Our Team

“We aim to create joyful, purposeful places of learning”

We know that by working together, we can build exceptional schools!

We are a group of experienced educators who are always asking, “How can we make school the most amazing place in the neighborhood for kids?” We want to prepare our students - starting in Pre-K and Kindergarten - for the long road to college and beyond, but we want to pave a road that is fun, exciting, safe, and joyous. We think that’s what school is all about!

Sí Se Puede Schools team works hard, works urgently, and does whatever it takes to get the job done. We are dedicated to growing sustainably and responsibly, working closely with schools, teachers, families, districts, and community partners to learn from them and continuously improve our approach.

Our Team

Executive Director

Executive Director of Si Se Puede Schools, management partner of Ogden Elementary, Ixchell González, brings extensive educational leadership to her role. Raised in Cuernavaca, Morelos, México, and San Antonio, Texas, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Education from St. Mary’s University and a Master of Educational Leadership degree from Our Lady of the Lake University. A co-founder of the Hispanic Youth Leaders Organization, she completed prestigious leadership programs at Harvard University and the National Hispana Leadership Institute. With experience as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, she champions youth empowerment and community engagement. She contributes to organizations like the National Hispanic Institute and Borussia Dortmund Soccer League. As a founding partner of the OCI Group, she drives positive change. Ogden Elementary benefits from her visionary leadership and dedication to educational excellence.

Chief of Schools

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. A graduate of Our Lady of the Lake University, Melissa has a Bachelors and Masters degree in English Literature and is currently a Doctoral student in Leadership Studies at OLLU. Having worked in education her whole career, she has a passion for ensuring that students and teachers have what they need to succeed.
Melissa’s experience in education as an academic advisor, admissions counselor and having worked with international students, she is studying the relationship between the emotional intelligence of leaders and how it impacts student outcome. She hopes to continue supporting the education system with her doctoral research and improving student learning.

Our Board Members

Board Chair

Joel is a strategic leader and consultant dedicated to innovation in public education. He has founded a nonprofit education champion organization or funding engine for innovation in San Antonio public schools called City Education Partners. Joel also founded KIPP University Prep High School in San Antonio and he has taught multiple subjects for grades 6-12 in traditional public and charter schools in Tennessee and Mississippi. Joel Has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, the New Teacher of the Year of Southaven High School, Rhodes College Outstanding Young Alumnus, and he holds a B.A. from Rhodes College and an M.A. from the University of Mississippi. Most importantly, Joel is a husband and a father of five.

Board Member

Board Secretary

Maria currently serves as the Dean of Relay GSE San Antonio and part of her role involves overseeing all aspects of teacher training. She is a native Texan and is a passionate and dedicated teacher educator who strives to provide PK-12 teachers with the effective instructional knowledge and skills they need to teach for educational equity. Before becoming Dean of Relay GSE San Antonio, she was a professor of science education for 3 years, a high school administrator for 4 years and a middle and high school science teacher for 15 years. Maria has been awarded the 2008 Southside High School Teacher of the Year and various grants for her classrooms, including the TRC STEM initiative grant and Accelerated Science Achievement grant. Maria holds a B.A. in biology from Our Lady of the Lake University, a M.A. in teaching from the University of the Incarnate Word, and a M.A. in educational administration from Texas A&M San Antonio. Additionally, she is a Texas certified educator with certification in the following areas: Composite Science 8-12, Secondary Biology 6-12, ESL 6-12, Principal EC-12, and Superintendent EC-12.

Upcoming
Board
Meetings

Our board meetings are open to the public and subject to Texas Open Meeting laws. Interested members of the public who wish to speak to the Board at an upcoming meeting are encouraged to arrive early to the meeting to sign up for the Public Comment portion of the meeting.

Date and time:
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
3pm-4pm

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