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) from Southern Methodist University.

She previously served as the Associate Editor for the Fordham University School of Law International Law Journal and was recognized for her community impact with the Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award.

Andrea Young co-founded and serves as the Executive Director for Donatestock, a platform which allows investors to donate appreciated stock to the charity of their choice. Andrea is a seasoned executive and business strategist with over 15 years of leadership experience including serving as President & CEO of the Houston Comets, Houston’s WNBA team, and CEO of Sam Houston Race Park and its affiliated entities. She is also the founder and owner of AYJ Holdings, with investments spanning retail, real estate, pharmaceuticals, and financial services. Notably, Andrea is the second-largest franchisee of Nekter Juice Bars, a Southern California-based health food brand. Andrea holds a BA degree from Vanderbilt University and has built her career on a foundation of expertise in sales and marketing, financial acumen, and a collaborative leadership approach. Andrea and her family are deeply committed to civic and philanthropic endeavors. She currently serves as Chair of the Houston ISD Foundation Board of Directors and is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). She has previously served on the boards of organizations such as Veneno, Armenta, the Texas Lyceum, and Girls Inc. of Greater Houston.

Bob Harvey is President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, the Houston region’s principal business organization. The Partnership focuses on attracting investment and trade to Houston, building a strong workforce, advocating for sound public policy, and convening a diverse set of Houstonians when major issues arise. Prior to joining the Partnership in 2012, Harvey was active in the Houston business community, first as a consultant with McKinsey & Company, Inc. and then as Vice Chair of Reliant Energy.

Harvey serves on the boards of Houston Exponential, Good Reason Houston, the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Center for Houston’s Future. He is a Trustee Emeritus of the United Way of Greater Houston and The Post Oak School.

Harvey was raised in Houston, Texas, and received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Bobby Tudor is Chief Executive Officer of Artemis Energy Partners. He previously served as a Partner at Perella Weinberg Partners and Chairman of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Prior to forming TPH in 2007, Mr. Tudor was a Partner at Goldman Sachs and a leader of its worldwide Energy practice.

Over his 30-plus year career in Investment Banking, he has worked on many of the defining transactions of the period, across most energy subsectors and geographies.

Tudor is the Immediate Past Chair of the Greater Houston Partnership and of the Rice University Board of Trustees. He serves on the Board of Advisors for Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Collaborative for Children. Tudor also serves on the National Advisory Board for the Tulane Center for Energy Law, the Board of Directors of the National Petroleum Council, the Houston Symphony, and the MD Anderson Board of Visitors.

Tudor holds a BA in English and Legal Studies from Rice University, and a JD from Tulane.

Douglas L. Foshee has spent over thirty years in the Energy Industry and is founder and owner of Sallyport Investments, LLC. Foshee is former chairman, president, and chief executive officer of El Paso Corporation, which owned and operated North America’s largest natural gas pipeline system.

Foshee earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Jesse H. Jones School of Rice University in 1992 and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Southwest Texas State University in 1982. He is also a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.

Foshee and his family have been actively involved in civic and philanthropic endeavors for many years. The founder of two nonprofits, Foshee currently serves on KIPP Texas – Houston Regional Board, Good Reason Houston, Rice University’s Board of Trustees, and the Council of Overseers at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University.

Foshee also serves on the boards of Marathon Oil Corporation, Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation, The Welch Foundation and Houston Endowment Inc. In 2012, Foshee was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame.

Jill Jewett is Vice President and Director of the Finger Companies, a multi-family development company. Prior to becoming involved in both the company’s management and development operations, she was President of Jewett Consulting, focusing on strategic work with non-profit organizations and developing community-building projects.

Jewett holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Art History and American Studies from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Jesse H. Jones School of Rice University.

She is currently on the board of UTHealth Houston, and her recent board involvements include the Houston Parks Board, the Houston Zoo, and the Houston Independent School District Foundation. Past board memberships include the Greater Houston Community Foundation, St. John’s School, and the Glassell School of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Jim Postl is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Pennzoil-Quaker State Company.

Prior to Pennzoil, he served as president of Nabisco Biscuit Company from 1996 to 1998 and was president and chief executive officer of Nabisco International from 1994 to 1996. Prior to Nabisco, Postl held a variety of management positions with PepsiCo, Inc. and Procter & Gamble Company.

He currently serves on the boards of American Funds, Society for the Performing Arts, Houston Zoo, Holdsworth Governing Board, and Greater Houston Partnership. He is past chairman of the national board of the American Heart Association and past chair of the AHA SouthWest Affiliate, and currently serving as chairman of Memorial Hermann Foundation and Foundation for Jones Hall. He also serves on the Council of Overseers for Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University.

Kim Sterling is the founder of Sterling For Good, a consulting practice dedicated to working with nonprofits and their leaders. A respected nonprofit advisor and strategist, Kim brings over 30 years of experience in development, governance, and leadership to her work. She began her career in advertising at Ogilvy & Mather in New York and Houston before transitioning into the nonprofit sector, joining the American Leadership Forum in 1984 as Director of Development.

In 1988, she launched her first consulting firm, Sterling Nonprofits, where she advised hundreds of mission-driven organizations across Houston and beyond.

