Meet the TxCEE Team
TxCEE staff has experience in a number of roles, including teacher and district administrative leadership positions as well as experience at the state and regional level. The combined experience of the TxCEE team provides expertise in building teacher and leader capacity. All team members are committed to providing differentiated support and learning opportunities that meet the needs of classroom teachers, teacher leaders, and administrators.
TxCEE Leadership Team
Anita Givens
Chief TxCEE Officer
Anita Givens was recently promoted to the position of Chief TxCEE Officer. She provides leadership and direction for all TxCEE initiatives and the Teacher and School Leader (TSL) grant to strengthen educator quality and positively impact student achievement. Previously, Ms. Givens served as the Director of Program Support at TxCEE. She managed daily operations of the Program Support Unit, including the development and use of data systems to support human capital management, performance-based compensation processes, communications, and online learning. Before joining TxCEE, Givens spent 22 years at the Texas Education Agency where she served in the roles of Associate Commissioner for Standards and Programs and Deputy Associate Commissioner for Standards and Alignment. Givens has taught Kindergarten and 2nd grade and educational technology classes from elementary through graduate school. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from Houston Baptist University and a Master of Science Degree in Educational Management from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
Joann Taylor
Assistant Chief TxCEE Officer
Joann Taylor serves as the Assistant Chief TxCEE Officer. She began at TxCEE as the Human Resource Strategies Coordinator focusing on supporting districts as they build Human Capital Management Systems. Before joining TxCEE, Joann served as the Director of Educator Effectiveness for the Austin Independent School District (AISD) where she managed Professional Pathways for Teachers, a Human Capital System that blended appraisal, compensation, leadership pathways, and professional development to focus resources on building the capacity of teachers through supports and rewards. Prior to serving as Director, Joann worked in several roles in the Office of Educator Quality building the AISD REACH program and working with student learning objectives. Before joining Educator Quality, Joann was a high school English teacher for ten years. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University.
Daryl Michel, Ph.D.
Director of School Improvement
Dr. Daryl Michel is the Director of School Improvement at TxCEE. He oversees the development of district-level school improvement initiatives to improve human capital and student achievement in partner school districts. Prior to joining the TxCEE team, Dr. Michel worked at The University of Texas at Austin Institute for Public School Initiatives as the assistant director and then director of academic foundations. He was an adjunct professor at Concordia University and a project manager and reading technical assistance specialist at The University of Texas System. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Iowa, a Master of Science in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education: School Improvement from Texas State University.
Jessica Sievert Navarro
Director of Partnerships
Jessica Sievert Navarro serves as the Director of Partnerships at TxCEE. She coordinates services with TxCEE partners, including partnership development and strategic planning, and assists with report writing, MOU and contract development. Prior to joining TxCEE, she served as the State Director for Communities In Schools and as a Program Evaluation Project Manager at the Texas Education Agency. Those roles provided her opportunities to manage statewide initiatives, develop standards and policies, and bring high-quality training and support to the highest need schools. Mrs. Navarro earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Master’s degree in Public Administration from Texas State University.
Shana Shaw, Ph.D.
Research and Evaluation Coordinator
As Research and Evaluation Manager at TxCEE, Dr. Shana Shaw develops and oversees TxCEE’s research goals, priorities, and activities. Shaw conducts evaluations of TxCEE projects and assists staff with formative analysis of data as needed to guide the work of the projects. Before joining TxCEE, Shaw served as a Senior Research Specialist at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, where she managed several large-scale researcher-practitioner partnership grants. She also previously worked at two Austin-based research organizations—Gibson Consulting Group and SEDL—where much of her work focused on educator effectiveness. At SEDL, she also led technical assistance on educator evaluation systems for state education agencies. After completing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, Shaw was a Data Fellow with Harvard’s Strategic Data Project in the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD). In this role, she supported empirical examinations of the district’s human capital management policies and evaluated the FWISD’s DATE and TIF grants. In addition to her Ph.D., she holds an M.A. in Program Evaluation from The University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. in Psychology from Stephen. F. Austin State University.
