We use cookies from third party services to offer you a better experience. Read more about how we use cookies on our Privacy Policy page.
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Carlos Maestas
Chair
Key Ideas
Key Ideas
Executive Committee
Carlos Maestas is the founder and chief storysmith at Key Ideas, a Texas-based storytelling firm that helps organizations sharpen and share their messages. Carlos has directed storytelling projects across four continents and six countries. In Liberia, he shared stories of the Ebola outbreak and the recovery from two brutal civil wars. In Moldova, he shared stories of children susceptible to human trafficking aging out of orphanages at 16. Carlos was a key storytelling partner for the Human Service Council of New York and launched a multi-year Just Pay campaign to fight for equal pay for the human service workforce. In 2024, NYC announced over $741 million in long-overdue raises for human service workers. Since Key Ideas launched in 2002, it has won multiple awards and received five Lone Star EMMY nominations. A stand-up comedian who once opened for Saturday Night Live alum Dennis Miller, Carlos has an MBA from The University of Incarnate Word and a BA in Marketing from UTSA. He is currently a PhD student at Our Lady of the Lake University. His book on Storytelling, Mommy Lied to God, launched in the Summer of 2020 and quickly became an Amazon bestseller. In January 2024, San Antonio City Councilwoman Dr. Sukh Kaur (District 1) appointed Carlos to the Brooks Board.
Carlos is the Chair of the SAISD Foundation board and serves on the Texas Public Radio Board. Carlos is married to a career educator, and he and his wife have three kids.
Elaine De Los Santos
Chair Elect
Community Member
Community Member
Executive Committee
Elaine De Los Santos is a proud Thomas Jefferson High School alumnus. She attended St. Edward’s University in Austin on a four-year athletic scholarship and earned her BBA in Management.
Elaine has worked in the insurance industry her entire career, most recently as a Casualty Examiner for USAA.
Elaine is passionate about giving back to her community and stays active at St. Luke Catholic Church as a core member of the Women of the Well ministry and was a past ACTS director.
Believing that education is the key to success and that every child should have access to a higher education, Elaine previously served on the Healy Murphy Center board. She also served on Rey Feo 73, Augustine Cortez’s Royal court and helped raise money for college scholarships.
In her spare time, Elaine enjoys biking, playing with her two fur babies, spending time with family and friends and traveling the world.
Michael Grundon
Treasurer
Firstmark Credit Union
Firstmark Credit Union
Executive Committee
Michael Grundon, is Chief Financial Officer at Firstmark Credit Union. He joined Firstmark in 2016, and as a member of the senior executive team, he oversees the credit union’s financial operations. Mike has over 30 years of financial management experience. He resides in San Antonio with his wife. Mike is a graduate of San Diego State University with a BS in Business Administration earned in 1987. Over the years, he has volunteered time with worthy causes such as the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Junior Achievement, Salvation Army, and youth sports administration.
Connie Gonzalez
Secretary
Brooks
Brooks
Executive Committee
Connie Gonzalez serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Brooks, where she drives business and community development initiatives to accelerate long-term economic growth, investment, and regional transformation. In this role, she leads the strategic direction for attracting investment, strengthening public-private partnerships, and fostering inclusive community engagement.
Since joining Brooks in 2015, Connie has held multiple leadership positions, including Director of Strategy & Community Relations and Director of Public Relations. She also served as the founding Executive Director of Brooks Gives Back; a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on strengthening the surrounding community by connecting the broader Brooks network to meaningful local causes. Under her guidance, the organization has distributed more than $820,000 in philanthropic support since 2019.
Connie began her career as a journalist, serving as an anchor and reporter in Arkansas and West Texas. A San Antonio native, she started her professional journey as an intern at News 4 WOAI and later contributed to public affairs efforts with Spurs Sports & Entertainment.
A passionate advocate for education and community development, Connie currently serves on the Executive Committees of the San Antonio ISD Foundation and the San Antonio Mobility Coalition (SAMCo) Board of Directors.