In addition to her professional responsibilities, Kim has served on a variety of nonprofit boards of directors, including the NPR Foundation Board and Houston Public Media, AIDS Foundation Houston, Transom Story Lab, and several independent schools. In 2004, Kim was named the Fundraising Professional of the Year by the Houston chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, which honored her again in 2019 with the Byron Welch Award for Lifetime Achievement in Fundraising, and she is a frequent speaker at nonprofit conferences and training programs.

Kim received her bachelor’s degree from Williams College and a master’s in public policy from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. Her husband, David, is a senior partner with the law firm Baker Botts, and they have three happily married children.

Kristin Garcia Blomquist is an owner and Senior Vice President of Masterson Advisors LLC, a public finance firm that helps public entities finance public projects and infrastructure needs. She spends her time focusing on complex credits in and around the City of Houston and Harris County.

She received her BBA in finance from Baylor University. In 2018, her work family started their own firm, Masterson Advisors LLC, at which time she was the 3rd employee. The firm has since grown to 26 professionals, serving clients state-wide and nationally.

Kristin is active in the public finance profession and is a community leader and advocate. In addition to being a trustee with the Foundation, she is involved with the H.E.A.R.T. Program, serves on the Advisory Board for Recipe for Success, serves as Secretary of the Houston Parks Board, board member and Development Committee Chair of Precinct 4 Forward, is a Community Benefits Committee committee member for the Memorial Hermann Hospital System, is active member in her children’s Parent Teacher Association, and Girl Scout Troop Leader.

Kristin and her husband, Aaron, have three beautiful children. She enjoys biking the Bayou Greenways with her family, going to the beach, cheering on the kids at their many sporting events, raising butterflies, and playing with their children.

Peter Rodriguez is dean of the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He is also an economist and professor and teaches classes on global macroeconomics and economic growth and development.

An active researcher, Rodriguez’s research interests include the interaction of globalization, economic development, and social institutions, the consequences of corruption for multinationals and seed-stage finance in emerging markets. He was previously professor and senior associate dean for MBA Programs and chief diversity officer at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, lecturer at Princeton University, and a professor at the Mays School of Business at Texas A&M University.

Rodriguez holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University and a B.S. in economics from Texas A&M University. He worked for several years as an associate in the Global Energy Group at JP Morgan Chase.

Polly Whittle is a former computer science and math teacher having taught students from grades 6-12, adults in community colleges, and executives and other professionals through special classes, certifications, and private tutoring. She also worked as a computer analyst for a banking software company and a defense subcontractor.

Whittle has extensive Board and other leadership experience over the years, including serving on the Discovery Green Park Board and chairing the Advancement Committee, the Board of the Kinder Foundation, Class Parent Lead at St John’s School (Houston) for numerous classes, and Women’s Ministry Leader in her church, among others.

Whittle has an undergraduate degree (B.S.) in mathematics from Vanderbilt University and a Masters of Arts in Education with a concentration in mathematics (M.A.Ed.) from Wake Forest University. She also is the mother of three now-adult children, and she currently enjoys volunteering as a mentor to elementary school students in the Spring Branch School District.

Sebastien Solar currently serves as Houston Market President for Commerce Bank. Prior to his current role at Commerce Bank, Solar served as Commercial Banking Manager for Bank of Texas, and led the US Maritime, Ports and Logistics division for JPMorgan Chase.

Solar currently serves on the Board of Directors of Children’s Museum of Houston, The Herman Park Conservancy, The Houston Arts Alliance, and the Trinity University Board of Visitors.

Solar has previously served on the Board of Directors of Children at Risk, Piñata Books, and led multiple corporate campaigns for the United Way of Houston.

Solar is married to Rachel Solar, with whom he has three children – Sebastien, Beauregard, and Pia.

Stephanie Beveridge is President of Pipeline and Power at Chevron, where she leads the company’s efforts in driving operational excellence and strategic growth within the sector. Since joining Chevron in 2007, Stephanie has held a variety of leadership roles including General Manager of Strategy for Chevron North America Exploration & Production and General Manager of Category Management & Projects. Before joining Chevron, she gained extensive international experience in the tech industry and as a supply chain strategy consultant in Asia and Australia.

Stephanie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Cornell University and a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Columbia University.

An advocate for advancing women in business, Stephanie serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Dr. Erin Baumgartner is the director of the Houston Education Research Consortium at Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, which bridges research, policy, and practice to solve critical problems facing the nation’s fifth-largest metropolitan area.

In partnership with Houston-area school districts serving over 700,000 students, teams under her direction are pursuing a research agenda focused on equity, opportunity, and access for students. Topics include early childhood education, social and emotional learning, postsecondary readiness, school choice, teaching and staffing.

Baumgartner earned her doctorate from Pennsylvania State University’s dual-degree program in sociology and demography. She holds a master’s in sociology from the University of Chicago and a master’s in education with an emphasis in measurement, evaluation, statistics and assessment from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She earned a bachelor’s in sociology and marketing from the University of Notre Dame.

She has been an instructor at Penn State and Rice University and serves on the Early Childhood Research Quarterly editorial board. Her primary research and teaching interests are in sociology of education and family, social stratification and demography, the educational role of the family, research methods, and quantitative methods.