Priscilla Flores
Communications Manager
Priscilla Gonzalez Flores manages TxCEE’s communication strategy and assists districts with the development and implementation of stakeholder processes. Before joining TxCEE, Flores served as Senior Policy Advisor in the Division of and Educator Leadership and Quality at the Texas Education Agency. In this role, she was responsible for providing oversight of high priority projects including the development of educator and student policy issues related to educator recruitment, educator preparation, professional development, educator evaluation systems, student discipline, and overall program quality. Flores began her twenty year career in education as a secondary ELA teacher, high school Assistant Principal, and state GEAR UP Director. Flores holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Science in Education Administration from Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
TxCEE School Training and Support Team
Sara Borchgardt, Human Capital Management System (HCMS) Coordinator
Sara Borchgardt serves as a Human Capital Management System (HCMS) Coordinator at TxCEE. She provides direct HCMS implementation support to partner districts. Borchgardt serves as a key liaison between district administrators and members of the TxCEE team. For fifteen years, Borchgardt worked in both elementary and secondary schools in Bryan ISD as an instructional specialist. She served as a master teacher for three years in Bryan ISD at Milam Elementary. In College Station ISD, Borchgardt served as an enrichment specialist where she worked to differentiate curriculum and work collaboratively with teachers to meet the needs of high-achieving and gifted learners. While in the classroom, she taught first and fourth grades. Borchgardt received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston.
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LaToya Dansby, Human Capital Management System (HCMS) Coordinator
LaToya Dansby serves as a Human Capital Management System (HCMS) Coordinator at TxCEE. She provides direct implementation support to partner districts. She serves as a key liaison between district administrators and members of the TxCEE team. Before joining the TxCEE team, Dansby started her teaching career as an elementary teacher in Louisiana. Following her time in Louisiana, she continued to work with students at Title I schools as a Master Teacher, Campus Reading Specialist, Supervising Teacher, Parent Education Coordinator, and classroom teacher in the Richardson Independent School District. Dansby graduated from Nicholls State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.
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Dana Fincher, Instructional Training and Support Specialist - TSL
Dana Fincher is an Instructional Training and Support Specialist at TxCEE. She provides direct implementation support to campuses implementing the TEEM model to ensure components of the model are integrated and aligned to meet the needs of all partners, including campus leaders. Before joining the TxCEE team, she enjoyed eighteen years teaching third through fifth grades in Hays CISD. In addition, she spent three years as a Texas Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) master teacher at Fuentes Elementary providing job-embedded professional development. She received both her Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Master of Education degrees from Texas State University in San Marcos.
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Amanda Frisby, Instructional Training and Support Specialist - TSL
Amanda Frisby is an Instructional Training and Support Specialist at TxCEE. She provides direct support to campuses across the Rio Grande Valley who utilize the TEEM model. Amanda works closely with campus leaders to ensure components of the model are aligned to meet the needs of all partners, resulting in successful implementation. Before joining TxCEE, Amanda fulfilled ten years of elementary teaching in Houston, Austin, and Duluth, Georgia. She enjoyed opportunities to lead district professional development sessions, assist with testing coordination, and offer support as a Team Leader. Amanda also served six years as Assistant Principal in Dripping Springs, Texas; specializing in teacher development and effective communication creating Win/Win situations. She received her Bachelor of Science at Stephen F. Austin State University and a Master of Education degree from Walden University.
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Arlene Longoria, Instructional Training and Support Specialist - TSL
Arlene Z. Longoria is an Instructional Training and Support Specialist at TxCEE. She provides direct implementation support to campuses implementing the TEEM model to ensure components of the model are integrated and aligned to meet the needs of all partners, including campus leaders. Before joining the TxCEE team, she served as Literacy Liaison at the University of Texas Health Science Center- Children’s Learning Institute. During her educational career, she served as elementary Bilingual teacher, Reading Specialist/Master Reading Teacher , Gifted and Talented Teacher, Reading Technical Assistance Specialist with the Reading First Initiative, Academic Strategist and elementary Assistant Principal. Longoria received her Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies and Master of Education degree with a specialization in Reading from the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg.
