Latisha Andrews
Founder, CEO, & Superintendent of The Beta Foundation
Latisha Andrews graduated Summa Cum Laude from Capella University with a Master of Business Administration. She is a passionate leader focused on bringing exceptional education to her community. Once reprimanded for “dreaming too big”, she is on a mission to provide a world-class educational opportunity to all children in pursuit of their dreams. With her heart for the community, she brings over sixteen years of educational leadership experience and volunteer tutoring services to the community’s disadvantaged and at-risk children.
In 2010, Latisha successfully launched a private K-6, low-cost tuition school in an economically disadvantaged area of Houston, Texas. Relentlessly focused on the educational needs within the community, she partnered with Responsive Education Solutions in 2013, successfully launching a charter school in an adjacent community. In its first year of operation, that new campus earned four Distinct Designations: Top 25% Closing Performance Gaps, Top 25% Student Progress, Reading/ELA Academic Achieving, and Math Academic Achievement. On her quest to offer a tuition-free school to her own neighborhood, Latisha opened the first Beta Academy Charter School in the fall of 2015. The school has been recognized with several distinct designations each year and is named on the Texas Honor list.
In addition to her work with The Beta Foundation, Latisha serves on the board for the College of Science and Engineering at Houston Christian University and is a director with the Texas Business Hall of Fame, further demonstrating her commitment to leadership and community development.
Raquell Sartor
Chief Learning Officer
Raquell Sartor, one of Beta Academy's founders, brings over twelve years of experience working with children in education. Her strengths are analyzing data and using it to drive instruction. She has a special talent for meeting the individual needs of each scholar as well as identifying their unique talents. She works tirelessly to promote student success no matter the odds against them.
Upon hearing the words, “You need to look at attending trade school and forget about a major university because you will probably fail.”, Raquell Sartor resolved to prove that she was capable of so much more. And prove it she did. Raquell graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Human Science degree. She went on to earn a master’s degree from Liberty University in International Business. She is living proof that with hard work and grit, anyone can achieve their dreams. This is what drives her every day to encourage the scholars of Beta Academy to do their best.
In her previous work history, Raquell Sartor has been recognized multiple times for her hard work and leadership skills. While working for Marriott Hotels, Raquell was awarded the Dare to Soar special achievement for both setting and achieving high goals. She went on to receive the Courage of Integrity award for bringing issues forward and developing solutions. While working as a procurement manager for Gateway Supply Incorporated, she was awarded the 2008 Employee of the Year.
On the wave of this success, Raquell went on to become a classroom teacher, assistant principal and finally, chief academic officer. Her zeal for academic excellence is directly responsible for the academic growth of many scholars. Providing quality education where children know they can accomplish their ambitions is not just a job for Raquell, it is her life mission.
Martha Smith
Chief Business Officer
Martha earned her Bachelor of Art degree at Liberty University and has completed her Charter School Business Officer Certification. She has led administration efforts over a myriad of U.S. and oversees organizations and new business startups. She has served as the COO for multiple 501C3s and brings over 35 years of experience in business administration, operations, state and federal compliance, human resource, and financial management to the Beta team.
Martha began volunteering as the business and financial lead for Beta Academy private school and after-school program in 2010. She served as the Business Administrator until 2015; working tirelessly with the Board of Directors and Superintendent to bring our community a Charter School of Choice. In 2016 she transitioned from volunteer to Chief Business Officer for The Beta Foundation Board of Directors.
Martha’s experience includes serving as the onsite academic coordinator for Troy State University in Misawa, Japan, providing upper level educational opportunities to deployed U. S. service men and women.
Martha oversaw Chesapeake OB/GYN start up and successfully navigated the introduction of HMOs into the medical environment; achieving highest accuracy in coding, billing, and compliance. She was often called on to audit other practitioner’s financials for recoup of lost monies with insurance companies due to improper coding and billing.
Martha volunteered as the Far East Girl Scout Liaison for International Troops located across the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan; raising over 100,000 in donations during her 2-year tenure.
As a Military Command Ombudsman for multiple naval squadrons for over 20 years, Martha served as a vital emergency and information link for deployed naval units to families at home. During this time, she provided families with emergency resource needs and funds as well as budget counseling and assistance while working as a budget counselor for the Navy Relief Society.
Martha earned her Bachelor of Art degree in Religious Studies at Liberty University. She has completed her Charter School Business Officer Certification (CSBOC) with Charter School Success.
Kendra Hampton
Assistant Superintendent
Kendra Hampton serves as the administrative liaison to Principals for policy administration and academic development. She is also responsible for overseeing effective implementation within all campuses of instructional strategies, scholar performance, special events, community activities, and family impact issues.
Kendra brings over ten years of experience in one-on-one tutoring, classroom instruction, and school administration in traditional public, private, and public charter school systems. She has served as Beta Academy’s Assistant Principal for two years, and Principal for three years before moving into the role of Chief of Schools. These experiences helped to shape her educational philosophy, which developed around the central principles of high expectations for both students and teachers and a school culture of excellence. Kendra values the uniqueness of each scholar and regards parental and community support as essential elements for a highly effective educational experience.
A passionate and committed administrator who practices the pursuit of excellence, Kendra graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and has also earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Texas. Her greatest desire is to participate in the development of world class scholars, citizens, and leaders.
Helen Abernathy
Chief of Academics
Helen Abernathy is a life-long learner and reader, passionate about researching inspiring teaching practices and innovative ideas for Beta Academy. She brings many years of experience with over a decade spent as a classroom teacher, ESL Specialist, and Reading Specialist in both international and national schools. Not only has she worked joyfully with K-8 English language learners, but she also served as an adjunct professor for her alma mater, Regent University, where she earned a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) combined with a Reading Specialist Endorsement. Mrs. Abernathy developed a deep love for curriculum which is evident in the units she has written for AMO, a classic literature program for at-risk children. She has also successfully written and co-written multiple education grants. She believes that serving future generations in the field of education is the most fulfilling career path imaginable.
Steven Corrales
Chief of Operations
Steven Corrales graduated from Brown University with a Master of Education Policy. His passion for education started as an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame. It was there that he realized not all high schools were equal. He quickly noticed the discrepancy in academic preparation between his high school experience and that of his peers at Notre Dame. It was evident in how much he struggled to maintain passing grades as a freshman while his fellow classmates seemed to transition with ease. Frustration quickly turned into resiliency and eventually lit a spark. He turned his focus towards seeking equity in education so that others from his community and those similar would not face the same challenges.
Steven began his career in operations in 2012 working for a recently launched charter organization in Rhode Island called Blackstone Valley Prep. In 2014 he moved to Houston, TX where he led campus operations at YES Prep Southwest, one of the highest performing campuses in the YES Prep network. In 2019 he joined IDEA Public Schools where he led launch operations for the Houston region, opening 6 schools in 3 years. All campuses opened fully enrolled, a first in IDEA’s history.
Now as part of the team at Beta Academy, Steven brings his expertise in building and maintaining excellent charter school operations. His passion is providing exceptional customer service to parents, students, and staff. As the Chief of Operations his focus is to develop the infrastructure and systems required to support growth and operations at our would-class schools.
Esther Benitez
Executive Director of Special Population
Esther Benitez brings to Beta Academy more than 16 years of experience in the field of education. She has joyfully served as a teacher for grades 1st-8th and has excelled in multiple administrative roles such as Academic Coordinator, English Department Head, ESL Coordinator, and ESL Director. Mrs. Benitez currently serves at Beta Academy as the Executive Director of Special Populations.
