85 school leaders selected for Harvard
For Immediate Release
Monday, May 09, 2022Media Contact
Tessa Benavides-Cooper
tbenavides@charlesbuttfdn.org
(210) 445-3965
Cohort represents 51 school districts and three charter schools from across Texas.
AUSTIN, TX (May 9, 2022) – The Charles Butt Foundation, a non-profit pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships, announced today it will sponsor 85 educators from 54 district and charter schools across Texas to attend weeklong summer institutes at the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this will be the first summer that the Charles Butt Foundation is able to send educators to participate in the Harvard program since the summer of 2019. Of the 85 educators, 45 were selected in 2020 but were not able to attend the program due to COVID restrictions. The other 40 educators represent the newest cohort selected in 2022.
With these new cohorts, the Charles Butt Foundation will have paid for more than 1,400 educators to attend training at Harvard through the Raising School Leaders program, an initiative designed to develop stronger school leaders who will enhance the quality of education across Texas. The Charles Butt Foundation covers all expenses for the attendees including tuition, travel, hotel, and other discretionary costs for a total investment of more than $10 million since the program’s inception.
Attendees, including individual principals as well as campus teams, will participate in one of two weeklong workshops on leadership development, coaching, or school turnaround led by Harvard faculty and other national and international experts. Each program is designed to inspire, challenge, and empower school leaders to bring lasting impact to their campuses and communities, the entire state of Texas, and beyond.
“Great teachers, along with strong school and district leaders, represent the most significant influencers of academic achievement and supportive culture,” said Tim Miller, Director of Leadership Development at the Charles Butt Foundation. “Our alumni often report that their Harvard experience is the best professional development they have ever experienced and that they return to their campuses energized, inspired, and empowered to make meaningful change that benefits all students.”
Following the Harvard Institutes, attendees remain a part of the program’s statewide network of school leaders and are empowered to work together to create change at the campus and district levels. Alumni are sponsored to attend the organization’s annual leadership symposium and receive continuous support and professional development.
A list of all cohort members from across Texas can be found here.
- Adine ISD
- Aisley Adams, Principal, Nimitz High School Ninth Grade Campus, 2020
- Aledo ISD
- Holly Elgin, Principal, Walsh Elementary School, 2020
- Alief ISD
- Courtney Marshall, Principal, Collins Elementary School, 2020
- Jennifer Silva, Principal, Smith Elementary School, 2022
- Allen ISD
- Aretha Jackson, Principal, Kerr Elementary School, 2020
- Birdville ISD
- Jennifer Perry, Director of Teaching and Learning, 2020
- Brownsville ISD
- Patricia Garza, Principal, Ortiz Elementary School, 2022
- Burnet CISD
- Douglas Marvin, Principal, Quest High School, 2020
- Jessica McMullen, Principal, Richey Elementary School, 2020
- Canutillo ISD
- Jesica Arellano, Principal, Northwest Early College High School, 2020
- Jonathan Flores, Principal, Bill Childress Elementary School, 2022
- Christopher Judge, Principal, Canutillo Middle School, 2020
- Jessica Melendez-Carrillo, Principal, Reyes Elementary School, 2020
- Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
- Jennifer Putman, Principal, Stark Elementary School, 2020
- Ahveance Jones, Principal, Las Colinas Elementary School, 2020
- Clarksville ISD
- Felissa Anderson, Principal, Clarksville Middle High School, 2022
- Clear Creek ISD
- Sharon Lopez, Principal, Clear Brook High School, 2020
- Monica Speaks, Principal, Clear View High School, 2020
- Clint ISD
- Barbara Flores, Principal, Surratt Elementary School, 2022
- Conroe ISD
- Melanie Bujnoch, Principal, Oak Ridge High School Ninth Grade Campus, 2020
- Copperas Cove ISD
- Jennifer Maples, Principal, Clements/Parsons Elementary School, 2022
- Crandall ISD
- Amy McAfee, Principal, Crandall Middle School, 2020
- Dripping Springs ISD
- Angela Gamez, Principal, Dripping Springs High School, 2022
- East Central ISD
- Stacey Johnston, Principal, Sinclair Elementary School, 2020
- Edcouch-Elsa ISD
- Darren Cole-Ochoa, Principal, Truan Junior High School, 2022
- Marisol Rocha, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, 2022
- Celina Silva, English Teacher/Department Chair, Truan Junior High School, 2022