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Natalie Vela, Instructional Training and Support Specialist -TSL
Natalie Pugh Vela is an Instructional Training and Support Specialist at TxCEE. She provides direct implementation support to campuses implementing the TEEM model to ensure components of the model are integrated and aligned to meet the needs of all partners, including campus leaders. Before joining the TxCEE team, she served as a teacher and interventionist for 13 years and 3 years as an Instructional Coach. During Natalie’s educational career in Texas, she served in the Klein, Spring, and Bryan Districts at both elementary and secondary levels. In the role of Instructional Coach for Bryan ISD, Natalie wrote Elementary Math curriculum and supported teachers in implementing the curriculum and effective teaching strategies. Natalie received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Chapman University and 4-8 Generalist Certification from Region 4 Education Service Center.
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Lauren Anshutz, PBCS Coordinator
Lauren Anshutz currently serves as the Performance-Based Compensation System (PBCS) Coordinator at TxCEE. She manages processes for computing value-added, educator effectiveness ratings, and performance pay. She oversees the coordination of the performance pay calculations and student growth measures, including student learning objectives (SLOs) and value-added. Lauren supports partner districts use of the Texas Educator Effectiveness Management System (TEEMS) to implement performance-based compensation systems. Before joining the TxCEE staff, Anshutz taught for ten years in North Carolina and Texas. Anshutz holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Indiana University and M. Ed. in Educational Administration from Concordia University.
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Candace Ferguson, Coordinator of HCMS Data Systems
Candace Moreno Ferguson serves as the Coordinator—Human Capital Management Systems (HCMS) for TxCEE. Candace Moreno Ferguson assists districts in aligning educator effectiveness with components of the overall human capital management system (HCMS). She manages the development and implementation of the Texas Educator Excellence Management System (TEEMS) at TxCEE and supports partner districts in using TEEMS to inform HR decisions. Before joining TxCEE, Ferguson specialized in grant management and policy initiatives, grants monitoring, and served as a Juvenile Probation Officer. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Texas State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Southwest Texas State University.
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Trish Jarrott, Coordinator for HR Strategies
Trish Jarrott serves as the Human Resources (HR) Strategies Coordinator for TxCEE. She provides support to our TSL districts in developing and implementing HR tools, provides support in analyzing and enhancing HR policies and practices in TSL districts, and collaborates to provide training to district and campus staff. Prior to joining the TxCEE team, Trish worked in Austin ISD for 22 years at the campus and district levels. Trish taught middle school science for 14 years at the magnet, pre-AP and comprehensive grade level. In her role as a district leader, Trish served as a Full-release Peer Observer, a Coordinator for Educator Effectiveness, and as the Assistant Director of Employee Effectiveness. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Learning and Development and a Master’s of Arts degree in Science Education- Geology, both from The University of Texas at Austin.
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Windy Leal, Administrative Associate
Coming Soon
Daniel Moses, Data Analyst
Daniel Moses serves as the Data Analyst for TxCEE. He conducts data needs assessment with districts and provides technical support regarding data transfer and error reports for TxCEE’s Texas Educator Excellence Management System (TEEMS). Before joining the TxCEE team, Daniel worked as a Data Analyst where he designed and published reports, wrote guidelines for data collection, and collaborated with other departments to solve their data needs. He also tutored students from Pre-K through 12th grade in math and science. Daniel holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences with Specialization in Statistics, Probability, and Data Analysis from The University of Texas at Austin.
Shayna Ortiz, Special Projects Manager
Shayna Ortiz is a Special Projects Manager at TxCEE. She manages processes for grant compliance, including collecting educator evaluation and support data, and prepares district budgets and progress reports. Before joining TxCEE, she was a curriculum data specialist, instructional support analyst, and grant manager with Austin ISD. She supported statewide school improvement programs at the Texas Education Agency. In this role, she developed program policies and training, wrote and managed federal grants, and provided direct support to schools throughout the state. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Public Administration through the University of North Dakota.