Mrs. Benitez received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico and earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration from the Universidad del Valle de Mexico in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Since joining Beta Academy, Mrs. Benitez has received her certifications in Early Childhood through 6th grade, English as a Second Language, and Special Education in grades K-12th.
Mrs. Benitez is bilingual and has dual citizenship in the US and Mexico and comes from a Mexican/American family. She has had the privilege of living in both countries allowing her to enjoy the best of both cultures. Her diverse learning experiences are the reason she has an immense passion for scholars from a myriad of backgrounds. Mrs. Benitez is extremely invested in ensuring that all scholars are equipped to learn, grow, and thrive. Her gift of administration elevates our Special Populations program as she tirelessly works to ensure all scholars receive an elite education.
Kari Hoefnagels
Chief of Finance
Kari Hoefnagels is an accounting professional with over 27 years of experience working in both corporate and public accounting. She has extensive experience in auditing, tax preparation, financial reporting and bookkeeping. Her skills have been employed in legal offices, construction companies, and with foster care and group home providers. However, it was her time spent at Vanguard University which peaked and cemented her love for the field of education. Since 2018, Kari has provided her exceptional services to Beta Academy, becoming a full-time employee of the foundation in 2020.
As a graduate of Western Governors University with a Masters in Accounting, and her experience, Kari is a natural in her position as Beta Academy’s Chief of Finance. We are grateful for her diligence and close adherence to best practices, which allows Beta to continue to enjoy A Ratings and excellent reports on audits, year over year.
In addition to her love of numbers and spreadsheets (someone has to do it), her greatest joys are found in Christ and being a mother to her four sons and two daughters.
Tracy Cook
Principal PK-4 Confetti Campus
A devoted educator since 1992, Tracy Cook welcomes the invitation to become Principal at Beta Academy with open arms. She has followed Beta’s success through the years and believes that their vision and mission statements embody the sum total of her teaching philosophy. Seeing student lives impacted positively through education and helping them find their footing on the path to success brings tremendous joy to her heart. At Beta, these are daily pursuits, so Tracy feels like she has been welcomed HOME!
A native of Louisiana, Tracy began teaching middle school after becoming certified in grades EC-8. Within a few short years, she determined that she wanted to advance her education, so she pursued a master’s degree at Northwestern State University in Gifted and Talented, Special Education. After graduating Summa Cum Laude, Tracy became an itinerant teacher traveling throughout Sabine Parish, offering differentiated and advanced learning opportunities to gifted students in grades K-12.
In 2007, Tracy’s family relocated to Texas, where she quickly discovered her love for cowboy boots and BBQ! In Texas, she continued her quest to provide students with engaging learning activities that would foster a love of learning in their hearts. One unique opportunity that was extended to her while employed in Houston ISD was to contract with Texas Children’s Hospital to serve the educational needs of medically fragile students. Through her committed efforts, her students were able to continue to make progress in their educational journey as they fought for their lives on the medical front. After leaving Texas Children’s Hospital, Tracy went on to gain her Principal as Instructional Leader certification through Lamar University.
Tracy’s goal as assistant principal is to be a faithful, trustworthy, and competent leader who sets the bar high for students and staff, and then gives them the tools to achieve their dreams. Her love for all scholars, and staff members alike, is evident throughout the day as she converses with them, encourages them, and lets them know that she is their biggest fan! Every chance she gets, Tracy can be found spending time with her six grandchildren who affectionately call her, “Honey.” Their contagious joy for life fuels Tracy’s ambitions to continue to strive for excellence and build a better future for students everywhere.
Katie Simmons
Assistant Principal PK-4 Confetti Campus
Katie Simmons launched her passion in education as a second grade teacher in 2012. Throughout her time in the classroom, she built meaningful, long-lasting relationships with her scholars and their families that hold strong to this day. She values high expectations, hard work, integrity, and a growth mindset in herself, her colleagues, and her scholars. She believes Beta Academy offers a world-class educational experience and is proud to lead such committed educators!
Katie graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. After teaching a year in Louisiana, Katie and her husband were relocated to Houston. She has been a part of the Beta family since the doors opened. During that time, she taught second through fourth grade and was an instructional coach before moving to assistant principal.
Katie’s goal as assistant principal is to be an honest, consistent, and supportive leader of the Beta community. She believes that every person deserves someone to believe in them, coach them, and cheer for them, and is looking forward to new opportunities each year to provide that support to others. When Katie is not working, you can find her reading a good book or at the baseball fields with her husband and two sons. She enjoys hosting friends and family at her home making memories built on fun, laughter and togetherness.
Ciara Boudreaux
Assistant Principal PK-4 Confetti Campus
Ciara Boudreaux- Johnson brings her dynamic personality and leadership skills to rejoin the Beta administrative team as an assistant principal. She thrives on creating and maintaining order through attention to detail and a constant pursuit of excellence.
Because Ciara has a passion for both education and helping families, she attended Nicholls State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a double minor in Family and Consumer Sciences and Social Humanities. She also completed her Child Development Associate Credential in early childhood education. Ciara was an active member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) from 2008-2011. Her thirst for learning never waning, Ciara enrolled in a variety of educational training courses with the NAEYC, and has since attended several professional developments with Beta Academy such as Success for All and NWEA.
Ciara possesses more than twelve years of experience in the field of education, and seven of those years have been spent serving the Beta community. She began her career in early childhood education teaching preschoolers for five years. Ciara then went on to work for Terrebonne Parish School District as a first-grade classroom teacher for multiple years. In addition to teaching in Terrebonne Parish, she has taught fourth grade here at Beta Academy.
In addition to teaching, Ciara has been an instructional leader for five years as a mentor, coach, assistant principal, and principal. No matter where she serves, Ciara upholds high expectations and creates an environment where scholars are constantly learning and growing. Her calling is to inspire and encourage students and educators to excel in life!
Shane Spears
5-12 Principal
Shane is honored to join the Beta Academy team as Principal at our Flagship Campus. Shane has been in the field of education for 17 years and brings a diverse background in the field of education ranging from high school math lead teacher, technical college business instructor, to virtual curriculum writer and instructor. Shane loves leading and facilitating learning. He has led groups of teachers as well as parents and stakeholders in transforming learning into a fully cooperative process.
Shane’s undergraduate degree in Psychology initially led him into the field of mental health as a social worker. Through that work he learned the value of patience, clear communication and consistent expectations when serving and leading people. Shane continued his education by pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree, and the hands-on nature of that learning experience deepened the value of collaboration and innovation when it comes to solving real-world problems. Shane worked with teams to develop business plans, marketing strategies as well as provide consultation for business expansions. Shane felt called to the field of education as a means to invest more deeply into the work of life and culture transformation in his community.
Shane has also spent his life serving as a leader in church ministry as a student pastor, worship leader, and then lead pastor. His family is multiple generations deep in the ministry, and Shane proudly carries on that legacy. He and his wife Teryn regularly lead churches in marriage seminars, leadership training, and strategic consulting, as well as serving in their local congregation.
Shane and his wife have four incredible boys that they are raising to be life-long learners and just possibly world-changers! Shane is excited about the opportunity to serve the wonderful scholars and families of Beta Academy!
Teryn Spears
Principal 2-5 Flagship - Sunshine Building
Teryn is thrilled to join the Beta Academy team as Principal of the Sunshine Campus (Grades 2-5). She has spent 17+ years in education and is passionate about the life transformation that comes from learning.
