Crystal Brand

Director, Matriculation & Onboarding

Corps Year: 2014, Dallas-Fort Worth

Hometown: Brownsville, Tennessee 

Alma mater: Middle Tennessee State University 

Hey Everyone! I am so excited you said YES to Houston! I'll be supporting you through onboarding and AmeriCorps.  I can't wait to get to know you and help you get started toward becoming a teacher and moving to Houston.

Kamesha McNeil

Director, Certification & Placement

Hometown: 

Alma mater: 

Welcome HOU '23 CMs! I am so excited you're here. I'll be supporting you through onboarding, certification, and placement. I can't wait to get to know you all better!

Sydney Grice

Director, Network Operations

Corps Year: 2017, Houston

Hometown: Richlands, North Carolina

Alma mater: North Carolina State University (BA), Johns Hopkins University (MS)

Hello future TFA Houston! Congratulations on joining the Corps and welcome to our Houston community. I'll be here to help communicate action items, answer questions, and connect you with resources to get you ready for this exciting new chapter. 

Tavia Talton

Director, Network Programming

Corps Year: 2016, Houston

Hometown: Mansfield, Texas

Alma mater: Texas Christian University

Howdy CMs! I'm so glad that you'll be joining this journey. As Director, Network Programming (1CM), I'll be planning and executing your summer learning experience. In addition, I'll be leading your first year experience!

Zehra Abbas

Corps Year: 2018, Houston

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Alma mater: UCLA

Congratulations on taking such an incredible step in changing the lives of children! Thank you for being willing and committed to these communities and I cannot wait to see all the impact you are going to have in Houston!

Byron Hannah

Corps Year: 2018, Houston

Hometown: Fort Washington, Maryland

Alma mater: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (B.S.), Columbia University (M.A.)

Welcome to the Teach for America Houston family! You are going to be a great addition to the Houston team and I am excited to see all the things you accomplish in this work. Thank you for being committed to impacting the lives of students and families in Houston. The work has just begun and we are here to support you in reaching your fullest potential. 

Alexis Helfenstein 

Corps Year: 2011, San Antonio

Hometown:Findlay, Ohio

Alma mater: Michigan State (Undergrad) & Texas A&M (Graduate)

Hi there, I'm Lexy! Welcome to the Teacher for America Houston family.  We are so excited to have you join us! I'm a 2011 San Antonio Corps Member.  Since then, I've been blessed to work with scholars and families in the DFW metroplex. It is an honor to support you as an Onboarding Coordinator and I look forward to partnering with you in our work with the students and families here in Houston!  

Nikki Ereli

Corps Year: 2019, Houston

Hometown: Houston,Texas

Alma mater: Sewanee  

Hello all! My name is Nikki Ereli! I am so excited to join the team of onboarding coordinators. I am looking forward to creating strong relationships and offering support wherever it is needed.

BriAunna Madison

Corps Year: 2017, Houston

Hometown: Houston,Texas

Alma mater: Texas State University and Johns Hopkins

Hey!Hola!Howdy! Welcome to the TFA family! Congratulations on entering into this new chapter of your life, we've only just begun! Thank you for committing to the mission of One Day, All Children; your presence is appreciated and makes a difference!

LaTreal Peterson

Corps Year: 2012, Houston

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Alma mater: University of Wisconsin- Madison and Johns Hopkins University 

Welcome to the Teach for America Houston Family! You are joining a remarkable region that has a history of making transformational change. As an incoming Corps Member, you will have access to professional development, instructional coaching, and many more resources that will support you on your teaching journey. Welcome to the region! 

Samantha Galvan

Corps Year: 2021, Houston

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Alma mater: University of California - San Diego

YAY! You made it! Welcome to the Teach for America Houston Family! We are so excited to have you and can't wait to see the impact you will make in the lives of the students and families in Houston.

Maria Alejandra Jaramillo

Corps Year: 2019, Houston

Hometown: Bogota, Colombia

Alma mater: Texas A&M University

Welcome to the Teach For America Houston family! Congratulations for joining a network of diverse leaders ready to disrupt current practices in the education system! I'm excited to support you in this journey and help you develop sustainable systems that will help you engage in meaningful learning and impact the lives of students and families in Houston. The Space City is an amazing place to do this work so come ready to be bold, authentic, and innovative! 

Zariah Embry

Corps Year: 2020, Houston

Hometown: Lexington, KY

Alma mater: Emory University

Welcome to the region! Thank you for answering the call and beginning this journey of self-discovery, equity, and anti-racism needed to be the change we seek for our students and families in Houston. We are here to share with you and guide you, but also to build connections that can last long into your fight for systems change!

Breyanna Dennis

Corps Year: 2016, Houston

Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee

Alma mater: University of Southern Mississippi

Welcome to the Corps! Congratulations on making it this far. Teaching is one of the most wonderful and impactful jobs you will ever have. Thank you so much for taking this leap and joining with us as we strive closer to #OneDay!