Bryan Sanchez, Manager for HR Data Collection
Bryan Sanchez serves as the Manager for HR Data Collections at TxCEE. In this role, Bryan is responsible for reporting, collecting and managing Human Capital Management System (HCMS) data. This includes the data collection of educator recruitment, hiring, selection, placement, evaluation, support and retention. Before joining TxCEE, Bryan enjoyed 7 years of teaching middle school science at Donna ISD. While in Donna, Bryan also served as the Department Head for Science, developed Science curriculum, served as Team Leader and was also a member of the Campus Leadership Team. Bryan received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas Pan American.
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David Vizcaino, Program Specialist - TEEMS
Coming Soon
TxCEE Partnerships Team
Jeanifer Caldwell, Coordinator for the Texas Teacher Residency Program
Jeanifer Caldwell is the Coordinator for the Texas Teacher Residency Program at TxCEE. She coordinates with partner school districts and institutions of higher education to facilitate development and enhancements to the Texas Teacher Residency Program TxTRP). Before joining the TxCEE team, she worked in the classroom for ten years teaching 7th-11th-grade math and computer applications, as well as serving as technology coordinator. She also served two years as a master teacher at Terra Vista Middle School. Caldwell received a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies specializing in Secondary Math and Business and a Master of Education in Educational Administration both from Lubbock Christian University.
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Gene Morrow, Coordinator for the Texas Principal Residency Program
Gene Morrow serves as the Coordinator for the Texas Principal Residency Program. He coordinates with partner school districts and institutions of higher education to develop and facilitate leadership training. Morrow coaches, mentors, and supports novice and/or struggling principals in partner school districts. Morrow believes that improving school leaders and teachers is the single most important factor in increasing student achievement. Before joining TxCEE, He dedicated twenty years to both rural and urban Texas Public Schools. Morrow has seventeen years of administrative experience and extensive knowledge of program implementation as well as student value-added and teacher performance pay. He received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University.
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Karen Kahan, Manager for Online Learning
Karen Kahan serves as Manager for Online Learning. She designs courses, workshops, and other training materials through an online platform. Prior to joining TxCEE, Kahan worked thirty years in education at the local and state levels. At the Texas Education Agency, Karen directed the technology applications/computer science curriculum, implemented educational technology programs, supported teaching and learning initiatives, and provided school library and other online resources. Kahan taught mathematics and science at the junior high, and she tutors high school students in mathematics. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education-Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction-Instructional Technology from The University of Texas at Austin.
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Patsy Charles, Program Specialist
Patsy Charles serves as a Program Specialist for TxCEE. She processes accounts payables, reviews and processes reimbursements to partner districts, provides support and assists with overall grant compliance. Before joining the TxCEE team, she served as program specialist supporting the Division for Dropout Prevention and College and Career Readiness Initiatives at the Texas Education Agency. Charles holds a Bachelor of Arts in HR Management from Concordia University and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
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Gabriela LeBaron, Program Specialist
Gabriela LeBaron is a Program Specialist for TxCEE. In this role, she supports School Improvement team members in editing academic material, coordinating meetings and conferences, processing travel reimbursements, and tracking project budgets. Prior to joining TxCEE, Gabriela earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and, during her studies, developed a microfinance project that is still implemented in Honduras. Gabriela has experience with organizing or leading arts and crafts events, fine art shows, restaurants, and cafes. She plans to attend graduate school in the near future and major in international development/economics.
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Monica Sena-Martinez, Business Operations Manager
Monica Sena-Martinez is the TxCEE Budget and Contracts Manager. She manages the overall financial aspects of TxCEE in collaboration with the Region 18 business office, including budgets and contracts to ensure all financial requirements are met. Before joining the TxCEE team, Sena-Martinez began her career with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) where she served for fifteen years providing program and policy guidance and support for the State of Texas public education system. She also served as an auditor most of her career at TEA performing program compliance and monitoring activities. Sena-Martinez earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin.