Rafael Alvarez is the Founder and CEO of Genesys Works, a national social enterprise dedicated to expanding career opportunities for underserved students through skills training and professional internships. Since founding the organization in 2002, Rafael has led its growth from a startup in Houston to a nationally recognized nonprofit serving nearly 4,000 students annually across multiple U.S. cities. Under his leadership, Genesys Works has built partnerships with over 200 major corporations and received national recognition, including acknowledgment by the White House and Forbes Magazine.

Before founding Genesys Works, Rafael spent over a decade at Compaq Computer Corporation (now Hewlett Packard) in leadership roles across corporate strategy, market intelligence, and program management. His work included leading multinational initiatives in wireless technology and strategic business development.

Rafael earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Houston.

Committed to social impact and leadership, Rafael has served on multiple nonprofit boards and is a lecturer in social entrepreneurship at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business.

Peter Beard serves as Senior Vice President for Regional Workforce Development at the Greater Houston Partnership, the Houston region’s principal business organization.

He leads the Partnership’s UpSkill Houston initiative—a business-led effort that engages more than 200 employers, educational institutions, community-based organizations, and the public workforce system. UpSkill Houston works to ensure that the region’s businesses have access to workers that have skills and credentials for advanced and technical careers and occupations that require education beyond a high school diploma but less than a four-year college degree.

Peter is active in various community and civic causes. He serves on the boards of directors for Gulf Coast Workforce Solutions, Artspace Projects (Minneapolis, MN), and Houston LISC’s Local Advisory Committee. Prior to the sale of its assets to Ascension Insurance, he served on the board of directors of Paula Financial. Peter is also a Talent Pipeline Management® faculty member and Fellow at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and is a senior fellow with the American Leadership Forum in Houston.

Prior to joining Greater Houston Partnership, Peter served in executive roles at United Way Worldwide (Alexandria, VA) and the Fannie Mae Foundation (Washington, DC). Prior to Fannie Mae Foundation, he served as the general counsel at Habitat for Humanity International (Americus, GA), and was in private legal practice at Semmes, Bowen & Semmes (Baltimore, MD).

Peter received his A.B. in economics from Davidson College in North Carolina and J.D. (magna cum laude) from Syracuse University College of Law in New York.

Dr. Melanie Johnson is an executive visionary who has been instrumental in the evolution of Texas’ most iconic education entities- space, health, and brain sciences. As President and CEO of Collaborative for Children (2018-present), Dr. Johnson leads the state’s largest region, the gulf coast, in early learning enterprise systems building to improve school-readiness outcomes for under-resourced children ages birth to five. She delivers metrics-driven outcomes through digital transformation.

From 2015-2018, Dr. Johnson served as President and CEO of the John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science (A.K.A. The Health Museum). She led her team to achieve Smithsonian Affiliate status for exhibits and programs that would help the research of the Texas Medical Center be comprehensible to visitors. From 2009-2015, Dr. Johnson was awarded the national Nancy Hanks Award by the American Alliance of Museums while serving as Director of Education for NASA Johnson Space Center’s “Space Center Houston.”

Her education includes a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction (Ed. D.), a Masters of Hospitality Management (MHM) and a Bachelor’s degree in International Business (B.A.). She serves on several Board of Directors including Greater Houston Partnership, Texas Southern University Foundation, Avance and HCA Houston. Dr. Johnson was recently named one of Houston Business Journal’s 2022 Most Admired CEOs.

Duncan F. Klussmann served as the Superintendent of Schools in Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) from 2004- 2015. On July 1, 2015 he assumed the title of Superintendent Emeritus. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Klussmann served as an interim superintendent and area superintendent for SBISD. His vast experience includes periods as a school principal and assistant principal, as well as a classroom teacher.

During his 11 year tenure in SBISD, the school district passed the largest bond program in the history of the school district. The $597 million program replaced 13 aging elementary schools, renovated all remaining campuses, provided for new school buses, enhanced athletics facilities, and greatly expanded technology use in the school district. The original program called for the work to be accomplished over a 10 year period of time. As the result of a carefully designed management program, the bond work is scheduled to be completed well ahead of schedule with significant financial savings.

In 2012, Dr. Klussmann helped create the SKY Partnership, which joins together SBISD with KIPP Houston (KIPP) and YES Prep Public Schools (YES Prep) at two district middle schools where new campus program charters now operate. In August of 2015, the partnership expanded into high school. In the Houston region, such an innovative partnership between a school district and charter schools is one of a kind.

In addition, Dr. Klussmann worked closely with the board of trustees, community, staff and students on the creation of the Spring Branch Plan 2012-2017 Goal and Belief Statements. Utilizing a single-focused goal, SBISD doubled the number of students completing a technical certificate, military training and two or four-year degree. This ambitious goal is referred to as Spring Branch T-2-4.

Dr. Klussmann has twice served as president of the Texas School Alliance, an association of 39 of the largest and most influential school districts in Texas. He was recently named one of three 2014 Houstonians of the Year by the Houston Chronicle. A recipient of the Lifetime Member Award from the Texas Parent and Teacher Association, Dr. Klussmann received the TABE Honoree Award for Public Education in 2012. Dr. Klussmann now serves as a board member with United Way, and he remains active with numerous community groups.

