The Raise Your Hand Texas staff team is made up of a diverse, passionate group dedicated to ensuring every Texas child has access to a high-quality, free public education.
Staff
Foundation & Programs
Dr. Shari Albright
President, Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation
Tim Miller
Superintendent in Residence
Jennifer Jendrzey
Vice President of Strategy and Evaluation
Thea Ulrich-Lewis
Program Director
Briana Mascitelli
Program Coordinator
Christina Dunigan
Program Associate
Laura Hauk
Office Manager
Jane Shipwash
Senior Executive AssistantPolicy
Michelle Smith, Ph.D.
Vice President of Policy and Advocacy
Bob Popinski
Director of Policy
David Anderson
General Counsel and Policy Analyst
Laura Mellett
Director of Policy Content and Public Affairs
Max Rombado
Policy Research AssociateMarketing
Petri Darby, APR
Vice President of Marketing
Tessa Benavides
Media Relations Associate
Joel Goudeau
Visual Design Strategist
Anne Bannister
Digital Producer
Lauren Cook
Director of Content
Brian Diggs
Digital Producer
Marcela Giraldo
Multimedia Graphic Designer
Jonah Rohne
Digital Marketing CoordinatorAdvocacy
Libby Cohen, PH.D.
Director of Advocacy and Outreach
Missy Bender
Regional Advocacy Director – Collin and Denton Counties
Amy Dodson, M.Ed.
Regional Advocacy Director – West Texas
Giovanni Escobedo
Regional Advocacy Director – Rio Grande Valley
Skylar Gallop
Regional Advocacy Director – Panhandle
Matthew Hall
Regional Advocacy Director – Greater Fort Worth
JoLisa Hoover, M.Ed.
Regional Advocacy Director – Central Texas
Cassandra D. Jones
Regional Advocacy Director – Central Houston
Tom Kelchner, Ed.D.
Regional Advocacy Director – East Houston/Gulf Coast
Robert Long III, Ed.D.
Regional Advocacy Director – West Houston
Todd Schneider, M.Ed.
Regional Advocacy Director – East Texas
Tomás Sigala Jr., Ed.D.
Regional Advocacy Director – El Paso/Trans-Pecos
Kaylan D. Smith
Regional Advocacy Director – Dallas County