Her civic leadership includes past service as Chair of the City of San Antonio Planning Commission and the inaugural Chair of the South Texas Business Partnership Board of Directors. She has also held leadership and advisory roles with CAST Med High School, Texas A&M University–San Antonio’s Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement, and the City of San Antonio’s Removing Barriers to Housing Technical Group.
Connie is a graduate of Leadership San Antonio Class 44, City South Leadership Class 30, and the North Chamber Innovative Leadership Program, and she served on the Leadership San Antonio Class 45 Steering Committee. In 2021, she was selected to participate in the Harvard Business School Young American Leaders Program.
Connie has been recognized as one of the “Texas 100 Influential Professionals to Watch” and was honored as the San Antonio Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Woman of the Year.
Deborah Amini
Community Member
Executive Committee
Deborah Amini has been a resident in San Antonio since 1962, having graduated from its public schools in 1968. She received her BA in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1972 and her Master’s in Educational Psychology from the same institution in 1976.
She spent three years working for St. Jude’s Psychiatric Hospital in Austin before moving to San Antonio to work for the Edgewood Independent School District as a psychologist in the Jose Cardenas Center for Developmental Disabilities. Subsequently, she was a co-owner of the PlayWorks Toy Stores before beginning a successful real estate career as a commercial broker.
Mrs. Amini has been a board member of Boysville, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of San Antonio and Young Life San Antonio. She and her husband, Rex, were active supporters of and contributors to the Episcopal Church of Rwanda from 2005-2007. Mrs. Amini served on the board of San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries(SAMM) from 2005 through 2014 and was board chair in 2012-2013. For ten years, she served on the boards of both KIPP San Antonio Public Schools and Teach for America, where she served as vice-chair. Mrs. Amini was a member of the Advisory Council for the Christ Healing Center.
Mrs. Amini currently serves on the boards of the San Antonio Independent School District Foundation and City Education Partners. Both organizations focus on education outcomes for students in the inner city of San Antonio.
Mario Barrera
Norton Rose Fulbright
Executive Committee
Mario Barrera graduated magna cum laude with his BA from Pan American University and his J.D from The University of Texas School of Law. He is Of Counsel at the firm Norton Rose Fulbright, specializing in labor and employment law. Mario has tried first chair jury trials and arbitrations throughout Texas. He also conducted both employment investigations and training seminars for a variety of clients. Mario is licensed to practice in Texas and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Federal Circuit, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mario and his wife live in the District.
Emmanuel Casasola
BioBridge Global
Executive Committee
Emmanuel currently serves as the Vice President, Laboratory Operations, QualTex Laboratories for BioBridge Global. BioBridge Global is a non-profit organization with three distinct operating subsidiaries that focus on donor-to-patient solutions, with its foundation centered around South Texas Blood and Tissue. QualTex Laboratories is a high-volume testing laboratory with sites in TX and GA and is the second-largest non-profit lab in the country. Emmanuel has been with the organization since 2017 and leads a team of 125+ laboratory professionals who support BioBridge Global and help ensure that the culture of quality is maintained. Emmanuel was born in Mexico City but grew up in San Antonio, TX, where he received a BS from the University of the Incarnate Word. Emmanuel has been a quality leader for 20 years in food safety, environmental sciences, and recently in the health and biotech industry, leading various organizations through ISO, FDA, USDA, CLIA, EU, and TGA assessments and compliance inspections. Emmanuel is passionate about community involvement and civic engagement, which led to his selection to LeadershipSA in 2022 for the 47th class. LeadershipSA is a leadership program that is co-sponsored by the Greater Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in San Antonio.
Letty Gonzales
Generations Federal Credit Union
Letty Gonzales leads all Marketing, Member and Employee Engagement efforts, including community involvement and staff engagement initiatives. Her 25+ years of experience include retail, private and commercial Banking. Gonzales is a graduate of Leadership SA Class 44 and the SA Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Alexander Briseño Leadership Development Program. She serves on the Boards of San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and SA Sports, and volunteers with countless community-serving organizations.
