Furthermore, she was recently nominated to join SAC’s chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Isis is currently studying Business Administration and is currently interested in pursuing a career path in cybersecurity. 

As a CAST student, Isis took advantage of the opportunities that CAST Schools Network had to offer, such as the College Assistance Program. Isis shared that the CAP scholarship has helped her ensure she has the necessary funds to make it to and from school, and to purchase whatever supplies she needs.

Isis’ accomplishments thus far are a testament to her hard work and determination and we are proud to spotlight her as a member of the CAST Alumni Network.

As the host of a podcast called Miss Education, she interviewed me about redesigning high school as an act of co-creation with local school districts. We both shared a core belief in the need to value the expertise of educators as both professionals and practitioners with direct daily contact with young people. At a time when there was a push to transform teaching and learning through school competition, principally through charters, we focused on the public schools that served more than 90% of students, and sought to catalyze change from within. If you listen here, you will hear a lot of laughter, alongside so much hope and idealism.

I registered immediately that this person would push my thinking, and I was inspired by her fierce commitment to honoring the work of teaching in all its complexity. As CAST grew, we had an opportunity to add new people, and she joined our small but mighty team.

Fast forward to 2026: We have 7 schools in 4 districts, including a middle school and Pre-K-12 Academy. We have built incredible, deep partnerships with superintendents and policy makers. CAST Schools was named as one of 24 school organizations as part of the national Carnegie Future of High School Network. I can’t wait to watch Jen Maestas lead CAST Schools to achieve its promise to build a San Antonio movement to make schools more relevant, more relational, and more student-led, and to mobilize the educators and parents who both love our schools, and are asking more of them.

One of the gifts of CAST Schools is that we have a deep and abiding belief that people – our students, our teachers, our staff, our leaders – show up with gifts and our job is to harness them. We’ve been so fortunate to see how that strengths-based philosophy has allowed the people in our organization to flourish.

Over the years that Jen has been at CAST Schools, I’ve had a front seat to seeing how she draws on her varied past as a principal, as a school designer, as a lifelong learner, as a storyteller, to elevate the people around her. Her mom instincts mean that our staff feels listened to, and nourished. She champions professional learning that engages teachers in a problem of practice, and gives them the opportunity to wrestle with research, test ideas in their classroom, and shape initiatives ranging from project-based learning to teacher induction.

She was the design partner in the launch of CAST Lead High School in East Central, demonstrating creativity, flexibility and adaptability as that school opening coincided with the COVID-19 shutdown and focused on some of the hardest hit industries – retail and hospitality. CAST Lead opened with some of the most creative projects and positive energy I’ve seen at a school, and that DNA remains strong today.

Listing her accomplishments does not capture the warmth or responsiveness of Jen, her charisma, her humor, and her humanity. Just this past week, one of our schools experienced a tragedy, and she was already in her car heading that way when she called me to let me know what had happened. 

CAST Schools is a homegrown network of schools gaining national attention, and one belief we have never strayed from is that our community has deep strengths that can be cultivated to build a better future for both the young people and the adults who are committed to learning. So it is especially fitting for us that, after a national search, the candidate who demonstrated the vision to steer us into the future was someone who played a critical role in making us who we are today.

Jeanne Russell

Executive Director, CAST Schools

Mary shared that the guidance of these mentors, along with the foundation she built at CAST STEM and the early exposure to engineering has been “essential” to her success. 

Since graduating from CAST STEM, Mary has since earned a degree in Civil Engineering from UTSA and has gained experience working with PM Engineering, a small start-up firm. While attending UTSA, Mary also had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy during the summer of 2025, as well as take on various summer internships every year.

Additionally, earning her degree while remaining debt-free has allowed Mary to begin building a life of independence and financial stability, an accomplishment that Mary is very proud of. From CAST STEM student, to now Engineer, Mary shared some valuable  insight for current CAST students, “Enjoy the mistakes, the learning curves, and even the stress—those moments shape you more than you realize. Trust that everything will fall into place. Things have a way of working out, especially when you stay consistent and give yourself grace.”

“Not one single person was on their own in a business, it was always a partner connecting with another,” said Jose De Los Reyes Jr., a senior at CAST Lead High School.

