Over the next few months, our member education workshops will hone in on our 5 grant focus areas and will offer insights from local nonprofit leaders in each area.

Our April 29 panel will focus on the history, challenges and opportunities for education in Houston. Aisha Crumbine of Crumbine Education Consulting will moderate the panel, and she will be joined by panelists Jacque Daughtry, Executive Director, Literacy Now; Celina Diaz, Manager – District Success, ProUnitas; and Courtney Isaak, Managing Director of District Support and Talent, Good Reason Houston.

About our panelists:

Aisha Crumbine, Crumbine Education Consulting. Aisha began her career in education 21 years ago as a Teach for America corps member. During that time she has been a teacher and/or administrator in every type of school, including Ryan Middle School, the original KIPP Academy, and the Kinkaid School, her alma mater. She uses her experience to help parents navigate school options for their children as the principal consultant of her company, Crumbine Education Consulting. Aisha is currently the VP Development of Teach for America Houston and a certified Dare to Lead facilitator.

Jacque Daughtry, Executive Director, Literacy Now. Jacque received her bachelor’s degree in Business, with an emphasis in Personnel Management, from the University of Houston and has 25 years’ experience in accounting and business management in the for-profit sector.  Her passion for serving children and her community as a church volunteer and in multiple volunteer capacities at each HISD school her children attended, paved the way for her to help launch Literacy Now in 2006. Jacque considers it an honor and privilege to serve the organization’s students, their dedicated staff and board of directors, and their Houston ISD partner schools.

Celina Diaz, Manager of District Success, ProUnitas. Celina is a ten-year veteran elementary teacher who began teaching in Fort Bend ISD. She went on to teach in some of Dickinson ISD’s most disadvantaged schools where she was named “Teacher of the Year” at Hughes Road Elementary for the 2011-2012 scholastic year. Celina also served as Academic Director at Mission Squash where she pursued her passion of wanting to close the opportunity gap for all students. She then took her leadership back into the classroom to continue inspiring young minds at Houston ISD and served a two-year term as grade level chair at Briargrove Elementary.

Courtney Isaak, Managing Director of District Support & Talent, Good Reason Houston. Courtney leads the development and implementation of Good Reason Houston’s talent and school improvement strategy to ensure that every child in Houston has access to game-changing educators. Prior to joining Good Reason Houston, Courtney launched Teach For America’s pre-service training program in Dallas – Fort Worth which prepared 400 high-quality educators to teach in local school districts. During her time at TFA, Courtney also oversaw the development of teacher training and student-facing curriculum, coached new teachers, and facilitated community partnerships.

Follow this link to register or click on the button below.