For Jon, school has always been a positive space for relationship-building, growing and learning, so he wasn’t surprised to find himself pursuing an undergraduate degree in secondary social studies education. During his seven and a half years at Nimitz High School in Houston’s northside, Jon’s role as a teacher and instructional coach provided him with the opportunity to coach teachers on best practices, aimed at helping build teacher capacity. This focus on helping impact education through the teacher-student relationship attracted Jon to TEACH, which he joined in June 2021. As a Program Manager, he’s most inspired by collaborating with others to make a significant, long-term impact. Through his work, he’s on a mission to show students that school can be a positive, enriching experience – much like his was.

As Houston’s first TEACH-certified teacher, Nahdra was perhaps destined to become a TEACH Program Manager. During her 11 years in Houston ISD, she served as a seventh-grade science teacher at Key Elementary School and, most recently, as a Teacher Specialist at Mitchell Elementary – one of TEACH’s first campuses, where she also served as a fifth-grade science teacher. As a TEACH Program Manager, Nahdra now helps educators create calm and safe classrooms and increase student engagement, leveraging the very same skills that once empowered her as a teacher herself.

It was one of Nahdra’s high school teachers who inspired her to consider a career in education. A self-proclaimed “science geek,” Nahdra received a scholarship from The National Science Foundation to pursue her Bachelor’s in Biology from Mississippi Valley State University. She’d later also acquire her Generalist Teaching Certification and would go on to earn a Master’s degree in 2022. She considers teaching an immeasurable privilege and aspires to be a changemaker for educators and students alike.

Drawing from her experiences growing up in an underserved and disadvantaged community, Jo. has dedicated her career to teaching and paving the future for students like her. After teaching biology for eight years and earning a Master’s in Education Administration from Lamar University, Jo. served as an Instructional Coach and as a Title 1 Campus Coordinator at Fort Bend ISD before joining TEACH as a Program Manager in January 2023.

Jo. is honored to have the ability to impact the learning environments of students who have similar socioeconomic upbringings and is eager to continue to be a positive change agent for local communities. Jo. is currently a doctoral student at Baker University, where she is studying Instructional Design and Human Performance Technology.

Tylea learned first-hand the impact that education could have on a young person’s life. She’d go on to become the first in her family to earn an undergraduate degree, later earning a Master’s degree in Developmental Disabilities with concentrations in Leadership & Advocacy and in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Seeing how powerfully nonverbal communication strategies could help children on the autism spectrum, she also obtained her certification as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). Her skills and passion for helping advance children’s development ultimately led her to serve as the Operations Manager for InBloom Autism Services in Houston and paved the way for joining TEACH in November 2021. In her role as Operations Manager, Tylea collaborates with all TEACH team members on all facets of operations to help TEACH achieve its mission.

It seems fitting that Michele’s interest in education was sparked by a great teacher. With encouragement and confidence from her beloved high school counselor, Michele would go on to earn her degree in Elementary Education and Interdisciplinary Studies from Lamar University in Beaumont. In 2017, Michele earned her Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University-College Station, returning to school as a single mom of three sons while working full-time – something she considers one of her proudest accomplishments.

Michele joined TEACH in June 2023 after more than 30 years of teaching in inner-city, suburban and rural schools throughout Texas. A Certified School Counselor, she most recently served as a district-level Senior Counseling Specialist with the Houston Independent School District. As a TEACH Program Manager, Michele is eager to combine her vast classroom experience and counseling insights to create positive learning environments with the use of impactful nonverbal communication strategies.

It’s a passion for supporting teachers like herself that drew Ashley to join TEACH. After beginning her education career in Aldine ISD, where she taught for several years, she moved to Abu Dhabi to teach english, math and science at multiple grade levels. Once back in the U.S., Ashley returned to Aldine ISD as a middle school teacher and rediscovered her true calling.

Ashley joined TEACH as a Program Manager in 2023, with a devoted focus on providing much needed support to teachers and creating positive learning environments for educators and students alike. In this role, she blends her educational background, which includes a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas, Houston, and certifications in Special Education, ESL and ELA, with her passion for fostering positive relationships with the more than 1,800 educators TEACH serves every day.

While Robyn grew up surrounded by a family of educators, her personal passion for education was, fittingly, cultivated in the classroom, where she had a front-row seat to the immense impact she could have as an educator. After spending four years in the Houston Independent School District, Robyn knew she had found her lifelong career – one that would reward her with the opportunity to make a lasting, community-wide impact. It was Robyn’s commitment to serving her community through education that led her to earn a Master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins University and, ultimately, to join TEACH in July 2021. As a Program Manager, Robyn is most excited about seeing how her team’s work transforms Houston-area schools and helps enhance the community she proudly calls home.