He shared that insight as we gathered for a final meal at Romelia in Mexico City, the culmination of a December global leadership trip with 12 students from our CAST Schools student advisory, representing schools across our school network.

At the close of our time in this breathtaking global capital, each of our students shared a takeaway from three full days of meetings with political and industry leaders, as well as visits to cultural sites and a memorable trip to an elementary school. 

“Even though some countries are so similar – I see a lot of similarities between San Antonio and here, there are also minor differences. It’s really exciting to know that things can be different and they’re not necessarily better (or worse),”  said Diego Carrasco, a junior at CAST STEM High School.

I was struck by the patterns in the takeaways. Faith Roye echoed Jose’s point that “teamwork is the core of everything.” In the patterns, I see signs of what we need to focus on in education – the experiences we create for students, the opportunity to engage in human connection and push each other’s thinking, and time for reflection. 

At more than 20 million people, Mexico City is one of the largest and most dynamic cities in the Americas. Students and met with leaders from sectors including government, manufacturing, bitcoin, IT policy, education and entertainment, took in Lucha Libre and a performance of folclorico and mariachi at the magnificent Palacio de Bellas Artes. The program was organized by the U.S.-Mexico Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting binational understanding and collaboration between the United States and Mexico.

At a time of rapid technological change, travel may be one of the most powerful ways to gain a new perspective and challenge our default settings. CAST Med sophomore Stant Marcelo Gordon told the group: “ Let us take these opportunities and apply them to our real life, so the skills we learn, way of life, manners, new connections…will expand our way of living.” 

To be a global leader, especially from San Antonio, TX, it requires an understanding of our closest neighbor. Not only is Mexico the largest trading partner for the U.S., but Texas and San Antonio have key geographic advantages in this global partnership. So it was gratifying to hear CAST Med Senior Ellie Garcia note: “how much I love the history of this city – and how they show it in every way.”

As adults, there is nothing quite like witnessing awe, joy and wonder through the eyes of young people experiencing something for the first time. The CAST team was struck by the thoughtful questions our students prepared and asked, and how their understanding of this fascinating city evolved over the course of three jam-packed days. 

Regardless of the country, the leader, or the industry: “asking questions really helps,” said Advanced Learning Academy junior Davian Flores.

ALA Sophomore Malcolm Martin elaborated on that point, saying: “You ask a question and maybe you stand out. Maybe 10 years from now, I’ll see one of the speakers and he’ll remember I asked a question that sparked an idea.” 

What it all boiled down to, he concluded was, “curiosity and being ready to learn.” 

It isn’t clear yet what types of opportunities and challenges will face our young people and adults as humans push the boundaries of machine learning, but I do believe that in 2026 we will put a premium on original thinking, asking good questions, and differentiating the intellectual and emotional qualities that only humans are capable of. Put simply, what we will all need is “curiosity and being ready to learn.”

One of the most powerful words of advice came from Manola Zabalza, Mexico City’s Secretary of Economic Development, the youngest minister in city government, who walked us through her favorite spots in Chapultepec Park our first day.

“Curiosity is an ingredient that makes everything fun,” she said. “The most valuable item is your time and your attention. That is the resource they are fighting for. Make sure you use it wisely or it can be drained.”

“I don’t think the easy way is the fun way,” she said, “I think the hard way is the fun way.”

When we started the CAST Schools network, we dreamed that each of our students would graduate with a passport and their first stamp on it. We believed that travel to Mexico would not only give them a competitive edge, but also draw on many of their cultural strengths and understanding. We are a long way from achieving this dream, but as we head into a new year, I am reminded of just how transformational this experience is for young leaders, and how rich learning can be when we push ourselves beyond the boundaries of traditional classrooms and learning.

Jeanne Russell

Executive Director, CAST Schools

As the founder of CAST Schools, sometimes I am struck with disbelief as to just how good our schools are, and how impressive our students are. This week, we asked this question of both our students and our alumni.

What stands out is that so many of their responses speak to the importance of human relationships at the school, comments like the one word: “community,” or “a good school is when they take immediate action when students are in need of help.”