As a teacher, Teryn specialized in individualized and adaptive learning to suit every student’s needs and saw great success. Her experience and determination to deepen student learning through engaging parents led her to a district leadership position wherein she transformed the face of parent and community stakeholder involvement.
Armed with the support of parents, the community, and the school district leaders, Teryn assumed a district leadership position and with her team took on school transformation to ensure all students were aware, eligible, and prepared for life after high school. Together they converted the local high school into a charter school and ultimately led the school out of school Improvement status into a thriving center for learning and community transformation.
Teryn holds a BA in Psychology from Lyon College in Batesville, AR, a Master of Arts in Education Leadership from William Woods University, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
Teryn has been a catalyst for learning, growth, and change through cultivating relationships, illuminating practical pathways, and leading people and systems at every phase of her life. From the school to serving the community through various boards and organizations to raising her four boys with her husband Shane, Teryn has made learning and growing her passion and pursuit in life. She is honored to share her infectious hope and heart with the fabulous students and parents of Beta Academy.
Christalyn Pardue
2-5 Assistant Principal Flagship Campus
Christalyn Pardue is excited to serve as an elementary school assistant principal for our Sunshine Campus, where she will assist in advancing scholar growth and development. Before joining the Beta Academy family, Christalyn worked for 11+ years in education as a Teach for America corps member, diversity lead, mathematics content lead, relay teacher mentor, grade level chair, dean of instruction, and assistant principal.
Born in the Southwest Alief area of Houston and growing up as a first-generation student, she always had a passion for helping scholars like her. She attended Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, and majored in Theatre and Mass Communication. Christalyn has a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Houston Baptist University. Determined to prioritize her leadership development, Christalyn is currently a doctoral student pursuing an EdD in Educational Leadership focusing on principal administration.
As a leader, Christalyn believes that one must reflect on personal bias and work through changing inequities in the school environment leading towards excellence for all students. Christalyn’s passion for education is based on a quote by author Eric Jensen “As change agents, we must believe that change is possible; understand that the brain is malleable and adapt to the environmental input and be willing to change that input too.” She recognizes that this work cannot be done in solidarity, and a part of leading others is learning from others as our brain seeks change to grow.
She has organized many professional development opportunities for staff and has served on several curriculum development trainings, data improvement plans and strategic planning committees. Christalyn enjoys working collaboratively with colleagues to maximize learning opportunities for the scholars and families she serves. During her free time, Christalyn likes reading devotions, attending church, traveling, brunching, yoga, and watching movies. Christalyn continually works to discover the best ways to confront life’s obstacles while depending on God for guidance.
Maury Jacobs
Director of Higher Education
Maury Jacobs is incredibly excited to be joining the Beta team as the Director of Higher Education. He brings over twelve years of experience working with 5th – 12th grade scholars in both formal and informal educational settings. Mr. Jacobs believes that great education should be challenging, fun, and accessible to all, and is inspired by Beta Academy’s mission of joyful rigor.
Maury graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s in Computer Science. During college and his early career, he worked as a religious school teacher and youth group advisor. A dynamic and engaging educator, Mr. Jacobs quickly realized that his true calling was working with young people. After a few years as a software developer, Maury decided to follow his passion for education and changed career paths.
As Regional Director for an international middle and high school youth group, Maury was responsible for educational programming, operations, and student engagement at over 30 educational conventions serving hundreds of students. A creative and strategic leader, Mr. Jacobs developed and implemented a strategic plan for the organization, accomplishing his goal of more effective youth engagement and education. After this success, Maury was promoted to be Assistant Director, where he used his strong leadership skills and vision to mentor and manage hundreds of professionals, volunteers, and teen leaders across the US and Canada.
Mr. Jacobs’ passion for education led him to become a certified trainer in the emerging field of Youth Mental Health First Aid. In his free time, Maury volunteers to train other educators, parents, and those who work with youth in Youth Mental Health First Aid. Maury hopes to create a world in which all young scholars have both the education and support they need to achieve success.
Alex Benitez
Dean of Teachers 5-12
Alex Benitez, joins the administrative team as the Dean of Teachers at our Flagship Campus. Alex has served as the Assistant Principal for our middle/high school and has consistently demonstrated his passion to help our scholars succeed through mentorship and encouragement. Alex has the heart of a servant and believes in Beta Academy’s mission – to create a world-class school with a culture of honor and high academic expectations.
From the earliest days of his teaching experience, Alex demonstrated a natural aptitude for teaching that rivaled many seasoned teachers. In the years that followed, Alex taught multiple subject areas and grade levels. While teaching 5th grade in 2014-15, 100% of his students passed their Reading STAAR assessment. In 2015-16, Mr. Benitez earned the Celebrated Teaching Award for high academic achievement. The following school year, he received the Recognized Teaching Award when 94% of his scholars were on target academically. Alex was knighted by Sir James of the Early Act First Knight program for demonstrating the virtue of perseverance. Additionally, he has been awarded Teacher of the Month and is highly respected by his scholars, peers and administrators alike. Finally, Alex has earned the principal recognition award for high academic achievement.
Alex graduated from the University of Houston-Clear Lake with a Bachelor’s of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and earned certifications as both an early childhood through 6th grade teacher & a K-12th grade special education teacher. Alex has also earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Texas - Arlington. His experiences as a teacher and an administrator have afforded him with a powerful insight in how to meet the educational needs of his scholars.
As a gifted writer, public speaker and beloved teacher, Alex uses every talent he possesses to raise the banner of hope in the community of Beta Academy. Mr. Benitez will never relent in his calling to provide Beta Academy scholars with an exceptional education in order to impact their world.
Amanda Haygood
Dean of Operations 5-12
Amanda Haygood has been an integral part of the Beta community since 2018. Her journey began as a parent volunteer but quickly grew into a full-time passion to fulfill Beta’s mission to provide an elite education for all. She begins each day with her favorite question: How can I serve today?
It is this perspective that empowers Amanda to unleash joy across an entire campus, creating special moments for scholars and staff at every opportunity. Scholars that encounter Mrs. Haygood are greeted by name and with a truly excited smile. Her hope is for all scholars to feel known, loved, and valued as part of the Beta family.
As a mother of 5, Amanda knows the weight that comes along with making important decisions for your children. This is why her work at Beta Academy is truly personal. She strives everyday to be worthy of the trust parents are placing in the school when they send their scholars. This is not only an immense honor and privilege, but also a tremendous responsibility to pour into the lives of future generations.
She embodies the culture of Beta Academy by both modeling and expecting excellence. Amanda’s greatness shines in her unrelenting commitment to the school’s high standards, her loving attention to the details, and her overflowing excitement and joy.
Daniel P Neely, CTP
Board Director
Daniel is passionate about assisting local businesses, Middle Market Companies, and Public Entities who are focused on growth. Growth and profitability are the primary keys to a healthy organization and Daniel adds value to his clients by taking time to understand their business and the key components that drive their growth and profitability. Daniel’s expertise is in defining organizational needs and providing transformational leadership in helping guide organizations through change.
A financial services executive with focused tenure in end-to-end Treasury and Liquidity Solutions, Daniel currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Treasury and Liquidity Solutions for Independent Bank N.A. where he leads the Treasury Management business line for the Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Waco markets managing Sales, Technical Sales, Implementations, Public Funds, and Business Unit Financial Reporting. Daniel has a broad awareness of overall banking industry, financial services, and deep experience with working capital concepts across most major industries.
