SPEAKERS
Featured Speakers
Commissioner Mike Morath
Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, Mike Morath has served as the Commissioner of Education since January 2016. As Commissioner, he heads the TEA, which oversees pre-kindergarten through high school education for more than five million students enrolled in our public schools. Morath’s work at the TEA focuses on four strategic priorities: supporting our teachers and principals; building a strong foundation of reading and math for all students; connecting high school to career and college; and improving our state’s low-performing schools. Learn more here.
Sydney Chaffee
Sydney Chaffee is a 9th grade National Board-Certified Humanities teacher, department chair, and instructional coach at Codman Academy Charter Public School in Dorchester, Massachusetts. As 2017 National Teacher of the Year, she has captivated global audiences with her thoughts on the limitless, world-changing power of teachers and students. Sydney is driven by her passion for helping diverse learners grow through authentic, relevant, interdisciplinary curricula. She earned her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and her M.Ed. from Lesley University. Learn more at www.sydneychaffee.com.
Session Speakers
Stacy Avery
As Director of Postsecondary Preparation Programs, Stacy provides leadership for the TEA in areas crucial to preparing students for postsecondary success. Stacy oversees the CCR School Models Initiative, Advanced Academics, College Career Military Readiness Outcomes Bonus allowable expenditures, HB 3 College Prep Exam and Industry-Based Certification Reimbursements, STEM and High School Equivalency.
Tonie Badillo
Tonie Badillo serves as Dean of Dual Credit and Early College High Schools at El Paso Community College. She coordinates efforts with the region’s school districts, Region 19 ESC, the University of Texas at El Paso and Texas Tech University El Paso.
Christine Bailie
Christine is the Assistant Director for Postsecondary Preparation Programs at the TEA and provides leadership for the CCR School Models Initiative. She directs strategic planning for the CCR School Models Initiative and the creation of professional development opportunities for network members.
Avery Barrera
Avery is a Statewide Career and Technical Education Coordinator at the TEA, supporting the Arts, A/V Technology and Communications career cluster and Industry-Based Certifications. Her work encompasses leading the industry-based certification evaluation process and providing program support and technical assistance for the Arts/A/V Technology and Communications Programs of Study.
Alexis Bauserman
Alexis is the Director of Counseling, Advising and Student Supports at the TEA. Her team works to provide research-based resources and technical assistance to districts to support their efforts to plan, implement and evaluate a comprehensive counseling program.
Guadalupe Chávez
Guadalupe Chávez is the La Joya ISD Academies Director. He supports ECHS and T-STEM campuses as well as the Ford NGL Academies. He spent 23 years in higher education at South Texas College, the University of Texas at Austin and Texas State Technical College.
Stephen Fernandez
Stephen Fernandez has served Socorro ISD for the past 14 years. He started as a science teacher and then moved into curriculum coaching. Currently, he is the Director of Empire Early College, a school that strives to prepare scholars for post secondary success.
Faith Flores
Faith Flores was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas. She graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in University Studies. This is her second year serving as a Success Coach at Estacado High School, her alma mater. She loves being a part of the Matador Family!
Anna Lisa Garza
Anna Lisa Garza works as the Director of ECHS for Seguin ISD. Prior to her 12 years at Seguin ISD, Anna Lisa worked in higher education at the University of Texas at San Antonio and Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. Anna Lisa’s role as the Director of Seguin ECHS has allowed her to combine her personal career goal of improving opportunities for student success with her love of helping students reach their full potential.
Krystal Garza
Krystal Garza serves as the Statewide Coordinator of CCR School Models at the TEA. She oversees designation activities of the CCR School Models Network, management of P-TECH programming and grants and CCR School Models resource development. She specializes in identifying best practices among secondary schools, institutions of higher education and industry partners.
James Christopher Gee
James Gee is an Assistant Principal at Riverside High School in the Ysleta Independent School District. His duties include overseeing the Career Center and P-TECH for Riverside and YISD.