Pam Wells, Ed.D, is a passionate advocate for children and the community, and a founder of Wells Education Consulting LLC. She recently retired as the executive director for Region 4 Education Service Center, which is the largest of the twenty education service centers in Texas.She began her career as a teacher in Spring Branch ISD. She then served as a teacher, campus, and district administrator, and as interim superintendent in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. She serves on the American Heart Association Houston Board of Directors; Communities in Schools Board of Directors; Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation Board of Directors/Treasurer; is on Houston Baptist University’s Teacher Education Advisory Council; is a member of the University of Texas College of Education Advisory Board; volunteers at Reach Unlimited; serves on the Cy-Hope Board of Directors; and is a Cy-Fair Educational Foundation trustee.

Pam has served as an adjunct professor at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) where she received her M.Ed. and Ed.D., and in 2015 was honored as the SHSU College of Education Distinguished Administrator. During the CFISD 75th Anniversary Jubilee, Pam was recognized as one of 75 honorees. In 2016, the North Harris County Branch of the AAUW selected her as an Outstanding Woman in Education. In 2017, she and her husband, Jim, were honored to become the namesakes of a new elementary school in Cy-Fair ISD, Wells Elementary. Crime Stoppers honored Pam with the Houston Heroes 2022 Safe Schools Award. The Harris County Commissioners Court recently passed a resolution honoring her retirement and 47-years of service to public education and the community.

Pam is a passionate advocate for children and the community. She serves on the American Heart Association Houston Board of Directors; Communities in Schools Board of Directors; Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation Board of Directors/Treasurer; is on Houston Baptist University’s Teacher Education Advisory Council; is a member of the University of Texas College of Education Advisory Board; volunteers at Reach Unlimited; serves on the Cy-Hope Board of Directors; and is a Cy-Fair Educational Foundation trustee.

Todd is the founding Chairman and CEO of The Commit Partnership, a prominent educational collective impact organization in Dallas, Texas, dedicated to enhancing post-secondary completion and economic mobility. He’s also a senior trustee at Austin College and serves on the board of Fidelity Charitable. Todd’s commitment to education extends to founding a charter school and advising on education policy.

Appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Todd has played pivotal roles in various educational commissions, including the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation and the Texas Commission on Public School Finance. He’s also chaired important educational boards like the Citizen Budget Review Commission for Dallas ISD and the Real Estate Finance and Investment Center.

Before his dedication to education, Todd had a successful career at Goldman Sachs. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA in Economics from Austin College.

2018 Texas Commission on Public School Finance (where he chaired its Outcomes Committee which ultimately produced 35 recommendations that served as the basis for Texas’ landmark HB3 legislation which equitably invested $11.5 billion in the state’s public K-12 education system in 2019) and (iii) the 2022 Texas Commission on Community College Funding, which recommended the strategic investment of ~$650 million of new biennial state funding (via Texas’ nation-leading HB8 legislation passed in 2023) to reward targeted outcomes and increase funding and accessibility for the state’s economically and academically disadvantaged students.

Todd earned an M.B.A. with distinction from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in 1989 and graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Austin College in Sherman, Texas in 1982.

Cary Wright is the CEO of Good Reason Houston, a nonprofit dedicated to improving public education in Houston through collaboration with families, educators, policymakers, and philanthropists.

Prior to becoming CEO in 2023, Cary served as the Chief External Affairs Officer for Good Reason Houston. He spent nearly a decade with Teach For America, culminating in his role as Executive Director of the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Cary’s experience in public education, fundraising, public affairs, and nonprofit leadership spans over 15 years, including notable positions such as Press Secretary for the U.S. House of Representatives and an elementary school teacher in rural Mississippi.

Beyond his professional commitments, Cary actively contributes to the Houston community as a board member of Houstonians for Great Public Schools and as a member of the Greater Houston Partnership’s UpSkill Executive Committee. Cary is also a member of the Davidson College Alumni Association Board of Directors.

A native of Amarillo, Texas, Cary is the proud graduate of Texas public schools and received his bachelor’s degree from Davidson College where he studied English and Art History. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys traveling, exploring Houston’s culinary scene, and staying active. Cary resides in the Houston Heights with his boyfriend Nick and their beloved dogs, Memphis and Finn.

Courtney Isaak Pichon manages Good Reason Houston’s district partnerships. She serves as the chief officer on strategic planning to increase the number of students in high-quality, best-fit schools. In this capacity, Courtney supports the design and implementation of dozens of school and district improvement interventions across the region.

Courtney earned a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Southern Methodist University and is passionate about supporting districts to select and implement high-quality curriculum. Through this work, she has helped ensure that over 250,000 Houston students are accessing rigorous curriculum every day.

After graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Service, Courtney moved to Texas to begin her career in education as a secondary math teacher with Teach For America. She worked for Teach For America for six years, coaching and designing training for over 800 beginning teachers. Courtney and her husband enjoy biking around Houston— especially to their neighborhood bakery for best-in-the-city croissants and pastries.

Kaneisha Lloyd is a philanthropy professional with over a decade of experience in donor management, strategic communications, and fundraising. She has secured pledges and donations for capital campaigns and directly influenced development teams in raising millions of dollars. As a graduate of The University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations, Kaneisha takes pride in the storytelling and branding of mission-driven organizations to build meaningful relationships for constructive community impact.

Stefanie Cruz joined Good Reason Houston in 2019 and has been working in public education space for over a decade. She began her tenure on the Strategy & Transformation team, leading external investments, and strategic initiatives before transitioning to manage Advancement. Now, she leads Houston Loves Teachers, a campaign dedicated to elevating and supporting educators across the city.