Receiving his B.B.A. in Management from The Florida Institute of Technology, Daniel also earned a CTP, Certified Treasury Professional, designation from the Associations of Financial Professionals. As a subject matter expert on cyberfraud, wire fraud, and check fraud, Daniel speaks at a number of financial conferences across the State of Texas, most recently at the County Treasurers' Association of Texas Conference.
When he is not working he loves spending time with his wife and 3 children, soon to be 4 children. Daniel played basketball through college and now enjoys playing in the driveway with his 5 year old and 4 year old sons. He will officially retire when they can beat him. Daniel has been involved in coaching youth sports, and has been an active volunteer with a number of charities including Reach out America and Shades of Hope. Daniel has also served on a variety of boards including Beta Academy, Reach out America Advisory Board, and TSYS Advisory Board.
Anthony Flynn
Board Director
Anthony is one of the foremost leaders in the world when it comes to getting stuff done! CEOs and Key Executives of some of the top publicly traded and privately held companies in the world have leveraged Anthony's expertise to support them and their teams with bridging the gap between strategy and execution.
Anthony has been a leader with numerous Fortune 100 giants (e.g. Kraft Foods, RJ Reynolds and 3M) and a pioneering executive in several multi-million dollar ventures. He has also been a featured speaker at Harvard University, Emory University, Georgia Tech, Biz 1190 (Wall Street Journal syndicated radio show), TEDx and other major outlets including tv, radio, podcasts and keynote addresses.
He has authored three books: The Execution Pipeline: A Step-by-Step Guide to Moving Your Business Idea From Dream to Reality; The Happiness Map: Finding Fulfillment in Life and Work; Zero to Seven Figures: Start Your Business, Overcome Barriers, Scale Profitably
Anthony proudly serves as the CEO of WorkFaith, a faith-based, workforce development agency headquartered in Houston, TX. Additionally, Anthony graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses.
Dr. Leigh Kent
Board Director
Dr. Leigh Kent serves as the Beta Academy Advisory Board Liaison to the Board of Directors, where she is responsible for interfacing between the two organizations to facilitate fundraising, marketing, and community development efforts. Dr. Kent began her career at the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, assisting with administration for the Board of Directors and supporting the President. She continued her work in nonprofit administration at Sheltering Arms, one of the United Way’s larger agencies, directing all marketing and fundraising efforts. She then transitioned to a career spanning 30+ years in the educational sector. Over the course of her tenure in this area, she has worked with children of all ages as well as adults pursuing undergraduate and graduate education.
Dr. Kent taught and raised funds at St. Pius X High School and then served in several school districts in the Houston area as an educational diagnostician, Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, and school district administrator responsible for psychological services district-wide and special education compliance at several campuses. Her work in psychology includes counseling and testing at the Krist Samaritan Center, a local mental health clinic, and at hospital settings including the DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center and the Blue Bird Clinic for Pediatric Neurology at Texas Children’s Hospital. She has particular expertise in performing psychological assessments.
In recent years, Dr. Kent has taught at the University of Houston and Lone Star College, and presently she is the Department Chair for Online Psychology at Houston Christian University supporting the School Psychology program. Dr. Kent received her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Houston, her MEd in Special Education from the University of St. Thomas, and her BA in English from Texas A&M University. Dr. Kent is especially passionate about improving the lives of children and youth, which has been her life’s central mission over the past three decades.
Jan Saunders
Board Director
As a licensed real estate agent for over 20 years, Jan Saunders realized very early in her career the importance of good schools to a community. One of the number one priorities of families who are relocating into an area is to make sure their home is zoned to a good school. Good schools are an important anchor of a community.
When the opportunity arose for Jan and her family to live internationally when her two children were young, it was the opportunity of a good education and the experience of travel that became a deciding factor in her husband accepting the position. And a wonderful experience it was! Travel is still an experience both Jan and her husband and now adult children and grandchildren enjoy.
The opportunity to serve on the board of Beta Academy is considered an honor that Jan takes very seriously. Jan’s ambition in serving is to partner with the other board members, administration and community to make Beta Academy a shining star among Charter schools.
Erika Jones
Board Director
A product of HISD magnet schools, Erika D. Jones is passionate about community engagement, outreach and making a difference in the lives of Houstonians. As a community development officer for Frost Bank, she plans and implements outreach strategies and opportunities geared toward low-to-moderate income individuals and families.
Erika has a heart for children of all ages. She is a board member for L.I.F.E. Houston, an agency providing emergency formula for babies, and a longtime volunteer teacher for Junior Achievement, recently serving on their Entrepreneurship Advisory Board. Former board seats include Young Audiences of Houston, which provides fine arts to K-12 students, and Hope for Youth, a Christian non-profit providing opportunities for transient youth.
Erika’s educational background includes a B.B.A. in International Business from Sam Houston State University, M.A. in Journalism from the University of Illinois and an Executive Masters in Public Administration from Texas Southern University. Much to the displeasure of her three children, she also holds a teaching certificate for grades 4 through 8.
Tim King
Board Director
Timothy Wayne King, an entrepreneur in the oil fitting business since 1981, established Tubular Resources in Sugar Land, Texas, after attending St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. As the president of his own company for over thirty years, Tim has mastered the fiduciary challenges associated with a start-up operation, as well as those encountered during the natural growth and constriction of business opportunities through the years.
Tim’s experience with the financial details of business makes him an ideal treasurer for the board of directors. He exercises oversight of annual budget preparation and general financial operations as well as the development of sound financial strategies for continuous growth and expansion.
As large as his body of business acumen is Tim’s heart for the under-served and at-risk populations at home and abroad. He is a board member of Ima’s Home for Children, an orphanage in the Philippines, and a long-time financial supporter of local 4H Clubs and the Pasadena Rodeo. Reach Out America, an international emergency relief organization, is another of Tim’s philanthropic interests. For over twenty-five years, however, Tim’s compassionate financial support for community events in southeast Houston, where Beta Academy has opened its first campus, demonstrates an equally sincere commitment to the under-served close to home.
Teresa Sones
Advisory Board
A former educator with over 30 years of classroom and administrative experience, Teresa Sones believes every student deserves a great school—one that graduates future community leaders equipped to function confidently, effectively, responsibly, and joyfully in an increasingly complex global society.
When Teresa retired from education to help launch and manage an international procurement company, her service-oriented mindset contributed to the firm’s reputation for exceeding client expectations with respect to their multi-national supply chain requirements. Her experience in school administration supported the implementation of sound business practices and accountability standards. And Teresa’s love for teaching translated into mentoring employees and effective team building.
A leader who has consistently demonstrated a heart for serving others, Teresa is now active in government-sponsored disaster relief and enjoys volunteering in community service efforts as well. A wife, mother to one daughter and son-in-law, and grandmother to four, Teresa enjoys reading, teaching small groups, traveling and spending time with family and friends of all ages.
Anita Archer
Board Director
Serving as Board Secretary for The Beta Foundation, Anita brings over twenty-five years of educational experience to Beta Academy. A certified Gifted and Talented teacher, she served by invitation on Governor George W. Bush's Reading Initiative Committee. Her expansive store of experience and service provides both practical and theoretical evidence of her subject mastery and her enthusiasm for meeting each scholar’s needs.
