Jeanne Russell is a passionate advocate for student voice. She began her career as a middle and high school teacher in East Harlem, Tokyo and Guatemala, where through listening to students she learned to share power and ownership of learning. She spent a decade as a reporter and editor examining education before joining two San Antonio Mayors to lead their education policy agenda. She led the conception and design of many signature San Antonio education initiatives, including Café College, PreK4SA, Upgrade and SA Works. She is the founding executive director of CAST Schools, a nonprofit school network dedicated to economic mobility and nurturing San Antonio’s homegrown talent. Co-created as a regional partnership between independent school districts, higher education institutions, and local employers, CAST offers a new model of teaching and learning alongside industry professionals committed to connecting students with high-demand, high-growth, high wage jobs. “We believe that all students have gifts; our job is to unlock them,” she said.