Stefanie’s career in education started as an elementary school teacher in Houston. Prior to Good Reason Houston, she worked at YES Prep Public Schools district office as Manager of People Operations and Strategy, thinking about employee experiences and the district’s strategic plans. She also served as Manager of School & Community Partnerships at Families Empowered, helping families navigate school choice and supporting new school launches.

A native Houstonian, Stefanie holds a B.A. in Anthropology & International Relations from Colby College and an MBA from Rice University’s Jones School of Business. She is passionate about ensuring every child has access to a quality education and the opportunity to thrive.

As Director of Foundation Relations, Nicole Moore-Kriel leads Good Reason Houston’s efforts to build and sustain institutional relationships. She plays a critical role in driving the organization’s philanthropic growth by leading the strategy to develop and implement effective institutional fundraising efforts.

Nicole brings over fifteen years of experience working in improving opportunities for historically marginalized communities around the world. She began her career as an English as a Second Language teacher in a high-poverty school in Memphis with Teach For America. Unsatisfied with the disparities between educational outcomes for students, she has dedicated her career to leading initiatives working towards change in education systems with school districts, state agencies, charter school networks, and foundations across the US and South Africa. She previously served as a Program Officer at the Powell Foundation, leading a portfolio of over $4M in annual grantmaking towards K-12 education and the arts.

Nicole holds a Master of Public Affairs degree from the LBJ School with a specialization in education policy and Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Music from Austin College. As a graduate from Houston ISD, she is passionate about improving public education outcomes for children in her hometown. In her free time, Nicole enjoys doing fun things around Houston with her husband and two young daughters.

As the Manager of Advancement Data & Operations, Tahreem supports Good Reason Houston’s fundraising operations, focusing on database management, gift processing, and portfolio management.

Before joining Good Reason Houston, Tahreem began her career in development at EMERGE, where she played a key role in managing the organization’s development operations. With a passion for supporting students and improving access to quality education, she has thrived in the nonprofit education sector ever since.

Tahreem holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Social Work from the University of Houston. She brings a unique perspective to her work, combining her commitment to social impact with a focus on leveraging data to optimize fundraising strategies.

Valeria serves as the Director of Corporate Partnerships and Engagement at Good Reason Houston, where she leads efforts to convene and mobilize corporate partners in support of a shared vision for quality education and economic mobility.

A proud first-generation Mexican American, Houston native, and University of Houston alum, Valeria brings a powerful combination of lived experience, strategic thinking, and collaborative leadership to the social sector. She began her professional journey as a high school student in the Genesys Works program, later returning to the organization as Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships and Strategy. There, she led the development of a three-year strategic plan and national corporate engagement efforts that strengthened early talent pipelines and expanded access to career-launching opportunities for young adults across Greater Houston.

Valeria’s cross-sector experience spans education, workforce development, and philanthropy. At The Bridgespan Group, she advised nonprofits, corporations, and philanthropy on strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and scaling impact. Her work reflects a deep commitment to measurable results, innovative transformation, and sustainable implementation.

From bold visioning to day-to-day execution, Valeria is a thoughtful builder driven by purpose, powered by partnership.

As the Managing Director of District Partnerships, Michelle works with district leadership to provide implementation, technical assistance, and advisory support to increase the number of high quality schools serving students across Houston. Specifically, Michelle specializes in collaborating with system and school leaders to plan and implement turnaround and improvement efforts in areas such as leadership, instruction, culture, and family and community engagement. Michelle’s unique areas of expertise include strategic planning, progress monitoring, data analysis, and capacity building.

Michelle started her career in consulting where she worked with clients on talent, performance, and compensation strategies. Following her passion for education, Michelle decided to join Teach For America as a corps member and taught kindergarten and first grade in Spring Branch ISD for 5 years. As a teacher, Michelle supported her campus’ redesign, served on the District and Campus Improvement Teams, launched student data tracking, and interned at KIPP in Houston as part of the Policy and Advocacy Summer Fellowship with Leadership in Educational Equity (LEE).

Michelle earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Rice University and M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction / Personalized and Blended Learning at Texas Tech University. Michelle is dedicated to making high quality schools the expectation in Houston and ensuring educational opportunity and access for every child.

As Director of District Partnerships, Meredith-Leigh works with district leadership to provide implementation, technical assistance, and advisory support to increase the number of high quality schools serving students across Houston. Prior to this role, Meredith-Leigh served as Good Reason Houston’s head of talent pipelines where she advised districts and led regional efforts to increase the number of diverse, skillful teachers and leaders in Houston. Meredith-Leigh’s unique areas of expertise include talent management, convening and facilitation, implementing high-quality instructional materials at scale, coaching, change management, and early childhood instruction. Meredith-Leigh also serves as a member of the Texas Education Agency’s Educator Preparation Stakeholder Group.

Meredith-Leigh began her career in education as a Teach For America corps member in New Orleans, Louisiana. After teaching kindergarten and first grade in turnaround schools, Meredith-Leigh served as an instructional coach and as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Early Childhood Programs for a New Orleans charter network. Under Meredith-Leigh’s leadership, the network’s early childhood programs earned statewide honors for outstanding gains. In addition to working in schools, Meredith-Leigh has extensive experience coaching and developing new teachers as a facilitator and instructor for TNTP, Inc. and the Louisiana Resource Center for Educators. Through this work, Meredith-Leigh has coached, trained, and helped certify over 250 new teachers.