Laura Saldivar Luna
Piñata Possible
Executive Committee
Laura Saldivar Luna (she/her/ella) is the CEO and founder of Piñata Possible, a transformational coaching practice helping purpose-driven leaders unlock breakthroughs in their inner leadership and external impact. A former educator and executive, Laura spent nearly 20 years leading from the classroom to the C-suite—most recently as Chief People Officer at Teach For America. Now as an entrepreneur and coach, Laura’s work is rooted in the belief that when leaders liberate their full expression, they experience expanded clarity, joy, power, and impact. The first in her family to graduate from college, Laura brings deep cultural grounding, global perspective, and heart-forward strategy to everything she does. She lives in San Antonio, Texas with her husband, two kids, three corgis, and a spirit of possibility that’s contagious.
Rhia Pape
SA Digital Connects
Executive Committee
Born and raised in San Antonio, Rhia is currently the Executive Director of SA Digital Connects. With 19 years of public service, she is a proud Latina and staunch advocate for equity and belonging. Rhia began her career as a Special Education Teacher in SAISD and moved into program design/development for community-wide impact initiatives. Rhia has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from UIW, and an MBA in Information Technology from Texas Tech. She specializes in strategic planning, large-scale project management, and Agile methodologies. Rhia is dedicated to creating equitable opportunities for all.
Erika Robinson, Esq
Trinity University
Executive Committee
Erika D. Robinson is a skilled education attorney specializing in legal strategy and counsel for K-12 school districts, higher education institutions, and school leaders. She has extensive experience developing and implementing legal strategies that support educational priorities while ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. Ms. Robinson earned her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law, a Master of Education from Ohio University, and a Bachelor of Political Science from Agnes Scott College. Her expertise includes navigating complex legal issues, developing policies, and managing risk, helping clients achieve their goals while minimizing legal exposure. Known for her strategic mindset and collaborative approach, she works closely with educational leaders to craft practical, legally sound solutions. With a strong foundation in law and education, Ms. Robinson is dedicated to providing insightful, strategic advice that advances institutional success and legal integrity.
Board of Directors
Dr. Shari Albright
Fair Winds Management, LLC
Shari Albright received her B.A. in Education and M.A. in School Psychology/ Educational Administration from Trinity University before she received her Ed. D. in Educational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. She brings to her leadership on the board her experience as the former president of the Charles Butt Foundation, her experience as Chair of the Department of Education at Trinity, a background in elementary and middle school teaching as well as elementary and high school leadership, and educational non-profit leadership. Shari is committed to fostering innovative and empowering education for all students in our communities. Shari lives and works in the District.
Dr. Jaime Aquino**
San Antonio ISD Superintendent Ex Officio (Non-Voting Member)
Desiree Alonzo-Curtis
Port San Antonio
Desiree Alonzo-Curtis, a San Antonio native, is the Assistant Airport Director of the Airport Operations for Port San Antonio and supports the oversight of Kelly Field’s civil operations and airport development, specifically the integration of applied technologies that emerge from the Tech Port strategy. She is an accomplished Aviation leader with over 14 years of experience in the areas of General Aviation, Airport Operations, Airport Security, and Facility Maintenance. She is also a speaker at industry-leading events both in the U.S. and Internationally.
She earned her Bachelor’s in Professional Aeronautics with minors in Aviation Safety and Management in 2006 and her Master’s in Aeronautical Science with specializations in Aeronautics and Space Studies in 2010 from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Her goals in education continue and she is currently working towards earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Leadership Studies. Along with her professional and educational background, her passion for community service includes volunteering with the Archdiocese of San Antonio Catholic Youth Organization as a coach and was a past Parish board member, South Central Chapter of AAAE At-Large Board Member, and the FBI San Antonio Citizens Academy Alumni Association Vice Presiden.
Nate Beasley
Whataburger
Nate Beasley is a sustainability and compliance professional with a background in education and a passion for mentorship. He currently serves as the Sustainability & Resource Optimization Specialist at Whataburger, where he leads the development of the company’s sustainability strategy, compliance and ethics systems, and employee mentorship and engagement programs.