Anita is an expert in Classroom Technology Integration and Whole Language teaching methods. Experienced in technology lab design and creation, she has written instructional guides and conducted numerous training events and in-services in classroom technology insertion across all disciplines for teachers and schools throughout Texas. Her highly successful implementation of Whole Language teaching and small group instruction for students with limited English proficiency was widely recognized as exemplary and ultimately served as the program implementation model across multiple Texas school districts. As a Mastery Teacher for Sam Houston State University and the University of Houston, Anita provided classroom demonstration, guidance, and evaluations for student teachers.
An accomplished public speaker, Anita has been a contributor at elementary principal and supervisor conferences and training events for Pasadena Independent School District, including her presentation entitled, “Classroom Technology Integration: A Teaching Tool, Not an Independent Workstation”. As a guest speaker for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) convention in Austin, Texas, she spoke on “Developing Proficient Readers and Writers through Whole Language Methods”.
Among her many recognitions and accomplishments, Anita received the District Award for Achievement and was nominated for the HEB “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” award for two consecutive years.
Anita graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, with an emphasis on History. Her graduate work was completed at the University of Texas and the University of Houston, in the areas of Children with Learning Language Disabilities (LLD), Multi Cultural Studies, and Technology.
W. Carl Glaw, CPA, CGMA
Advisory Board Chairman
W. Carl Glaw, Jr. CPA, CGMA, FVS is the founder and managing partner of GLO CPA’s, a top accounting firm in Houston since 1981. A fourth generation Houstonian and strong proponent of education, Carl is a 1977 graduate of the University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business and continues to support many of the University’s programs. Named Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 2003 and Volunteer of the Year in 2007, he has served as the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the University’s Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. He also founded and chaired for two terms, the Advisory Board of the Bauer College of Business, Department of Accounting and Taxation and was a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board Executive Committee.
In addition to his work at the University of Houston, Carl is also the Chairman of the Advisory Board for Houston Baptist University’s (HBU) College of Engineering. He was instrumental in helping bring Cyber Engineering to the university, making HBU the second university in the world to offer this type of engineering degree. Carl has also joined HBU’s Dunham College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board.
Carl is a longtime supporter of many clubs and philanthropic organizations that seek to better the local Houston community and beyond. He’s a member of the C Club, the Northwest Pachyderm Club, University of Houston Political Action Committee, the Houstonian Club and many, many more.
Tirelessly committed to the accounting profession and his community, Carl is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation for which he has worked diligently for 15 years. Texas Business Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to provide scholarships for students in 22 Texas colleges. Carl is Chairman of the Finance Committee and has served as a committee member since 2010.
Laurie Bricker
Advisory Board
A native Houstonian, Laurie Bricker is a graduate of the University of Texas, with a Bachelor of Education degree, and a graduate of the University of Houston, with a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
Laurie currently serves as a consultant and strategist for TRIO Education and The Clifford Group.
She is a retired Vice President with the Wall Street firm, Jefferies, and is a former teacher of speech and drama. For over 25 years, Laurie worked with families and corporations who were relocating to Houston to recommend the most effective schools for their children. Laurie has consulted with many companies and non- profits including Aramark, Texas Children’s Hospital, Zenith Learning, Mad Science, and the Upper Kirby District.
As a passionate supporter of education and school reform, she was elected three times as a Trustee of the Houston Independent School District’s Board of Education, and served as President of the Board both in 1999 and 2002.
In July 2004, she was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and in 2010, she was appointed by Governor Perry to the State Board for Educator Certification, then reappointed in 2013. She served on the THECB’s State Higher Education Strategic Planning Committee that created 60X30TX and on the University of Texas Commission of 125. Laurie was elected and served on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – Commission on Colleges (SACs COC) board.
Laurie is a graduate of Leadership Houston, and is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum.
Laurie is married to her Houston ISD’s Bellaire High School sweetheart, Jeff Bricker. They are the parents of two children---and are grandparents of four grandsons – 4 th generation Houston ISD students.
Dick Kuriger
Advisory Board
As the president, owner and principal agent of RCK, Inc., an insurance brokerage firm, Dick has been serving clients and organizations well for over 50 years in the greater Houston area. He holds a BA from Principia College, Elsa, IL, and an extensive list of insurance and financial services licenses and designations all of which uniquely qualify him as an expert in both insurance consulting and financial planning. His focus is to assist clients in developing insurance strategies for their professional and personal needs, as well as preparing them for milestone life events, i.e., college and retirement.
When he is not in the office serving clients, he spends his time serving other businesses and foundations in his community. The list is long and not comprehensive, but some of those who have benefited from his active memberships include: A&A Scottish Rite, The American College, American Society of CLU and ChFC Society, American Society of Pension Actuaries, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Association of Health Insurance Agents, CatSpring Volunteer Fire Department, C.T Bauer College of Business (Founding Member), Friends of Galveston Island State Park, German American Chamber of Commerce, Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Harris County Forest Landowners Association, Harris County Extension Board of Advisors - Texas A&M University System, Houston Baptist University President's Leadership Council, Houston Baptist University College of Engineering, Houston Business and Estate Planning Council, Houston Fire Museum, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (multiple committees), Houston Proud, Houston Visitors & Convention Board, The Junior League of Houston, The One Hundred Club of Houston, and many, many more. His service to his city and communities is honored and extensive.
In addition to his professional career and service on distinguished committees and boards, Dick also is a published writer of various insurance articles, and volunteers coaching football, basketball, soccer and hockey little league teams, as well as speaking and teaching at various conferences and conventions by invitation.
Mary Linda Portner
Advisory Board
With more than two decades experience in the area of advancement, first in private secondary schools, then in ecclesial administration, Mary Linda brings a wealth of knowledge of constituent relations and programming to her role on the Beta Academy Advisory Board.
After twenty years in sales and marketing in the fashion industry, Mary Linda found her true vocational passion when she assumed the position of Director of Alumni Relations at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory. Partnering with alumni leadership, she helped to create programs which are still treasured alumni traditions two decades later. As the Director of Advancement at St. Pius X High School, she, along with other members of the school administration, re- awakened the School to its Dominican heritage and rebranded its image in Houston. During her tenure, Mary Linda expanded the scope of the development department to a fully-realized Advancement office, with responsibilities including constituent relations, communications/publications, events, fundraising (including annual giving, planned giving, major gifts, and capital campaigns), volunteer management, marketing, and grant writing.
More recently, Mary Linda has been honored to serve the United Methodist Church, first as Director of Development for the Texas Annual Conference, and subsequently, as Executive
Director of the St. Paul’s Methodist Foundation of Houston. In her work for the Texas Annual Conference, Mary Linda was responsible for the operations and funding of the Emerging Leaders Endowment and for the funding of other special projects for the Resident Bishop, including the development of early childhood learning centers and disaster relief following Hurricane Harvey. As the Executive Director of the St. Paul’s Methodist Foundation, Mary Linda managed the endowment, oversaw the administration of scholarships and grants, and handled constituent and Board relations.
Mary Linda is a graduate of Spring Hill College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and history, summa cum laude. She and her husband Paul Fisher are long-time residents of Houston, active members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and devoted dog-owners.
Diane Larson
Advisory Board
Diane Larsen is the past Principal of St. Pius X High School located in Houston, TX where she previously served as Academic Dean and Admissions Director and as a member of the Strategic Planning and Master Plan Committees. She also worked at Duchesne Academy, Houston and Rosemont School District, Rosemont, IL. She taught English and Communications and worked as Head Librarian and English Department Chairperson. She served on numerous Accreditation Visiting Teams for NCEA and Southern Association of Colleges and Universities/Central Association of Colleges and Universities and chaired two accreditation self-study teams.
