Latisha Andrews
Founder & 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 fifteen 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.
Meet Our Executive Team
Raquell Sartor
Chief Academic Officer
Raquell Sartor brings over 11 years of experience working with children to the Beta Academy team. 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 CFO 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.
Meet Our Campus Leaders
Kendra Hampton
Principal of Beta Academy
Kendra Hampton serves as the administrative liaison to parents for policy administration and academic development. She is also responsible for instructional strategies, scholar performance, after-school and Saturday tutoring, 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. 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
Executive Director of Research and Development
Helen Abernathy has been a classroom teacher, ESL Specialist and Reading Specialist in both international and national schools for over a decade. She has a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) combined with a Reading Specialist Endorsement from Regent University. Not only has she joyfully worked with K-8 English language learners, but she has also been an adjunct professor for the School of Education at her alma mater. Her passion for writing and editing curriculum is evident in the units she has written for AMO, a classic literature program for at-risk children. Mrs. Abernathy is at her best when she is sharing her love for language, reading, writing and literature with scholars of all ages.
Ciara Boudreaux
Elementary Assistant Principal K-2nd
Ciara Boudreaux brings her dynamic personality and leadership skills to join the Beta administrative team as an assistant principal. She thrives on creating organized environments and has a talent for bringing order wherever she goes.
Ciara possesses more than nine years of experience in the field of education. 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 for the past two years.
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.
In addition to teaching, Ciara has also spent the last few years providing professional development and coaching for teachers in the areas of effective classroom management and organization. Ciara’s primary passion is to inspire and encourage students to excel in life!
Alex Benitez
Assistant Principal 3rd-8th
Award winning teacher, Alex Benitez, joins the administrative team as the secondary Assistant Principal (Grades 3-8). Not only does his classroom spark with creativity, but it is also full of rigorous, innovative teaching. Alex has the heart of a servant and believes in Beta Academy’s vision – to create a world-class school with a culture of honor and high academic expectations.
From the earliest days of his teaching experience, Alex Benitez 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.
Alex graduated from the University of Houston-Clear Lake with a Bachelor’s of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. He is certified as both an early childhood through 6th grade teacher & a certified K-12th grade special education teacher. In addition, he has served as a special education teacher ensuring scholars with disabilities received the services they needed. His experience has 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.
Maury Jacobs
Assistant Principal
Maury Jacobs is incredibly excited to be joining the Beta team as Assistant Principal. 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.
Teresa Sones
President of The Beta Foundation
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.
Tim King
Vice President & Treasurer of The Beta Foundation
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.
Jan Saunders
Board Member
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.
Anita Archer
Secretary of The Beta Foundation
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.
Daniel P Neely, CTP
Board Member
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.
Carl Glaw
Advisory Board Chair
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 Wolfe 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.
Willie Davis
Advisory Board Member
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.
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