Before entering the corporate sustainability space, Nate taught World History at the high school level, creating project-based learning experiences to support students’ holistic growth. He is passionate about helping young people discover their interests, build transferable skills, and develop both personally and academically through intentional mentorship and guidance.
Nate holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography and a Master of Applied Geography in Natural Resources & Environmental Studies from Texas State University. He is grounded in the belief that empowering individuals through education and mentorship drives meaningful impact across organizations and communities.
Ernest Bromley
Pescador Public Strategies
Ernest Bromley, an SAISD alumnus from Thomas Jefferson High School, is the Managing Partner at Pescador Public Strategies. He is the former Chairman/CEO of Bromley Communications, LLC, and a part of the agency’s founding in 1981. As CEO, Director of Research, Executive Vice President, and President, Ernest helped develop the agency’s research and Hispanic marketing approach, and led the agency to become the premier Hispanic marketing communications company, changing the American marketplace. Prior to the agency, he taught economics at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Master of Business Administration from UTSA. When not at Pescador or fulfilling his board commitments, Ernest enjoys the great outdoors, especially going fishing and/or entertaining family and friends with his guitar.
Jose Ramon Campos
YP LLC
José Ramon Campos, co-owner CommonWealth Coffee House & Bakery, grew up on the northside of San Antonio, where his parents settled after moving here from Mexico City. He attended Southern Methodist University and spent a semester abroad in Nantes, France, an experience that has since shaped his outlook. Graduating with degrees in Economics with Finance Applications and Political Science, he has returned to San Antonio and settled in the Tobin Hill area. The entrepreneur also focuses his time on revitalizing homes in the urban core.
Dr. Richard Carranza
Carranza Educational Consulting
Richard Carranza currently serves as Chief of Strategy and Global Development at IXL. He is a long-time educator and public education administrator serving most recently as the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education from 2018 to 2021. He previously served as the superintendent of the Houston Independent and the San Francisco Unified School Districts. He began his career as a high school bilingual social studies and mariachi music teacher, and then as a principal, both in Tucson, Arizona. When on a middle school mariachi trip to San Antonio, he fell in love with the heart and culture of the city. Richard and his wife Raquel have chosen San Antonio as their home.
Julian Casillas
Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP
Julian Casillas, a San Antonio native, is an attorney at Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP, where he represents various taxing entities, including Bexar County, the City of San Antonio and SAISD. Julian is also a member of the German Club, the Order of the Alamo, and the Texas Cavaliers.
Dr. Eric Castillo
Alamo Colleges
Dr. Eric Castillo (he/him/él) is a second-generation Xicano from Yanaguana/San Antonio, Tejas, a social justice practitioner and scholar helping to create a just, compassionate, and liberated world. Committed to the lifelong practice of solidarity and peacemaking, he co-leads and co-creates opportunities where people can collectively flourish and work towards positive and sustainable social change. His community organizing background focuses on immigration, education equity, and racial justice and he facilitates community healing circles, truth, healing, and transformation programs, along with various community-focused projects such as the First Peoples Project of Yanaguana, CompassionateUSA, The San Antonio Peace Center, and the Black Westside History Project.
Dr. Castillo received his Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of New Mexico and was an Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship and Middle Eastern Studies Faculty Fellowship recipient. He currently holds a Racial Healing Practitioner Fellowship with the National Compadres Network, funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. He currently serves as Associate Vice Chancellor for Arts, Culture, and Community Impact at the Alamo Community Colleges District.
Katie Ferrier
San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce
Anthony Magaro, CCP, SPHR, CBP, GRP, SHRM-SCP is the Vice President of Human Resources at Southwest Research Institute. He has served as a college adjunct faculty member teaching courses in Human Resources, Compensation, Organization Design and HR Law. He is a faculty member of the World at Work (American Compensation Association) faculty training HR professionals in base pay management, the regulatory environment of compensation, use of compensation market data, FLSA and international management of human resources.