Diane served for six years on the National Executive Board of the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools. She is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, NCEA, DASS and the Texas Library Association. She is a graduate of Kansas State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and NCATE teaching certification. She went on to earn a Master of Science in Library and Information Technology from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. She has also completed graduate work in Educational Administration at University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX and the University of Houston.
Her areas of interest and focus include reading, communication and literacy initiatives in Houston including those of the Houston Read Commission and the Christian Community Service Center job network program. She believes that a strong education for all levels and all members of the community is the best path to improve opportunities for success in our world.
Stephen Jimenez
Advisory Board
Stephen currently specializes in Institutional Sales and Client Portfolio Management for alternative and long-only investment products. He has the benefit of 14+ years experience, and a background of trading investment products at major investment banks. Currently he is the founding partner of City Different Investments (Sante Fe, NM), a start-up alternative investment and long-only investment management firm.
Previously, Stephen acted as the Regional Director for Thornburg Investment Management, and the Institutional Sales Director/Client Portfolio Manager-Hedge Fund for Thornburg Long/Short Equity Strategy LP & ‘40 Act Fund (Santa Fe, NM); Manager of the Asia-Pacific Investor Relations for AVM, LP (Boca Raton, FL), and as a Regional Director of Marketing and Product Specialist for Coast Asset Management LLC (Santa Monica, CA).
Stephen attended Claremont McKenna College, and graduated from the University of Washington with a BA Economics. He holds NASD Series 7, 63 & 66 licenses. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteering and has served as a Board Member for Saint Elizabeth Shelter (Santa Fe, NM) since 2018.
Willie Davis
Advisory Board
Willie Davis has spent his life in the service of others. Raised in the Third Ward by a single mother, in a home with 10 siblings, he is no stranger to hardship. Wealth and comfort were luxuries he was unfamiliar with, but these hard times taught him a lesson that he would carry with him for the rest of his life. It’s people and the relationships we have with them that is important. As Willie puts it, “We had very little money and it was a hard time, but what we did have was each other.”
What he learned from taking care of friends and family, he carried with him when he joined the United States Army. When he left the military he answered a higher calling of service and became a pastor. With three decades of ministering to the spiritual needs of those around him, Pastor Willie Davis tirelessly tended to his congregation at the MacGregor Palm Community Baptist Church on the Southside, and continues to do so today. Willie also now serves Houston as At-Large Position 2 Council Member.
Carolyn Watson
Advisory Board
Carolyn has over twenty-five years of professional experience spanning the corporate, nonprofit and government sectors. She is the Executive Director of The William Stamps Farish Fund, a Houston-based private foundation. She leads the organization in setting a strategic direction in alignment with its mission to “provide meaningful support to organizations of all sizes offering Social Service, Education and Health programs that alleviate suffering and promote the success of underserved populations.”
Prior to her current role, Carolyn served as Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at JPMorgan Chase. She directed its philanthropic investments for Austin, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio. She deployed nearly $40 million in grants to workforce development, small business, financial health and neighborhood revitalization programs. The goal of each grant was to equip community residents with resources so they could participate in their region’s economic prosperity.
Before joining JPMorgan, Carolyn served as a Program Officer for Rockwell Fund, Inc., a private foundation. She designed and led the Zip Code Assistance Ministries Organizational Development Program (“ZCAM”), an award-winning capacity-building collaborative involving more than 25 nonprofit organizations. Carolyn led the development of ZCAM’s successor organization, the Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries, a coalition of faith-based emergency assistance providers that collectively serve 350,000 people each year.
Carolyn holds a Master of Public Affairs degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin. In 2010, she received a MS in Management from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. She currently serves on the Gulf Coast Workforce Board and as Co-Chair of the Greater Houston Opportunity Youth Collaborative.
Carlos Perez
Advisory Board
Carlos A. Perez is a retired U.S. Navy combat engineer with over fourteen years of experience in integrated satellite and terrestrial communications. Carlos transitioned to the oil and gas industry in 2013 as a control and automation technologist and is assigned to one of Shell's Oil and Gas producing platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Carlos is responsible for meeting the asset maintenance budget focused on execution man-hours and ensuring accurate and efficient use of internal and third-party resources. He is also responsible for the Skill Performance-Based Pay (SPBP) competency assessment, gap closure plans, performance management of my direct reports and is accountable for identifying coaching & training opportunities for the Asset Maintenance Team.
Carlos holds a technical engineering degree, a BAAS in organizational leadership from Texas A&M Commerce, and a Master of Engineering Technical Management from Texas A&M. Among many technical certifications, Carlos holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification from Purdue University. He is also a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Tau Beta Pi (Texas Delta Chapter), and Latinos for Education board fellow.
Carlos aims to influence our new Latino generation by helping them understand the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to ensure we meet our Texas higher education plan (60X30TX). He also believes that communities are as good as the leaders responsible for their wellbeing.
Carlos is an immigrant from El Salvador and the first one in his family to graduate from college in the United States. As a member of the United States Navy Seabees, he proudly served as a combat engineer during Operation Iraq Freedom in 2007, supporting the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.
Military Decorations:
National Defense Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal w/Eagle Globe and Anchor, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, (X4)-Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ Eagle Globe and Anchor, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, (X3)-Navy "E" Ribbon, Expert Rifleman Medal, Expert Pistol Medal, Seabees Combat Warfare Specialist (SCWS).
Ann Ziker
Advisory Board
With over 20 years of experience, Ann oversees the overall management and leadership of the Brown Foundation, whose mission is to build strong and more vibrant communities. She works closely with the Board of Trustees to determine the foundation’s strategy and focus.
Prior to joining The Brown Foundation, Ann served as Executive Vice President; Executive Director (interim); and Vice President for Advancement for YES Prep Public Schools, an award-winning public charter school network. Before joining YES Prep, Ann was the founding Managing Director for Education Pioneers–Houston and a consultant for McKinsey & Company, where she served public and private sector clients on a variety of strategic and organizational issues.
Ann holds a BA in Sociology and Political Science, magna cum laude, and a doctorate in History from Rice University. She and her husband have lived in Houston for many years and have two children.
Dr. Kristie Cerling
Advisory Board
Kristie Cerling, Ed. D., is Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and a Professor of Education at Houston Christian University, where her primary teaching focus is executive educational leadership and secondary literacy and teaching strategies. She has studied Holocaust Education through the National Writing Project and The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights. She has had a tremendous impact over her career in Education – spanning more than 25 years. She has consulted and presented on a range of topics in the United States and abroad, including effective teaching strategies, leadership development, women in leadership, and Holocaust education. Dr. Cerling has published in The Journal of Liberal Arts and Sciences and presented at numerous conferences on Teaching Generation Z, authentic assessment, student engagement, and the use of rubrics in college classrooms.
She began as an English and Theatre teacher in Elkhart Community Schools, eventually advancing to administration as an Assistant Principal in the Concord District. She then spent eight years with the Crossing Educational Center as principal, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and eventually the Superintendent. From there, she went to Bethel University to serve as the Department Chair of the Education Department. During her time there, she was instrumental in bringing the Kindergarten Lab to campus – a collaboration with School City of Mishawaka that allows a Kindergarten class to meet on the campus, giving Bethel education majors the opportunity for hands-on interaction with students. Cerling left Bethel to move closer to family in Texas, where she now serves at Houston Christian University.