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TxCEE School Improvement Team
Elizabeth Brooke-Garza, Ed.D., Instructional Training and Support Specialist - EL Initiatives
Dr. Elizabeth Brooke-Garza is an Instructional Training and Support Specialist for EL initiatives. She creates and delivers in-person and online training and support for teachers, teacher leaders, and campus administrators. She coordinates with partner institutions of higher education to facilitate online learning that aligns with educator certification requirements. Before joining the TxCEE team, Brooke-Garza taught in the Teacher Education Department at California State University, East Bay. She brings over twenty years of teaching experience as a bilingual, dual language, ESL, and Spanish teacher. Brooke-Garza has also served as an ELL site specialist, reading specialist, master teacher, department chair, teacher leader, consulting teacher/teacher coach and district consultant. She holds a B.A. in Spanish Literature from the University of California, San Diego, a M.S. in Educational Leadership, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from California State University, East Bay.
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Stefani Morrow, Instructional Training and Support Specialist - School Improvement
Stefani Morrow serves as a Training and Support Specialist at TxCEE. She coaches, mentors, and supports educators in partner school districts. In addition, she coordinates with partner school districts and institutions of higher education to develop and facilitate leadership training. She believes the greatest lever in school improvement is building the capacity of school leaders to positively influence and impact instructional practices. Before joining TxCEE, she served seventeen years in Texas public schools as a classroom teacher and campus administrator. She has also served as a T-TESS and T-PESS trainer at Region 10 Education Service Center and a Field Supervisor and Professional Coach for new teachers with Texas Teachers of Tomorrow. Morrow received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Prairie View A&M University in Communications and a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University in Commerce.
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Clarissa Plair, Ph.D., Instructional Training and Support Specialist - READ Literacy Coach
Clarissa Plair, Ph. D. serves as an Instructional Training and Support Specialist-READ Literacy Coach. She provides direct instructional support for READ literacy grant teacher cohorts, along with district- and campus-administrator guidance. Before joining TxCEE, she served Texas public schools for over 25 years. The last few years she achieved positive results with schools implementing turnaround initiatives. Dr. Plair has ten years of administrative experience and in-depth knowledge of curriculum and instruction, especially reading. In addition to her Ph.D. in Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington, she holds a M.A. degree in Foreign Language Education with a concentration in Applied Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. degree in Secondary Education from Indiana University.
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Carmen Pompa, Ed.D., Instructional Training and Support Specialist - READ Literacy Coach
Carmen A. Pompa, Ed.D. serves as an Instructional Training and Support Specialist-READ Literacy Coach. In this role, she provides direct instructional support for READ literacy grant teacher cohorts, along with district- and campus-administrator guidance. Before joining TxCEE, Dr. Pompa was the director of the Bilingual/ESL/DUAL/Foreign Language Department at United ISD for six years. She comes with experiences as an early childhood DUAL teacher, reading intervention teacher, literacy coach, reading specialist, assistant principal, district coordinator, and adjunct professor at Texas A & M International University (TAMIU). She holds a B.A. degree in Psychology and a M.S. degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Literacy from TAMIU, and an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Biliteracy Education from Texas A&M University.
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Krislyn Willmon, Instructional Training and Support Specialist - School Improvement
Krislyn Willmon serves as an Instructional Training and Support Specialist at TxCEE. She provides direct implementation support to campuses implementing the TEEM model to ensure components of the model are integrated and aligned to meet the needs of all partners, including campus leaders. Before joining the TxCEE team, she was an Executive Master Teacher/Design Coach for the Institute of Public School Initiatives (IPSI) at The University of Texas at Austin and an educational math consultant at Region 18 ESC. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Texas A&M University and her Master’s degree in Secondary Curriculum and Instruction from Texas State University.
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Jodie Wymore, Instructional Training and Support Specialist - READ Literacy Coach
Jodie Wymore currently serves as an Instructional Training and Support Specialist-READ Literacy Coach. In this role, she provides direct instructional support for READ literacy grant teacher cohorts, along with district- and campus-administrator guidance. Jodie believes in focusing on the power of building positive relationships and has a passion for engaging all educators to continuously seek opportunities to learn and lead. Jodie’s career in education has provided opportunities for learning and leading while she served as Coordinator of Principal Leadership for Texas Teacher Advancement Program (TAP), campus principal, assistant principal, instructional coach, classroom teacher, art teacher and soccer coach. Jodie holds a MA, M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Texas State University.
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