As Director of District Partnerships, Jaime works with district leadership to provide implementation, technical assistance, and advisory support to increase the number of high quality schools serving students across Houston. In his previous role at Good Reason Houston, Jaime managed a portfolio of emerging schools, namely charters, that were launching or expanding in the region. Jaime’s unique areas of expertise include data analysis, teacher professional development, coaching, and curriculum.

Prior to joining Good Reason Houston, Jaime worked at BakerRipley Community Schools and Teach For America. In his roles, he designed professional development, created curriculum materials, and coached teachers. He started his career in education as a bilingual teacher at Gallegos Elementary in HISD.

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Jaime studied Political Science and U.S. Latino Studies.

As the Manager of District Partnerships, Kellie works with district leadership to provide implementation, technical assistance, and advisory support to increase the number of high quality schools serving students across Houston. In her previous role at Good Reason Houston, Kellie managed a portfolio of emerging schools, namely charters, that were launching or expanding in the region, in addition to the Good Reasons to Lead Fellowship. Kellie’s unique areas of expertise include curriculum development and implementation, coaching, professional development, and secondary education.

Kellie began her career in education as a middle school English and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher in Alief ISD. Her passion for teaching English led her to engage in an array of experiences such as writing curriculum, facilitating at several national conferences, being a board member of West Houston Council of Teachers of English (WHACTE) and Texas State Liaison for Conference on English Leadership (CEL). She has over a decade of experience working in underserved, underestimated communities infusing social justice and culturally responsive practices into her work with students and faculty alike. Prior to joining Good Reason Houston, Kellie was an Instructional Leader and Administrator for YES Prep Public Schools.

Kellie earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Texas State University and her M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction specializing in Literacy Studies from the University of Houston – Victoria. She grounds her relentlessness to the pursuit of equity in education to Frederick Douglass’ philosophy that “education is emancipation.”

As Manager of District Partnerships at Good Reason Houston, Clarissa collaborates with districts to support the implementation of progress monitoring systems, data analysis, and academic goal development. She also works to refine internal systems, strengthening and expanding district partnerships across the Houston area.

Clarissa began her career in Houston as a Teach for America corps member and middle school English Language Arts teacher at YES Prep Fifth Ward, where she taught 6th and 8th grade for four years. She also served as Grade Level Chair, leading the transition from in-person to remote instruction during the pandemic to ensure students and families remained engaged in virtual and hybrid learning.

Motivated to drive change at the systems level, Clarissa joined the Center for Public Research and Leadership at Columbia University, where she conducted qualitative research and collaborated on consulting projects with organizations committed to advancing equitable educational opportunities for marginalized students in PK-12 education.

As Manager of District Partnerships at Good Reason Houston, Kentasha works alongside district leadership to advance strategic pre-K enrollment initiatives, coaching, curriculum implementation, and culture-building efforts that expand access to high-quality schools across Houston. She provides advisory support and technical assistance to strengthen community engagement and position schools for long-term success.

Before joining Good Reason Houston, Kentasha served as the Founding Campus Director of Small Steps Nurturing Center, a nonprofit early childhood center in the Gulfton community, where she laid the foundation for early learners. She later became Director of Enrollment and Community Engagement at Houston Classical Charter School, developing initiatives that increased student enrollment and fostered meaningful community partnerships.

Kentasha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Stephen F. Austin State University and a M.Ed. in Education Administration from Lamar University. She brings extensive expertise in pre-K education, strategic partnerships, enrollment growth, coaching, and campus culture-building. She began her career in education as a teacher and instructional leader, later serving as a Founding Assistant Principal at KIPP Houston, where she coached educators and helped cultivate strong school cultures. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to fostering inclusive learning environments, empowering educators, and ensuring all students have access to high-quality education.

As Manager of District Partnerships, Thomas collaborates with district leadership to develop and support the creation, expansion and strengthening of high-quality schools in the Houston region. Thomas’ areas of expertise include curriculum implementation, professional learning design, data analysis, and school improvement strategizing.

Before joining Good Reason Houston, Thomas served as an instructional leader and assistant principal in Houston ISD. While in this role, Thomas transformed instruction on his campus by leading the implementation of high-quality instructional materials. Thomas also served on the district design committee for the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA), and partnered with the New Teacher Center to pilot innovative instructional coaching and support on his campus. Thomas began his career in education as a Teach For America corps member, and is a proud recipient of the Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award.

Thomas holds his B.S. in Business Communications from the State University of New York at Farmingdale. He later earned his M.S. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Johns Hopkins University and a M. Ed. in Educational Leadership from Lamar University. Thomas is eager to contribute to an organization committed to improving equity and student outcomes across Houston.

As Managing Director of Insights, Meron is committed to learning from and supporting Houston schools, school systems, and communities to reimagine what high quality education must look like in a rapidly evolving world. In this role, Meron offers insightful recommendations and commentary on the state of education, informed by stakeholders and the local, national, and international education landscape, all aimed at pushing public discourse and scaling high quality interventions and education models.