Tyler Jones
Frost Bank
Tyler Jones is Vice President of Corporate Banking at Frost Bank. Tyler uses his knowledge and experience as a trusted advisor to help develop and foster relationships in his community. Over the years, he has spent time volunteering with United Way of Williamson County (Resource Development Committee), Junior Achievement, and Salvation Army.
Jessica Leach-George
Silver Ventures
Jessica Leach-George serves as the Talent Attraction Manager at Silver Ventures, bringing over 25 years of experience as an entrepreneurial leader. She spent 12 of those years as the founder of a successful staffing and recruitment agency, where she built a strong reputation for identifying and securing top-tier talent for businesses across San Antonio.
Jessica is a passionate advocate for community engagement. She previously chaired Silver Ventures’ Community Engagement Committee, where she led initiatives aligned with the company’s vision to continuously transform San Antonio. Her work focused on reinventing shared experiences around food and learning, with a deep commitment to celebrating life and promoting the well-being of children. She also served on the Board of Directors for Boysville, Inc. for four years, further demonstrating her dedication to youth and family services. A proud mother of two sons—an 18-year-old college freshman and a 10-year-old fourth grader—Jessica draws daily inspiration from her children. Their influence fuels her unwavering dedication to nurturing and advocating for the well-being of all children in the community.
Bernadette Martinez
Community Member
Bernadette is a proud Thomas A. Edison High School alumnus. Born and raised in San Antonio, she is proud to call SAISD her community. She is an active volunteer at Mark Twain Dual Language Academy, where her two children attend. She is an eyewitness to the impact the SAISD Foundation has on schools, the community and students’ school life. The diverse community and her positive experiences in SAISD have played a role in shaping her into who she is today. Her background is in talent development, where she has a passion for developing others through instructional lead courses, career development and online resources.
Cara Nichols
Community Member
Cara Nichols served as Director of Community Affairs at Rackspace where she led the Rackspace Foundation, an employee-funded nonprofit that implemented out-of-school enrichment programs in seven NEISD Title I schools. Upon leaving Rackspace, she published The New Corporate Citizen, a book that shares the “Rackspace model” and shows others how to recreate it in their own communities. She does public speaking engagements on this topic, and started a consulting firm, threefolded, to help companies stand up impactful, business-driven CSR programs. Cara also serves as board chair of the San Antonio Report, a local nonprofit digital newsroom, and has been on that board since 2020. In this role, she helps steer the governance and financial sustainability of the organization. Additionally, Cara was appointed to the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women and serves as president of her neighborhood association.
Tiffany O'Neill
Holdsworth Center
After moving from Arizona to open and lead the first BASIS charter school in Texas, Tiffany O’Neill fell swiftly in love with the Lone Star State. Since then, Tiffany has consulted with other charter networks on school start up and turnaround and worked with Teach For America- San Antonio to manage internal operations and lead strategic external relationships including those with school districts, community partners, local officials and the media.
Tiffany currently works for the Holdsworth Center where she works directly with superintendents and their leadership teams to develop robust internal leadership pipelines- with a focus on the role of principal.
Dr. Victoria Pineda
Community Member
Dr. Victoria Pineda is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), with more than 20 years of professional development experience; fifteen of those years dedicated to fundraising for higher education. She has been responsible for more than $99 million of individual donations to various universities and nonprofits. Victoria has in-depth experience in strategic planning, stewardship and understands the giving climate within Texas and New Mexico as well as throughout the Western United States.
Victoria holds an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree, both from St. Edward’s University and a doctorate from Vanderbilt University. Victoria says, “I believe that my love of people, philanthropy, community and a high-quality experience with a brand should be common practice in higher education.”
Victoria is a recent transplant from El Paso. She is the wife of Richard and mother to Francesca Rose, 8. Her love of higher education and philanthropy provides the energy that keeps her driving toward excellence!
Brenda Cervantes Sanchez
CPS Energy
Brenda Cervantes Sanchez is a proud SAISD alum and Fox Tech High School graduate. She recently joined CPS Energy as the Executive Brand and Outreach Program Manager in the Office of the President, where she advances the thought-leadership brand of CPS Energy’s senior executives and cultivates meaningful engagement with key community partners.