- Mauro Tijerina, Assistant Principal, Truan Junior High School, 2022
- Elgin ISD
- Sarah Borowicz, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, 2022
- Theresa Colunga, Principal, Booker T. Washington Elementary School, 2022
- Patricia Esquivel, Bilingual/Dual Language Teacher, Booker T. Washington Elementary School, 2022
- Denise Guerrero, Intervention Coordinator, Booker T. Washington Elementary School, 2022
- Robert Truhill, Principal, Elgin Intermediate School, 2022
- Fort Bend ISD
- Kristi Durham, Principal, Madden Elementary School, 2020
- Courtney Muceus, Principal, First Colony Middle School, 2020
- Wendy Nunez, Executive Director of Elementary Schools, 2020
- Nikki Roberts, Principal, Glover Elementary School, 2020
- Forth Worth ISD
- Dorene Benavidez, Executive Director, 2022
- Nakita Brewer, Principal, Seminary Hills Park Elementary School, 2022
- Haley Jones, Assistant Principal, Seminary Hills Park Elementary School, 2022
- Marie Vinson, Teacher, Seminary Hills Park Elementary School, 2022
- Frisco ISD
- Kellie Rapp, Principal, Tadlock Elementary School, 2020
- Garland ISD
- Lily Dominguez Carrero, Assistant Principal, Bullock Elementary School, 2020
- Georgetown ISD
- Latishia Ptomey, Principal, Cooper Elementary School, 2020
- Grapevine Colleyville ISD
- Daniela Alvarez, Assistant Principal, Timberline Elementary School, 2022
- Nicki Clem, Student Support Specialist, Timberline Elementary School, 2022
- Liz Hilcher, Principal, Timberline Elementary School, 2022
- Shiela Shiver, Executive Director of Instructional Leadership, 2022
- Gregory Portland ISD
- Brenda Brinkman, Principal, Austin Elementary School, 2022
- Hays CISD
- Monica Salas-Truhill, Principal, Hemphill Elementary School, 2022
- IDEA Public Schools
- Jill Gumbs, Director of Leader Development, 2020
- Ingram ISD
- Justin Crittenden, Principal, Moore High School, 2020
- Kermit ISD
- Sonia Gonzales, Principal, Kermit Elementary School, 2020
- La Féria ISD
- Yvette Cantu, Principal, Dominguez Elementary School, 2020
- La Vega ISD
- Shaunte Stewart, Principal, La Vega Elementary School, 2020
- Lamar CISD
- Henva Medlow, Director of Leadership Development, 2020
- Mary Ellen Rocha, Principal, Seguin Early Childhood Center, 2020
- Laredo ISD
- Rosalba Martinez, Principal, Sanchez-Ochoa Elementary School, 2020
- Little Elm ISD
- William Bush, Principal, Little Elm High School, 2020
- Christine Gibson, Principal, Prestwick STEM Academy, 2020
- Stephen Richardson, Principal, Hackberry Elementary School, 2020
- Mansfield ISD
- Erica Gorruso, Principal, Howard Middle School, 2022
- McKinney ISD
- Alvin Conley, Principal, Burks Elementary School, 2020
- Midland ISD
- Karri Beard, Math Teacher, San Jacinto Junior High School, 2022
- Jessica Gore, Principal, San Jacinto Junior High School, 2022
- Luz Martinez, Associate Superintendent, 2022
- John Wilks, Social Studies Teacher/Department Chair, San Jacinto Junior High School, 2022
- Mineral Wells ISD
- Doug Funk, Principal, Mineral Wells High School, 2020
- Navarro ISD
- Clay Scarborough, Principal, Navarro High School, 2022
- Northside ISD
- Juan Perez, Principal, Martin Elementary School, 2020
- Northwest ISD
- Stacy Miles, Principal, Eaton High School, 2022
- Kasey Williams, Principal, Schluter Elementary School, 2022
- Prosper ISD
- Dustin Toth, Principal, Rock Hill High School, 2022
- Richardson ISD
- Michael Thomas, Principal, Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet, 2022
- San Marcos CISD
- Scott Masini, Principal, Travis Elementary School, 2020
- Spring Branch ISD
- Michelle Garcia, Principal, Ridgecrest Elementary, 2022
- Sundown ISD
- Jeremy Griffith, Principal, Sundown Middle School, 2020
- Terrell ISD
- Alexis Dennis, Principal, Gilbert Willie Sr. Elementary School, 2022
- Tornillo ISD
- Nadia De La Rosa, Principal, Tornillo Intermediate School, 2020
- University of Texas Charter School
- Nicole Whetstone, Executive Principal, UT Elementary School, 2020
- Uplift Education
- Elizabeth Oviatt, Academic Director, Uplift Summit Primary School, 2020
- Water Valley ISD
- DeeAnna Blanton, Principal, Water Valley High School, 2020
- Wichita Falls ISD
- Alexandra Martin, Principal, Fowler Elementary School, 2022
- Ysleta ISD
- Juan Guzman, Principal, Scotsdale Elementary School, 2020
- Claudia Poblano, Principal, East Point Elementary School, 2022
About the Charles Butt Foundation
The Charles Butt Foundation is pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships. The Foundation is working toward a future in which all Texas children and families live in vibrant communities supported by a world-class education system. To learn more, visit CharlesButtFdn.org.
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