We’ve also captured feedback about the importance of mentors, and real-world experiences, and internships. 

This human-centric commentary is especially interesting to me as we grapple with a world where learning is increasingly assisted by technology. And yet, in the past two weeks I have had the opportunity to see student presentations that call upon young people to synthesize, analyze, present, and put forward creative ideas.

In every setting I am in, whenever we are stuck, there is a temptation to ask ChatGPT to get us unstuck, and this may not be a bad impulse. But I am increasingly aware that original thinking will be the currency of this new age, and that it is often sparked when we engage in dialogue and deep listening with others. We also do need to have schema, or understanding of the topics we are hoping to grapple with.

It’s an exciting time for those who care about the future of learning, because we have an opportunity to develop ways to leverage new technologies while developing habits of mind that hold us back from dependency on technology as a crutch for deep thinking, and our notes from our students remind us that at the end of the day, we are in a business that is as much about high touch as it is about high tech.

Jeanne Russell

Executive Director, CAST Schools

One group I sat with was concerned about preparing young men for healthy, kind relationships – so topical and relevant at a school with more boys than girls. Another was working with the school’s limited grounds to build out gardens for outdoor learning, as well as the resources to ensure they would be maintained through the hot summer months. Another hoped to build out a structured model to support student participation in service projects. Yet another wanted to ensure that mental health resources were visible, accessible and known to students starting immediately their freshmen year.

Across every group of students, I was struck by: the quality of their ideas, their care for the school, and their desire to reflect upon their own experience to improve the experience of others, particularly the youngest students who come into the school freshman year.

We have a version of these Legacy projects, led by seniors, across all our CAST Schools. 

After Legacy Day, I transitioned to the industry advisory board meeting for sister school CAST STEM. Partners discussed how we can better measure and communicate the types of skills our students are mastering through projects like these, that enable them to engage directly with adult professionals, in which they develop empathy, work collaboratively, and must think creatively. 

These qualities set our students apart, and our partners are consistently struck by how CAST students look them in the eye, shake their hands, and engage in conversation. I promise they do not typically come to us in 9th grade doing all these things!

At CAST STEM we discussed how we can build a movement so that students and families can demand these types of experiences from schools, the ones that actually set them up for success post high school. More to come on how we ensure that schools focus on what matters most in an age increasingly influenced by machine learning!

Jeanne Russell

Executive Director, CAST Schools

While attending UNT, Terrance has interned as a data specialist for CAST Schools and as an IT Platform Cloud Engineer Intern for United Health Organ Sharing. Since graduating from University of North Texas (UNT) with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Analytics, Terrance has continued on as a data administrator for the CAST Schools.

Reflecting back on being a CAST student, Terrance appreciates the many technical skills learned early on stating  “most people don’t get that kind of experience until later… experience like how to navigate and collaborate in groups effectively, and project-based learning overall.” 

We asked Terrance if he has any advice for current CAST students and he emphasized the need to be attentive in what you are being taught and to be actively engaged in group projects, assignments and opportunities that CAST presents to you. “All in all, don’t be afraid to grow or challenge yourself within this experience. This will all set you up for success in the real world. “

On Wednesday, I felt a sense of awe as I watched elementary students tackling hands-on activities designing mini helicopters, flying drones, experimenting with colors and heard these young people articulate their interest in STEM studies at the STEM Extravaganza at CAST STEM High School. Small children clamored to get close to the drone light show performed by students, after which I heard a parent turn to a school leader and say: “when will there be another one of these?”

In two short years since moving to its forever home at Palo Alto College, CAST STEM has become a beacon for STEM and hands-on learning on the Southside, and a standard bearer for excellence. I also had a chance to chat with some of the current CAST STEM students who had fanned out across the event as volunteers. Several shared that they had not envisioned themselves as college bound, or even academically inclined, yet they had found their place at CAST STEM, and felt cherished and supported in their dreams. This is what we are all about at CAST Schools.

