Our Team

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. Through these one-of-a-kind partnerships, CAST students engage in project-based learning with curricula they help inform. The partnerships result in a network of industry professionals committed to supporting students’ college and career goals and connecting them with high-demand, high-growth, high-wage jobs—all while reinventing schools as we currently know them.

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 and CAST Imagine

Jacqueline Rodriguez

Principal
CAST STEM

Ericka Olivarez

Principal
CAST Teach

Jacob Barber

Principal
CAST Tech
Board leaders are distinguished in their field and committed to the role of education in transforming lives. They set the direction for the network, approve the nonprofit budget, play a critical role in school design, and shape students’ career and life readiness.

Lisa Lewis

Board President
CPS Energy
Chief Administrative Officer

Dr. Shari Becker Albright

Charles Butt Foundation President

Katie Chain

H-E-B
Program Manager, Education and Workforce

Rene Dominguez

Texas Research and Technology Foundation
President and Chief Operating Officer

Erik Ford

Heavy Heavy
Principal/Digital Director

Erik Nieves

Plus One Robotics
Co-Founder and CEO

Dr. Lyssa Ochoa

The SAVE Clinic
Vascular Surgeon and Founder

Jeanne Russell

CAST Schools
Executive Director

CAST Schools Board Meetings

Click here to view board meeting agendas and minutes.

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

Nayeli Gomez

Data Coordinator

Kathy Bieser

School Development Coach

Eric Falcon

Student Experience Coordinator

Anastasia Perez

Educator Experience Manager

Brook Zepeda

Project Management Apprentice

Daniel Ruiz

Data Science Apprentice

CAST Schools are built in partnership with public school districts. Today, CAST Schools are a network of 6 schools in four (4) different school districts:

SAISD logo

CAST Schools and San Antonio Independent School District  operate three schools in the district under a Texas Partnership agreement (also known as an 1882 Partnership): 

  • Advanced Learning Academy (2019): The network’s only prek-12th school
  • CAST Med (2019): Starting in August 2024, CAST Med will serve grades 6, 8, and 9 through 12. Students focus on one of three major pathways: 1) biomedical research, 2) medical professions, or 3) public health. 
  • CAST Tech High School (2017): Serves grades 9th through 12th. Students focus on one of three pathways: 1) business, 2) technology, or 3) user experience (UX)
Southwest ISD logo

CAST Schools and Southwest Independent School District, opened CAST STEM High School in 2019 and now serves 9th-12th grade students. Students prepare for engineering, technology, advanced manufacturing, and global logistics careers. Starting January 2024, CAST STEM High School will serve students on the campus of Palo Alto College

East Central ISD logo

CAST Schools and East Central Independent School District, opened CAST Lead in 2020 and entered into a Texas Partnership agreement (also known as an 1882 Partnership) in 2022. The school serves grades 8th through 12th, and students follow one of four pathways: 1) hospitality and tourism, 2) eCommerce, 3) Business Management, and 4) Agribusiness. 

In 2022, CAST Schools, Northside Independent School District, and the University of Texas at San Antonio College of Education and Human Development opened CAST Teach High School, San Antonio’s first school dedicated to careers in education. 

Partnership Coordinators connect students with industry professionals and employers interested in providing mentorship, internship, apprenticeship, job, and other work-based learning opportunities.

Nicole Ayala

Partnership Coordinator
Advanced Learning Academy

Bruce Cooper

Teacher and Partnership Coordinator
CAST Lead

Victoria Torres

Assistant Principal and Partnership Coordinator
CAST Med

Tim Bishop

Partnership Coordinator
CAST STEM

Gabriela Aguilar

Partnership Coordinator
CAST Teach

Analisa Vasquez

Partnership Coordinatorl
CAST Tech
CAST believes in working closely with partners to co-create a school environment that allows students to test-drive their careers and opens their eyes to the larger world. Our school advisory boards provide mentorship, real-world work experiences, internships, and job opportunities to shape students’ career readiness and help them seamlessly transition into college or the workforce while nurturing a homegrown and committed source of talent.
ADVISORY BOARD
San antonio river authority