Her upcoming book Authentic Assessment in Action: An Everyday Guide for Bringing Learning to Life through Meaningful Assessment co-authored with Dr. Katie Alaniz and published by Rowman & Littlefield will be out early next year.
Ludmila Golovine
Advisory Board
Graduate of the first class of the University of Houston (UH) Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship (WCE) at Bauer College of Business, Ludmila (Mila) Rusakova Golovine, years later, runs the global language solutions company she presented in her class business plan and then started in 1993. She has grown MasterWord into a top-ranked multi-million-dollar company that delivers language access and enables success of international organizations, projects, and initiatives in over 250 languages.
As a professional translator, interpreter and business leader, she made a lifetime commitment to quality, innovation, and connecting people across language and culture. Golovine believes community involvement and service on both personal and corporate levels are the backbone of any organization. She is the Texas Chapter Manager and the Strategic Partnerships Manager for the Global Chapter of Women in Localization; serves on the Board of Translation Commons, a nonprofit online platform advancing linguistic professional enrichment for under-resourced languages; chairs the Advisory Subcommittee for the Translation and Interpretation Program at the Houston Community College; serves on the Survivor Service Committee of the Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition for Victims of Human Trafficking, serves on the Advisory Board for the Mind, Body, Spirit Institute of The Jung Center; served on the Board of the Rothko Chapel, and is an active member of several professional organizations.
She is an advocate of social justice and is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker. Her work has been recognized by numerous awards, including Houston Business Journal's 2019 Women Who Mean Business Award; Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Gulf Coast Area Finalist (2017), and Congressional Recognition G7 “Excellence in International Service” award (2015).
Lynne Tiras
Advisory Board
Lynne Tiras, CMP is President and Owner of International Meeting Managers, Inc. (IMM), an association, meetings, marketing and special events management company. The company was formed in 1986 by Lynne.
Lynne served for seventeen years on the Board of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, and has served on various industry Meetings Advisory Boards and major industry Editorial Board publications. Currently, Lynne serves on the Houston Community Board of Directors of the Arthritis Foundation and on the Associated Luxury Hotels Industry (ALHI) Advisory Council. Lynne served as Executive Director for 29 years for the Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation.
In 2017, Lynne was named as one of the Top Influential Women by Smart Meetings Magazine in the Leadership Category and in 2019 named one of Connect Magazine Association’s 15 over 50 in their inaugural list.
Lynne is Past President of the Houston Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and was named Meeting Planner of the Year for 1988 -1989. Lynne served on the international level of MPI’s Advisory Council of Special Interest Groups for Independent Meeting Professionals from 1992 through 1998 and served as chair of that council for 1994 -1995. Lynne was one of the first in the hospitality industry to obtain the title of Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). Lynne has been a writer for industry publications and a speaker at both local and international Hospitality Industry meetings.
Besides working professionally with her husband, Harvey Tiras, CPA, Lynne is most proud of her family including Harvey, daughter, Pam, son, Craig, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mary Grace Landrum
Advisory Board
Mary Grace is passionate about education and wants all children to be enthusiastic life-long learners. She believes that learning can be fun and is the key to building healthy communities.
Mary Grace Landrum recently retired as the principal of Landrum & Associates (L&A) where for over 20 years she partnered with clients in Houston, across the United States and internationally to build employees’ interpersonal, teamwork and customer service skills. Landrum worked in the oil and gas industry for 15 years as a training and organizational effectiveness manager prior to starting her practice.
Before moving to Houston, Landrum began her work in education as a classroom teacher then as a teacher in-service educator across a four state region with Southwest Educational Development Lab. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Franciscan University and a master’s degree in education from the University of Texas at Austin. She has been an adjunct professor at the University of Houston and on the corporate faculty at Lone Star College.
Service to others is a personal value that Mary Grace has lived by serving in leadership roles with the Association for Talent Development, the Southern Gas Assoc.(SGA), the Houston West Chamber of Commerce and on numerous non-profit boards. Landrum was an elected trustee of Spring Branch ISD, 2005-2011, received the Distinguished Service Award from the SGA for leading their business television network and in 2013 was named Outstanding Alumna in Education by Franciscan University.
Landrum has been appointed by governors Perry and Abbott to serve as a State Service Commissioner with the OneStar Foundation where she currently chairs the Public Policy and Advocacy committee. In 2019 she was named U.S. Service Commissioner of the Year by America’s Service Commissions for her leadership and advocacy work.
She currently serves as a Reading Buddy in Spring Branch ISD and on the HCC-NW Alief Business Advisory Council. Mary Grace enjoys long walks and swimming with her husband, Judge Michael Landrum.
Marina Walne
Advisory Board
Marina Ballantyne Walne, Ph.D., Founder and CEO
B.A. degree with distinction, Stanford University M.A. and Ph.D. in education administration with a concentration in business, Stanford University
Dr. Walne is CEO of EduStart LLC, a consulting practice specializing in start-up education and philanthropy ventures. Dr. Walne is a consultant to the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, supporting the foundation in developing and executing its strategy for its Galveston Program. Previously, Dr. Walne served as Vice President for Education at the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.
Dr. Walne has over 45 years of experience in education including Executive Director of the Institute for Public School Initiatives at The University of Texas (U.T.) System, Director of Admission at Rice University and Founding Head of The John Cooper School. She supported the development of seven other schools, including The University of Texas Elementary School.
As a consultant to the Texas Business Leadership Council she helped develop the Charter School Resource Center of Texas, the Financial Foundation for Charter Schools, and the Charter School Policy Institute and was active in the Governor’s reading, math, science, teacher quality, early childhood, and high school initiatives. She also served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Education, supporting the revision of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.
Dr. Walne has served on the boards of The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra (founder and president), Houston YMCA (chair, Education and Facilities Committees), Houston Chapter American Red Cross, Houston Tomorrow, Education for Tomorrow Alliance (founder and vice president), Making Main Street Happen Foundation (founding board member), Society for the Performing Arts, the TPFA Charter School Finance Corporation (president), Edvance (president), the Bayou Preservation Association, The Learning Accelerator (founding board member) and Advisory Board of the Neuhaus Education Center and Libraries Without Borders. She is a graduate of the American Leadership Forum Houston Chapter and a noted speaker, facilitator, and trainer.
Amanda George
Advisory Board
Amanda George has worked closely with Beta Academy since 2018 through her role as Senior Consultant at Sterling, providing guidance and capacity in the areas of fundraising strategy and governance. She also spent time earlier in her career at Accenture, TNTP, and Teach For America.
Rose Rogueau
Advisory Board
Rose Rougeau is an UH alumna and board member of the Texas Business Hall of Fame. She is regarded as one of the most effective media relations strategists in the US, providing strategic communication counsel on highly complex issues to Fortune 500 clients.
Her extensive experience in media relations and broadcast journalism began at the University of Houston, where she earned a B.A. degree in radio and television. As an undergradate student, Rougeau and three fellow classmates started a student chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, which provided an avenue to meet professional journalists and to learn more about the industry. She began her television career at KOCO-TV (ABC) in Oklahoma City and later served as a news producer locally for KTRK-TV (ABC). Rougeau served as the senior media relations advisor and chief spokesperson for AAA in Texas, where she was a highly sought after commentator on energy and safety related issues. Highly involved in community-based organizations, she is a board member of various non-profit associations that focus on uplifting families such as the Houston Texans YMCA - the nation’s first and only “Y” to be named after an NFL team. Rougeau has also organized and chaired several fundraising events such as the Sakurambo School of Martial Arts, to benefit families with financial need.