Prior to CPS Energy, she served as Director of Integrated Marketing at greater:SATX Regional Economic Partnership, supporting storytelling and strategic initiatives to promote regional growth. She also spent eight years with Whataburger, where she led field marketing efforts across San Antonio and surrounding communities, strengthening brand presence and customer loyalty.
Born and raised in San Antonio, Brenda earned dual degrees from the University of Texas at Austin—a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish—and later completed her MBA at UTSA.
Deeply committed to service and leadership development, Brenda has been a board member of the Texas Exes San Antonio Chapter for nearly a decade, previously serving as President. She recently served on the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Alexander Briseño Leadership Development Program (ABLDP) 2025 Steering Committee, following her graduation from the ABLDP 2024 Cohort. She is also an alumna of the Latina Leadership Institute (LLI) Cohort 6.
Outside of her professional and community work, Brenda enjoys life in San Antonio with her husband and their two young daughters.
RJ Sanchez
Spurs Sports & Entertainment
RJ Sanchez is a graduate of Lanier High School and a proud product of SAISD and the westside of San Antonio. He pursued a degree in Kinesiology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, graduating in 2010. After receiving his commission as an officer in the United States Army, RJ completed the Field Artillery Officers Leadership Course. He currently serves as a Major in the Army National Guard, having completed Airborne School, Artillery School, Captains Career Course and Joint Fires Operations courses. In 2021, he engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom in Saudi Arabia, where he led a team to support the Royal Saudi Land Forces’ joint operations.
In addition, RJ has taught and coached at Lanier High School, Edison High School, and Irving Middle School. He is now the Spurs Sports Academy Programs Manager for the San Antonio Spurs, where he oversees camps, clinics, and tournaments. RJ credits his successes to the unwavering support of his wife, Amanda, and their two children, Aiden and Jacob.
Alyssa Bailey Smith
H-E-B
Alyssa Bailey Smith is an experienced marketing and digital content professional with a robust background in managing social media, content creation, and strategic marketing initiatives. Currently serving as the Senior Digital Content Manager I at H-E-B since November 2020, Alyssa leads digital content for various merchant desks, collaborating with designers, media planners, and creators to develop impactful campaigns for Texans. Previously, as Marketing Manager and Content Manager at Visit San Antonio, Alyssa directed social media strategies, executed over 100 live activations, and managed a complete redesign of the organization’s website. Additional roles include Marketing & Community Engagement Manager at Experience Bryan College Station, Event & Operations Coordinator at Valero Alamo Bowl. Alyssa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunication Media Studies from Texas A&M University.
Eric Warner
City of San Antonio Aviation Department
Eric Warner serves as a Program Manager with the City of San Antonio Aviation Department
Department, where he leads the Aviation Explorers youth program. In this role, he
partners with industry stakeholders to inspire the next generation of aerospace
professionals while connecting students, parents, and mentors to a broad
network of opportunities, services, and aviation scholarship resources.
Before joining the Aviation Department in 2018, Eric served in the Office of the U.S. Army Chief of Staff at the Pentagon as the Western Regional Director for the Soldier for Life (SFL) program. There, he advanced
policies, programs, and services to support Soldiers, veterans, and families by collaborating with public
and private organizations to strengthen pathways for military-to-civilian transition.
Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Auburn University at Montgomery and a master’s
degree in human resources management from Troy State University. A distinguished military graduate of
Auburn, he went on to serve 24 years in the United States Army as a Military Intelligence and Human
Resource Management Officer.
Kris Wickerham
Community Member
Kristopher Wickerham has been a proud H-E-B Partner since 2010. He is currently the Talent Development Education Programs Leader, where he and his team design and deploy enterprise-wide personal educational resources for Partners.
Before joining H-E-B, Kris was a Texas public educator for 17 years, serving communities in the classroom, central office, and as a campus principal. His wife, Kathy, is an SAISD Administrator, and they are proud, longtime SAISD residents.