Janine Garcia

Education and Engagement Coordinator

Southwest Research Institute

Nicholas “Nick” Mueschke

Program Manager

H-E-B

Katie Chain

Program Manager, Education and Workforce

RelateAbility, PLLC

Fred Borroel

Owner

SandTech Solutions

Lorena Herrera

Business Management Analyst

PBK Architects

Luis Ahumada

Associate Principal

PepsiCo

Jesus Alarcon

Area General Manager

H-E-B

Christopher Flores

Business Management Analyst

LPA Design Studios

Benjamin J. Rosas, AIA, LFA, NOMA

Project Manager, Architect

Artpace

Riley Robinson

Director

Alamo Architects

Beverly Baldwin

Principal

Alamo ArchiTects

Nicki Marrone

Prinicipal

ADVISORY BOARD
St, Philip's college hospitality management

David Uminski

Program Director

H-E-B

Katie Chain

Program Manager, Education and Workforce

P. Terry's Burger Stand

Belarmino Castellanos

Vice President of Operations

San Antonio Hotel & Lodging Association

Michelle Madson

President

Potluck hospitality

Annalisa Vasquez

Sr. Manager, Talent Development & Benefits

H-E-B

Gilbert Trejo

Sr. Software Engineer

Potluck hospitality

Regina Gomez del Campo

Human Resources Generalist

P. Terry's Burger Stand

Chris Harrelson

Holdsworth Center

Melissa Ludwig

Senior Manager, Communications

H-E-B

Esther Castelo

H-E-B

Michael Williams

H-E-B

Jill Barker

Director of eCommerce

1772 Hospitality

Raul Rodriguez

Co-Founder

Potluck Hospitality

Gabriela Carmona

DoSeum

Eugene Jimenez

Senior Educator

East Central ISD

Dr. Warren G. Mize

Director, Choral Activities and Music Entrepreneurship

ADVISORY BOARD
Brooks

Alex Melo

Community Relations Manager

UT Health San Antonio

Veronica Getty

TCHATT Community Outreach Coordinator

TSAOG

Dr. Kevin Kirk

Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon

City of San Antonio

Patricia Kittle

City of San ANtonio

Crystal Murray

San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness

Darryl Crooms

San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness

Vicki Thomas

San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness

Terri Mabrito

H-E-B

Izzy Rosa

H-E-B Wellness Primary Care

University of The Incarnate WOrd

Earlanda WIlliams

Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

City of San Antonio

Joshua Scott

ADVISORY BOARD
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas

Monica L. Sabillon

HOLT CAT

Beki Hutchison

Senior Vice President Human Resources

STANDARDAERO

Greg Chapman

Director, Training and Workforce Development

GREATER: SATX

Monica Hernandez

School-to-Career Manager

H-E-B

Josh Dietrich

Industrial Maintenance Training Manager

H-E-B

Kyle Baker

Senior Engineer

Texas Research & Technology Foundation (TRTF)

Jessica Harris

Chief Administrative Officer

Southwest ISD

Zelene Aragon

Executive Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction

Texas A&M University - San Antonio

Michelle Janysek

Assistant Professional Track

CPS Energy

Vidya Rangachar

Vice President Digital Solutions & Transformation

Palo Alto Colllege

Sonia L. Jasso, Ph.D.

Director of High School Programs

ADVISORY BOARD
Johns hopkins university

Patricia J. Martin

Guest Lecturer; Independent Consultant

University of Texas at San Antonio College of Education and Human development

Dr. Belinda Flores

Associate Dean of Professional Preparation and Partnerships

H-E-B

Christa Aldrich

Literacy Program Manager

H-E-B

Monica Palmer

Senior Manager, Talent Development

City Education Partners

Gladys Hernandez

Director of Talent

Alamo Workforce Solutions

Daisey Vega

Holdsworth Center

Elizabeth Del Toro

Director Communication

Bexar County Education Coalition

Julia Grizzard

Executive Director and Founder

Raise Your Hand Texas

Sophie Torres

Regional Advocacy Director – Greater San Antonio and Coastal Bend

Alamo Workforce Solutions

Sara Alvarez

Northside isd

Ben Muir

Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources

DoSeum

Daniel Menelly

Chief Executive Officer

ADVISORY BOARD
80|20 Foundation

ALEXANDRA FREY

Executive Director

80|20 Foundation

Kailtlyn Jones

Placemaking and Community Development Manager

Accenture

Jennifer Solis

Program & Project Management Specialist

chase

Mychel S. Ingram

developmate

Maxwell Kennady

firstmark foundation

Christy Bradshaw

Foundation & Education Specialist

H-E-B

Jeremy Karney

Director of Design | Enterprise Design & Design Operations

H-E-B

Katie Chain

Education & Workforce Program Manager
H-E-B

Marvin Hetzel

Product Development Manager and Packaging Innovation Manager
VMWare

Robert Engle

Senior Director – Technical Marketing -End User Computing
webhead

Abi Oridupa

san antonio isd

Brian Goethe

catalyst

Sara Villarreal

Co-Founder

weston urbam

Randy Smith

Co-Founder and CEO

weston urbam

David Robinson Jr.

Development Manager

catalyst

Dinu Mathai

VP of Solution Engineering
city of san antonio

Louise Craig

Experience Architect