David O. Gutierrez
David O. Gutierrez serves as the Education Relations Supervisor at Workforce Solutions Lower Rio. He works with local school districts, colleges and employers to empower our youth by providing access to work-based learning opportunities.
Susan Henderson
Susan serves on the Educate Texas CCR School Models team as Deputy Director of Programs. She is focused on school models such as ECHS, P-TECH and T-STEM. Susan supports the growth and expansion of these models through technical assistance and professional development of CCR School Model leaders.
Kay Humes
Kay is the Statewide Coordinator for Advanced Academics at the TEA. She provides strategic leadership and guidance to districts for all Advanced Academics programming. She is primarily responsible for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Dual Credit, College Preparation courses, TSIA and the use of College, Career and Military Readiness Outcomes Bonus funds.
Tracy Johnson
Tracy is the Statewide Coordinator for College and Career Readiness at the TEA. She supports the Advanced Academics team in providing strategic leadership and guidance on assessments to districts. She is primarily responsible for developing and managing the HB 3 College Preparation Assessments and Industry-Based Certification Reimbursements policy.
Dr. Myshie M. Pagel
Dr. Myshie Pagel has worked in higher education for more than 20 years as a faculty member and administrator. She currently serves as the Dean of Education and CTE at the Valle Verde campus of El Paso Community College (EPCC). She serves as the EPCC liaison for three P-TECH campuses and one ECHS campus.
Dr. Reo Pruiett
Reo is the Senior Director of Programs at Educate Texas. She leads efforts around college and career readiness. Reo is committed to the success of all students across Texas and has dedicated countless hours to developing technical assistance for CCR School Model campuses. She has seen firsthand that the work of the CCR School Models network is the difference-maker for many students.
Stephanie Reyes
Stephanie Reyes received her Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Texas at San Antonio. A first generation graduate herself, she is currently working at Estacado Early College High School as a Success Coach, where she has the opportunity to advocate for and guide first-generation students.
Tanna Rodriguez
Tanna Rodriguez, M.Ed., is the Director of Estacado ECHS in Lubbock. Her background as an educator started as a secondary mathematics teacher and coach. She then became a district math coordinator before transitioning into a high school counselor role. As lead counselor, Tanna began a partnership with Texas Tech University with the dual credit courses offered at Estacado and was promoted to the director position.
Garrett Ritchey
Garrett Ritchey, Principal of Clint High School has 17 years of experience in education and led his campus to implement both P-TECH and T-STEM school-within-a-school models on the same campus. He has worked in CCR School Model campuses since 2014.
Steve Smith
Steve is a project manager in the College, Career and Military Preparation division of the TEA. Steve’s work encompasses project and contract management support, content and resource development, Department of Defense Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) program awareness and labor market analysis and reporting that improve Texas college and career outcomes.
Jarrad Toussant
As Director of College, Career and Military Preparation for the TEA, Jarrad leads coordination with the TWC and the THECB, supports the growth and quality of the CCR School Models initiative and advanced academic offerings, the state’s career and technical education programs of study, the state’s advising and student supports efforts, and the development of regional pathways.
Debbie Wieland
As Assistant Director of Career and Technical Education at the TEA, Debbie provides support for the Education and Training, Hospitality and Tourism and Human Services career clusters. Additionally, Debbie supports ESC Regions 12, 13 and 20 and serves on the boards of directors for several Career and Technical Student Organizations and teacher professional organizations.
Kenya wilson
As a Deputy Director of Programs for the CCR School Models team at Educate Texas, Kenya provides technical support to designated ECHS, P-TECH and T-STEM schools across Texas. Kenya has implemented T-STEM programs in three districts and trained teachers and administrators nationwide.
Andrea Yacoub
San Antonio native Andrea Yacoub pursued her undergraduate degree at Texas Tech University, where she majored in kinesiology. Following college, she decided to pursue a career in education. For the past two years, she has worked at Estacado Early College High School as a Success Coach.