Meron brings over 15 years of experience in schools and districts. She has been honored to be allowed to serve students, teachers, and families in her roles as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, manager of principals, and consultant. In her most recent roles, she managed, coached, and developed campus leaders in public schools across the state and internationally. Meron is a Houston native who truly believes in harnessing the power of community to lead change.

Meron holds a Bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University, her MBA from Rice University, and is currently completing her doctoral dissertation focused on reimaging school environments.

She is a mother, daughter, sister, friend, wife, and community member. Her main hobbies are laughing loudly and traveling. She considers herself a curator of joy who just wants people to find spaces where they feel they belong.

As the Managing Director of Communications, Jessica is committed to developing and managing an integrated communications strategy to broaden Good Reason Houston’s impact. In this role, she leads content creation and distribution to ensure audiences are educated, engaged, and empowered.

Before joining Good Reason Houston, Jessica held roles as Director of Communications for the Office of Harris County Commissioner Precinct 4 and Assistant Director of Communications and Community Engagement with the City of Sugar Land. Jessica also brings 15 years of media experience to Good Reason Houston with roles in newsrooms across Texas such as the Houston Chronicle, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Texas Monthly, Huntsville Item, and Brazosport Facts. Since transitioning from media, Jessica has helped lead teams to earn state, national and global awards for digital and strategic communications.

Jessica earned degrees from the University of Texas in Austin and Harvard University.

When not working to improve public education for every student in Houston, Jessica can be found building pillow forts with her daughter, Harper Lee, and husband, Matt; visiting museums and bookstores; or writing books.

As the Visual Content Manager at Good Reason Houston, Grace is dedicated to bringing Houston’s public education story to life through compelling visuals and impactful media. In this role, she will highlight inspiring stories from teachers and create data-driven visual projects.

Grace joined Good Reason Houston after nearly a decade with Harris County Precinct 4, where she served as Graphic Design Manager. There, she led a team of designers, rebranded the precinct for each commissioner, and developed publications to educate the public. During her time as a designer, she has placed a strong emphasis on multilingual accessibility. She brings extensive experience working with nonprofits, where she’s crafted impactful video reels and designed fundraising materials that drive awareness and support. Her collaborations span a wide range of organizations, from parks and emergency response to family programming and religious nonprofits.

With a passion for uncovering what makes Houston unique, Grace is committed to sharing the diverse and dynamic stories that shape the city. She earned her B.A. in Fine Arts with a concentration in Art from the University of Houston-Downtown and has continued to build her skills in photography, videography, and digital content strategy.

As Content Manager, Ambika leads Good Reason Houston’s content strategy and storytelling efforts, developing strategic, authentic communications that build, inspire and activate community. She oversees content creation, manages digital engagement, and amplifies the organization’s mission to make Houston the top public education city in the nation.

Ambika brings over a decade of communications experience across corporate, agency, startup, nonprofit, and newsroom settings. Most recently, she led off-platform audience engagement strategy at local nonprofit news organization Houston Landing, where she achieved audience engagement rates more than double the industry average. Prior to the Landing, Ambika led global social media strategy at Sysco Corporation, Fortune 100 company and the global leader in food service distribution.

A graduate of Texas schools, including Katy ISD, Ambika earned a degree in journalism and public relations at Baylor University. She later studied strategic design and management at Parsons The New School in New York.

With a keen eye for photography and design, Ambika’s passion for visual storytelling continues to inform her strategic approach to communications.

As a mother and a Houstonian, Ambika is excited to use her expertise to advance educational equity in her hometown.

As Director of Government Relations, Trista keeps a pulse on policy discourse that impacts education at the state and local levels to help inform Good Reason Houston’s advocacy work.

Trista began her career at Harris County Public Health, where she focused on social impact research and public relations. Prior to joining the Good Reason team, she worked with Houstonians for Great Public Schools, dedicating her time to making school board education policy accessible and laser focused on supporting students.

Trista received her bachelor’s in Mass Communications from Texas State University before earning her Juris Doctor from W&L Law.

As Director of Civic Leadership Engagement, Jasmine partners with diverse stakeholders to build greater awareness of the public education landscape in Houston. She cultivates citywide ownership of improving school quality by mobilizing advocacy efforts in alignment with Good Reason Houston’s vision for great public schools . Jasmine began her career in education as a middle school math teacher. She spent four years working in Title I schools in Spring and Klein ISD. During her time in the classroom, she noticed how certain students were impacted by systemically discriminatory discipline policies and instructional practices on campus. In response, Jasmine became a founding member of her campus’ equity coalition, designed to target, and address the racial and socio-economic barriers to a high-quality education.

Jasmine is a native Houstonian and a graduate of Texas public schools. She attended Baylor University, where she was an International Studies major with a minor in Business Administration, and she received her Masters in Public Administration from the University of Houston.

In this role, he works to amplify the voices and experiences of stakeholders and community members through base-building, community engagement, and grassroots mobilizing.

Previously he supported advocacy efforts in local government, and led teams of organizers across three regions in the South, leading the development and implementation of strategic initiatives that advanced the rights and opportunities of young adults in health care, higher education, and economic justice.

Greg holds a Bachelor of Arts n Political Science from the University of Houston, and an AA in Government from Houston Community College. Greg’s life’s work centers around creating positive social change.