Dr. Christine Wong
Texas A&M University –
San Antonio
San Antonio
Christine Wong is an Associate Professor of Counseling at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She received her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, M.A. in Community Counseling, and Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Christine enjoys teaching counseling techniques and internship courses. Her interests include spirituality in counseling and advocating for underserved populations. She believes that every child is worthy and deserving of an education and support system that enables them to not just survive, but thrive.
Dr. Aisha Woods
Trinity University
Dr. Aisha Woods is the Director of Counseling Services at Trinity University and the founder of Dr. Esha Breathes, LLC, a mental health consultation and professional development practice. A proud San Antonio native and product of SAISD for all of K-12, she earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in Counseling Psychology from Our Lady of the Lake University and has been a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in Texas for over 14 years.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Dr. Woods brings a unique blend of discipline, compassion, and humor to her work. She is an APA Minority Fellow and an active community leader, serving on the Board of Directors for the Carver Community Cultural Center and developing mental health workshops for underserved communities. Known for her engaging presence and relatable style, Dr. Woods is passionate about inspiring growth, resilience, and hope in every audience she meets.
Kedrick Wright
Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam, Inc.
Kedrick Wright is a Program Manager with planning, engineering and program management firm Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam, Inc. (LAN). Wright supports LAN’s program management business.
Wright is responsible for managing a range of project types including new construction and renovations to improve the learning environments for LAN’s educational clients. His work includes program development, project planning, procurement, construction administration, closeout, and operational handover.
Wright has nearly 20 years of architectural, construction and program management experience. Prior to joining LAN, he was most recently the San Antonio Independent School District Deputy Chief Operations Officer where he led bond planning and construction, capital improvements, and facilities development. During his time with San Antonio ISD, Wright provided leadership for a $1.3 billion bond program and a
$450 million bond program that worked to replace and modernize schools within the district. Prior to joining San Antonio ISD, Wright worked on capital programs for Sheldon ISD, New Caney ISD and Arlington (VA) Public Schools. Previously, he served in Houston ISD as the Senior Manager of Facilities Planning and Design. In this role, he oversaw a team of facilities planners, program and project managers and architects who helped replace or build over 40 schools across the city as part of the district’s $2 billion capital improvement program.
Wright holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental design (architecture) from Texas A&M University and a master’s in architecture from the University of Southern California.
** Ex Officio (Non-Voting Member)
Advisory Council
Brandon Arceneaux
Charles T. Barrett
Trish DeBerry*
Walter Embrey
Helen Eversberg
Maria Ferrier
Pat Frost*
Leo Gomez
Charles Gonzalez
Tiffany Grant*
Debra Guerrero*
Victoria Moreno Herrera
Derrick Howard*
Gary Joeris
John T. Montford*
John “Chico” Newman
Shannon Nisbet
Suzanne Peterson
Chris Quinn*
Sonia M. Rodriguez*
Kate Rogers
Ricardo Romo
Manny Ruiz*
Minnie Abrego Sanchez
Catherine Torres Stahl
Julian Treviño
Laura Vaccaro
Suzanne Wade
* Past Board of Directors
John Montford and Manny Ruiz also served as Past Board Chairman.
Charles Barrett, Walter Embrey, Maria Ferrier, Charles Gonzalez, Sonia Rodriguez, Ricardo Romo, Minnie Abrego Sanchez and Catherine Torres Stahl are SAISD Alumni and past Inspire Awards Honorees.
Meet the Team
Judy Geelhoed
Executive Director
Hired in 2009 to support a dedicated Board of Directors to re-launch the SAISD Foundation and rally private support to increase educational excellence in SAISD schools, Judy has served as its founding Executive Director for more than 15 years. Judy earned her MEd from James Madison University and an MA from St. Mary’s University. Judy has a strong background in program development, fundraising, and group facilitation. She has served as an evaluator for TEA-funded after-school programs in San Antonio and K-16 service-learning programs in Texas. Judy and her husband have called San Antonio home for the past 30 years and their twin sons graduated from UT Austin in 2023.
