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Our Mission
The CAST Mission is to reinvent schooling and maximize opportunities for students while preparing them for college AND careers.
Our Vision
The CAST Vision is to create models that address San Antonio’s persistent educational challenges and income inequality, while also contributing to a transformation of the educational ecosystem.
To achieve our mission and vision, we:
- Co-create schools with and for students, educators, and employers.
- Champion students, alumni, and educators.
- Ensure the success of our organization.
Schools
The CAST Schools Network is an independent, standalone 501 c3 non-profit organization that partners with four San Antonio public school districts to implement its innovative, career-connected model. It has 7 schools in 4 school districts across Bexar County: East Central ISD, Northside ISD, San Antonio ISD and Southwest ISD.
Our Non-Profit
The non-profit organization works to support the students and schools, and to close the opportunity gap, fundraising for student experiences including but not limited to: mentorship, internships, and apprenticeships, a regional civics fair, travel and student leadership opportunities.
Open to Everyone
All CAST Schools are owned and operated by their respective school districts, and the employees all work for the respective school districts. We are in-district choice schools and we are completely free to students. We accept all students from all areas of Bexar County.
Career-Connected Learning
All students will have access to earn transferable college credits plus relevant industry recognized certificates to minimize the cost of college and elevate their resume in the workforce.
Partnering Together to Reinvent How Students Learn
Today, CAST schools is a network of 5 high schools, one middle school, and one pre-k-12 academy directly serving 2,000 students. By incubating new approaches to teaching and learning in the four independent school districts in which they operate, CAST schools also impact more than 170,000 students. Since beginning in 2017, CAST celebrates over 800 alumni.
Our Funders
As a nonprofit, CAST has co-created a network of schools in the greater San Antonio region with industry, government, civic leaders, and superintendents across multiple school districts as a regional economic mobility strategy. Through the support and generosity of foundations, corporations, and individuals, we are able to partner together to maximize opportunities for students while preparing them for college, career, and life.
CAST Schools' Leaders
Dr. Lyssa Ochoa
The SAVE Clinic Founder & CAST Schools Board President
Lisa Lewis
Chief Administrative Officer, CPS Energy
Leslie Cantu
Vice President of Administration, Toyotetsu TX
Dr. Shari Becker Albright
President, Charles Butt Foundation
Katie Chain
Education and Workforce Program Manager, H-E-B
Erik Nieves
Co-Founder and CEO, Plus One Robotics
Rene Dominguez
President and COO, VelocityTX
Erik Ford
Principal and Digital Director, Heavy Heavy
Jeanne Russell
Executive Director, CAST Schools
Jeanne Russell
Executive Director
Jennifer Maestas
Deputy Director
Heriberto "Eddie" Rodriguez
Sr. Partnership Director
Dr. Carol Harle
School Experience Director
Nicole Amri
Director of Development
Stephanie L. Gaitan
Communications Director
Joshua Collins
Communications Coordinator
Anastasia Perez
Educator Experience Manager
Eric Falcon
Student Experience Coordinator
Kathy Bieser
School Development Coach
Gabriela Gonzalez
Alumni Coordinator
Brook Zepeda
Project Management Apprentice
Jennifer Barber
Principal, Advanced Learning Academy (PK - 3)
Stephanie Cash
Principal, Advanced Learning Academy (4 - 12)
Erica Jackson
Principal, CAST Lead
Dr. Maricela Alarcón
Principal, CAST Med & CAST Imagine
Jacqueline Rodriguez
Principal, CAST STEM
Ericka Olivarez
Principal, CAST Teach
Jacob Barber
Principal, CAST Tech
Lizeth Chavez
Partnership Coordinator, CAST Med & CAST Imagine
Katherine Thompson
Partnership Coordinator, CAST Lead
Joshua Carpenter
Partnership Coordinator, CAST STEM
Analisa Vasquez
Partnership Coordinator, CAST Tech
Gabriela Aguilar
Partnership Coordinator, CAST Teach