Earlier that same day, I visited Murnin Elementary school in Northside, where juniors and seniors from CAST Teach High School are interning, working alongside teachers in classrooms where they oversee small group lessons, coach students individually, and partake in hands-on STEM activities. In a STEM lab, we chatted with two of our senior boys, both accepted with scholarships to study education at St. Mary’s University, a strong partner to CAST Teach High School. I am reminded that when young people have happy, joyful experiences with their own learning, and when they see behind the curtain of how curiosity is sparked in young minds, they are drawn to this field of education.

And yet, as we head into a season of gratitude, I also want to note that I am conscious of the long days our educators work, and the many tasks we continue to pile upon their strong shoulders. So if you are grateful for an educator in your life, be sure to let them know – that gratitude can be the encouragement that keeps them moving forward.

Jeanne Russell

Executive Director, CAST Schools

CAST Tech has three pathways, and students must choose either User Experience Design (UX), Cyber Security, or Entrepreneurship by the end of their freshman year. 

Each of the girls had chosen a different pathway, and each said the opportunity to sit with leaders from CPS Energy, H-E-B, Whataburger and other employers, hearing directly about each of these three fields, had been the final factor in their decision for next year.

Two of the three are also participating in a mentorship program known as InspireU. As part of the program, they visit Valero monthly, and are matched with a mentor who will stay with them until their senior year of high school.

A big takeaway from their first two visits to Valero had been how many careers are represented across the company, opportunities that go well beyond oil and gas.

The Industry Day was a project recommended by last year’s class of seniors as part of their legacy day. 

Much of what we seek to do at CAST Schools is to give students rich academics combined with hands-on, career-connected learning. It is in these types of signature experiences that students get outside of the classroom and see the real-world implications of what they are learning in school. Juniors across all CAST Schools participated in a Life Ready Summit Friday at the University of Incarnate Word, with workshops on college essay writing, career pathways, money management and other life skills.

The CAST Tech industry advisory members gathered on Thursday noted that, while not always easily measured, it is these types of experiences that are the CAST difference, resulting in students who show up to the workplace with confidence, strong communication skills, and the ability to problem solve and work in teams – super important for life though not captured on standardized tests.

Jeanne Russell

Executive Director, CAST Schools

“Giving power to students to create solutions – now our community is better,” said Ana P., a CAST Teach senior, speaking to a roomful of adults at the Whole Child Whole Community conference put on by Communities In Schools, one of CAST’s closest partner organizations.

Ana and her project partner Jasper P. both struggled with mental health, and beginning their freshman year they proposed that CAST Teach create a wellness room that would be a place for cooling off, but also full of tools and activities to teach both young people and adults about mental health. 

They recounted how they first presented their topic to the Northside ISD Board, then won a grant, and now oversee implementation of the activities and the scheduling of the room.

“The fact that we were able to do this as freshmen shows that you are never too young to change your community,” Jasper said.

Not only were these students incredibly wise, and excellent presenters, but listening to them I was struck by the fact that all 3 of the projects are incredibly timely.

Maya M. presented a work that she said was inspired by her childhood, her love of the outdoors and simple joys such as making mudpies. After visiting the H-E-Butt Foundation Outdoor School as a campus and seeing how her peers relaxed when disconnected from their phones, Maya began researching technology regulation. Her investigation preceded new state laws that prevent students from using their phones in class, and she has doubled down on her commitment to pushing out an information campaign about the downsides of technology, especially before 8th grade.

The final group of CAST Teach juniors, Nathalie R., Annette R., and Sophia M., recognized that teaching is a profession that requires so much from the adults, and can be a strain on any personal lives. After seeing one of their teachers juggling her own small children on a day that was a school holiday, but a teacher work day, they came up with an innovative solution: offer teacher child care at school on those days.

They implemented their project immediately, and CAST Teach Instructional Facilitator Hallie Gelabert, herself a mother of two young children, shared that it had already improved her ability to juggle and fully utilize her planning days without distractions.

What all three of these projects have in common is that they speak to the moment we are living in. They recognize that mental health concerns have spiked since COVID, that teachers are increasingly stretched, and that our use of technology is potentially unhealthy, yet we are often unable to resist or set boundaries.

I am so glad I attended this conference, as I was reminded yet again that when we get out of the way and let young people lead, amazing things happen.

Jeanne Russell

Executive Director, CAST Schools