Ana Cardenas
Data & Impact Manager
Ana joined the SAISD Foundation as a Data Specialist in 2021. As an economically disadvantaged and first-generation college student, she decided to shift careers to help students like herself. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and brings seven years of experience in data analytics.
She has lived in the district for the past six years and is a proud parent of an SAISD student.
Mary Flannigan
Finance & Programs Manager
Mary Flannigan joined the SAISD Foundation as a Finance and Programs Manager in 2023. Mary’s responsibilities include both internal and external facing duties involving partnership development and organizational development. She oversees the financial management, program operations, and human resource functions of the organization.
Mary is a respected nonprofit manager and brings with her over fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She is passionate about education and is dedicated to SAISD. Being a resident herself, she feels the district is the heart of the city.
Anna Huizar
Development Associate
Anna Huizar joined the SAISD Foundation in September 2025. As Development Associate at the Foundation, she plays a key role in advancing the organization’s mission by assisting with donor engagement and supporting partnerships that help expand opportunities for students, educators, and young alumni.
Anna is a proud “Texas Ex,” holding a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from the University of Texas at Austin. With experience in nonprofit communications and development, she is excited to bring her skills to education-focused philanthropy by building meaningful donor relationships and crafting compelling messaging that drives impact. As a mariachi musician for 15 years and a resident of the SAISD community, Anna is especially passionate about supporting fundraising efforts for cultural arts programs for the district.
Carrie Smith
Alumni & Community Engagement Manager
Carrie joined the SAISD Foundation in 2021. A native of San Antonio, Carrie’s roots in SAISD run deep. Her grandparents made the South Side their home in 1942. Her parents graduated from Highlands and her great-aunt taught English at Hot Wells Junior High.
Education and community have always been a part of Carrie. She spent her career working in community management positions and now is honored to serve SAISD and the neighborhood schools her parents attended in the heart of the Alamo City.
Alana Quiles
Book Buddies Coordinator
Alana Quiles joined the SAISD Foundation in September 2025.
She is a proud San Antonio native whose own story began in SAISD classrooms. She attended several SAISD elementary schools and developed an early love for stories and creativity. Now pursuing her bachelor’s degree in special education, Alana is passionate about helping children build confidence and joy through reading. Through the Foundation’s Book Buddies program, she helps make sure every child has access to books they can take home and call their own. Before studying education, she majored in 3D Animation and Game Design with the dream of creating fun, educational videos for kids, a vision that continues to inspire her work today.
Stephanie Smith
Office & Scholarships Manager
Stephanie joined the SAISD Foundation in 2016. She is the first point of contact for the Foundation and is available to assist Monday-Wednesday from 9 am-3 pm. Stephanie supports the foundation with bookkeeping, donor database entry, and donor stewardship. She also manages the 100+ scholarships awarded annually to our newest SAISD Alumni.
A San Antonio native, Stephanie is a graduate of Trinity University and a former elementary school teacher.
Lia Payne-Drayton
Development Director
Lia Payne-Drayton joined the SAISD Foundation May 2025. She serves as the Director of Development at the SAISD Foundation, a new role where she co-leads a comprehensive fundraising strategy designed to increase the SAISD Foundation’s impact on students, educators, and young alumni through strategic partnerships and events.
Bringing over 20 years of experience in education-focused philanthropy and community engagement, Lia is a San Antonio native and former AmeriCorps member at SAISD’s Sarah King Elementary. Lia has led development efforts for a wide range of mission-driven organizations. Her career reflects a deep commitment to equity, student success, and strengthening public education through strategic partnerships and civic leadership.
Lorene Rangel
Office Administrator
Lorene Rangel joined the SAISD Foundation in 2026 as an Office Administrator. Her role is to provide support to the team and ensure the office is running efficiently. She is a CPA who spent her career working in the accounting field as well as head of operations for a nationally ranked high school.
A San Antonio native who was raised in the SAISD district, Lorene is a graduate of St. Mary’s University. Her family now calls the district home. As a proud mother of five children, including some attending top-tier universities, she understands the value of education and hopes to contribute to the Foundation’s success.