Rougeau believes that it does not take much for each of us to make a positive impact on another’s life in our own individual way. Her guiding principle is “to those whom much is given, much is expected,’ which she stands by with a scholarship contribution for human resource development students in the Department of Human Development and Consumer Sciences.
Domingo Barrios
Advisory Board
As a multicultural, native of Panama and a long-time resident of Houston, TX, Domingo has crafted a career that spans over twenty-seven years in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and over 10 years in the banking and financial sector. During his tenure as a nonprofit executive, he held titles with prominent organizations as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Development Officer, Vice President of Community Investing, Executive Director, and President of his own nonprofit strategic consulting firm. Expertise has spanned the healthcare and human services areas, as well as private philanthropy. Currently, in leadership roles as Trustee with Rockwell Fund, a private foundation in Houston, a member of the advisory council of the University of Texas, RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, and a member of Philanthropy Southwest, an organization serving private foundations across five states, as well as other nonprofit board appointments. Presently, he holds the position of Senior Vice President, Nonprofit Advisory Group Director, a newly established department at Cadence Bank to support the various strategies and banking needs of nonprofit organizations.
David Martin
Advisory Board
David Martin is Founder of Martin Oil & Gas, an independent advisory firm in upstream oil and gas, working with oil and gas companies and family offices to source and purchase producing assets with development upside and to raise capital. He is formerly a Partner and Co-Founder of Continental Energy Advisors, LLC, an investment banking firm helping oil and gas companies sell assets, buy assets, and raise capital. Prior to Continental, Mr. Martin led Business Development at Costa Energy, LLC (formerly Choice Exploration, Inc.) a leading private onshore exploration and production company. Mr. Martin has more than 35 years of experience in business development and sales and marketing in oil and gas, industrial services, technology, and finance. He is a native of Houston, Texas, and a graduate of Texas Tech University with a B.B.A. in Marketing and a M.A. in Communications. He and his wife Shannon have been married 34 years, have two adult children, and are very active in their local church where they are founding members, Faithbridge Church in Spring, Texas.
Shelly Lesikar deZevallos
Advisory Board
Shelly Lesikar deZevallos is a small business owner. She is principal at Independent Mortgage Company and president of West Houston Airport. She started her career sweeping hangars at the age of eight and earned her pilot license at 17 – and hasn’t stopped since. From teaching English in China to selling aircraft and now part of a family business, she focuses on finance, policy, and aviation safety.
deZevallos currently serves Texas as chair of the TxDOT Aviation Advisory Committee and supports her native Houston area as a board member of the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council. She previously participated on the NBAA Local and Regional Group Committee and was a member of the FAA Safety Oversight Certification Advisory Committee formed in 2019. She is now a member of the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety Center Industry Advisory Board.
She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas, her MBA from Texas A&M University and her Doctorate of Education in Aviation and Space Science from Oklahoma State University. deZevallos is an active multi-engine pilot and resides in Houston, TX, with her husband and twin daughters.
Daniel Espinzoa
Advisory Board
Daniel Espinoza is a lifelong educator and student with over 17 years of experience teaching across various educational levels, from elementary to college. His then transitioned to found a church in inner-city Houston, where he has dedicated over 20 years to serving the community.
Daniel's academic journey includes studies at the master's level at the Houston Graduate School of Theology and Regent University, along with doctoral studies at the Houston Graduate School of Theology, the University of St. Thomas, and Phoenix Seminary.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Daniel takes great joy in his personal life as a husband to Dr. Carmen and father to Dani, Dana, and Danae. His commitment to faith, family , and education continues to inspire those around him.
Matt Hinson
Advisory Board
Matt Hinson is a creative, entrepreneurial leader who understands how to build new businesses and develop new products. Matt is formally trained in the discipline of entrepreneurship and has first-hand experience founding and running a startup. A hands-on innovator, Matt is listed as the first-named inventor on multiple patents. Furthermore, Matt understands how to operate with excellence in a corporate environment while challenging the status quo and building a fun, healthy company culture. Currently, Matt leads Product for an acquired IoT startup at Generac Power Systems, where he develops and manages connected technology products. He is the Founder and President of SOGGY, LLC, a startup developing a new category in the outdoor hydration product segment. Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from the University of Houston, a master’s degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas. Matt enjoys backpacking, family road trips, hunting, fishing, and fixing up classic pickups.
Dr. Marian Zaki
Advisory Board
Dr. Marian Zaki is a seasoned computer scientist specializing in cybersecurity, distributed systems, and software development. She earned her PhD in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh, her Masters and bachelor's in Computer Science and Information Systems from Ain Shams University, Egypt. She has over a dozen published research papers in high impact conferences and journals. She has received several awards during her career for teaching, mentorship and excellence in research.
With over 20 years of academic experience, Dr.Zaki taught computer science and cybersecurity courses in different capacities. First as a teaching and research assistant at the University of Pittsburgh, later as an adjunct professor at University of Houston Downtown, and currently she is an assistant professor of Computer Science and Cybersecurity at Houston Christian University (HCU). She also serves as the Coordinator of Engineering External Partnerships and Research at HCU.
Dr. Zaki frequently serves as a guest speaker at several cybersecurity conferences including Hou.Sec.Con, Evanta Gartner Houston CISO summits, higher education panels and conferences, and others. Her dedication to mentorship and education has guided diverse teams through real-world, innovative projects. As a curriculum developer, she plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between academic theory and practical application, fostering key industry partnerships to ensure students are prepared for the evolving landscape of technology. Dr. Zaki serves on the advisory board of CareerSkillsToWork, a non-profit organization that helps students, veterans, and career seekers build a career pathway into the tech world through tailored technical training programs and industrial certifications.
She is deeply committed to inspiring children and youth to explore STEM from an early age, believing that access to quality STEM education can ignite curiosity, nurture problem-solving skills, and cultivate the next generation of innovators and critical thinkers. She also emphasizes the ethical development and responsible use of technology, ensuring that future STEM leaders are equipped not only with technical expertise but also with a strong moral foundation to create technology that serves and uplifts society.
Hope King
Advisory Board
Hope King is a dedicated philanthropist, executive procurement officer, and board member for Reach Out America (ROA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to disaster relief and humanitarian aid. reachoutamerica.org In her role, Hope has demonstrated exceptional leadership and organizational skills, ensuring that ROA can effectively aid communities in need.
Over the past 17 years, she has secured over 60 million dollars in disaster relief donations. Hope is a member of the NVOAD - National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. She attends the NVOAD conferences representing ROA. Her dedication and passion for philanthropy have made her an invaluable asset to the organization and a source of inspiration for those around her.
Beyond her work with ROA, Hope serves as the U.S. Advocate for Women Helping Women, an organization that empowers women in Asia through sewing training, financial independence, and community support. womenhelpingwomen.world In this capacity, she collaborates with the Global Grace Sewing Institutes in India, which offer six-month courses teaching sewing skills to underprivileged women. Graduates receive a sewing machine and a tailoring certificate, enabling them to start their businesses and achieve financial independence. Hope's efforts in this initiative have been instrumental in reducing poverty by equipping women with the tools and skills necessary to break the poverty cycle.
Hope's compassionate and selfless nature has inspired many individuals to join her in making a meaningful difference in the lives of those less fortunate. Her commitment to serving her community, nation, and the world through volunteer work and support exemplifies her dedication to creating positive change.