Sara Sands Francis, Ph.D. joined Good Reason Houston in 2025 and has been working in K-12 public education for over a decade. As the Managing Director of Data Impact and Strategy, Sara is committed to translating data and research into actionable insights that foster better outcomes for all students. In this role, she leads the development and execution of Good Reason Houston’s research strategy and ensures that partners in the field have the data they need to make informed decisions for kids.

Before joining Good Reason Houston, Sara held roles in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. She was most recently an Instructional Associate Professor of Public Administration at the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs and the Associate Director of the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics & Leadership. She also worked as a researcher in the University of Houston Education Research Center. As an academic, her research focused on K-12 education policy and politics, with an emphasis on governance, school reform, and teacher and organizational leadership. She has presented at conferences and led workshops in the United States and abroad focused on bridging the gap between research and practice for educators.

Prior to coming to Houston, Sara was the Research & Data Manager for the Office of Teacher Leadership at the New York City Public Schools. She also held positions at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and IBM. Sara holds a Ph.D. in Politics & Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) in Education from the University of Cambridge (U.K.), and a B.A. in Political Economy and Education from Tulane University. A New Orleans native with Houston roots, Sara is dedicated to supporting the arts and writes short stories.

As the Director of Research and Data, Patrick supports Good Reason Houston’s internal teams and external stakeholders through research, data analysis, and data storytelling. He manages our dynamic research and data team, aiming to solidify Good Reason Houston’s position as the region’s go-to resource for timely and actionable education data insights. He also leads the organization’s dynamic original research agenda oriented around a deeper understanding of where our system currently stands and where it can go.

Prior to joining Good Reason Houston, Patrick partnered with Houston-area school districts as a researcher with the Kinder Institute for Urban Research’s Houston Education Research Consortium, examining topics such as student mobility and career and technical education. He began his career in education as a City Year corps member in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood before working for several years at Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston.

Patrick received his Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from the University of Notre Dame, and his Master of Public Policy from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs, where he specialized in education policy.

As an Education Pioneers Fellow, Courtney Durbin supports Good Reason Houston’s Research and Data team in expanding the team’s capacity for original research, data visualization, and refining and articulating Good Reason Houston’s data strategy. Courtney brings a variety of K-12 and higher education experience to the table, most recently, as a Program Manager with EMERGE HISD, a college access organization.

Prior to EMERGE, Courtney worked for several years supporting residential students at the University of South Florida, developing student support strategies and interventions, which ultimately guided her data and assessment work for Residential Education during the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Courtney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a specialization in Organizational Leadership and Communication from Rollins College, along with a Master of Science in Higher Education from Florida State University.

As the Manager of Research and Data, Mingyu spearheads the organization’s data-driven approach, ensuring impactful insights inform organization initiatives. Collaborating with internal teams and external partners, Mingyu helps drive the organization-wide research agenda, conducting qualitative and quantitative analyses to maximize organization impact. Through compelling data storytelling, Mingyu communicates key insights to diverse stakeholders, fostering understanding and action.

Prior to joining Good Reason Houston, Mingyu served as a Sr. Program Analyst at United Way of Greater Houston. In that role, Mingyu was an integral member of the Mission & Strategy Team, responsible for collecting, analyzing, and communicating data to demonstrate impact. By leveraging data-driven insights, she helped shape effective strategies and programs that aligned with United Way’s goals. She was also an advocate for ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) and played a pivotal role in enlightening the public about the people experiencing ALICE through collaborative partner gatherings and informative workshops.

Mingyu received her B.A. in Applied Psychology from Weifang Medical University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Quantitative Methods from SUNY University at Buffalo.

As the Director of Finance and Operation Strategy, Brooke leads the finance, accounting, and strategic resource management functions at Good Reason Houston.

Brooke started her career in operations at ExxonMobil, where she supported end to end distribution and supply planning at the world’s largest lubricant blending plant in Beaumont, TX. Drawn to social impact work, Brooke left the oil and gas industry to work in non-profit, where she’s since thrived in doing work that builds organizational sustainability and impact.

Brooke received her BBA from the University of Oklahoma and is currently working on her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

As Manager of Finance, Cristina supports all Good Reason Houston operations including finance and office management.

She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston where she studied nonprofit management. She developed a deeper understanding and passion for nonprofits through her previous work at the United Way of Greater Houston and Ronald McDonald House Houston.

As an HISD graduate and Houston native, Cristina is thrilled to work with the Good Reason Houston team in pursuit of our mission to increase the number of children exceeding in high-quality learning environments.

As the Manager of People Operations, Sydney supports Good Reason Houston’s general operations, hiring and onboarding functions, and internal team culture and development. Before joining the Good Reason Houston team, Sydney served as the Director of Operations with Teach for America Houston’s Network Learning and Innovation Hub, where she supported regional programming events, internal operations, and communications. She began her career in the classroom as a Teach for America Corps Member, where she taught 5th grade English Language Arts, sat on the Teacher Leadership Board, and was awarded the Outstanding Teaching Award by Humanities Texas. Sydney received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University and her Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University.

As Operations Associate, Amy supports Good Reason Houston’s office operations, internal organizational culture, and executes administrative functions for cross-functional team members.

Prior to joining the Good Reason Houston team, Amy worked in e-commerce within the sustainable startup sphere where she supported visual direction, site operations, and the strategic implementation of internal systems and processes.

Amy received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from Texas Tech University.