Board of Directors
This cohort of pivotal San Antonio leaders shares a passion for education and a belief that we can make a positive change in one generation.
Elaine Mendoza
Elaine Mendoza is the Founder, President, and CEO of Conceptual MindWorks Inc. (CMI), a San Antonio-based biotechnology and medical informatics company. Since its founding in 1990, CMI has developed innovative solutions in areas including chemical/biological defense, trauma medicine, and population health, and now focuses on the development and deployment of the electronic health record platform Sevocity. Mendoza holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University.
A dedicated community leader, Mendoza has served on numerous boards and commissions advancing education, health care, and economic development, including the Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System, the UP Partnership, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System, and the US Congressional Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in STEM. She was appointed founding Board Chair of Pre-K 4 SA by Mayor Julián Castro and continues in this role through reappointments by subsequent mayors.
Jeanne Russell
Jeanne Russell is the founding Executive Director of the Centers for Applied Science and Technology (CAST Schools), a network of innovative, career-connected partnership schools designed to nurture local talent and expand economic opportunity in San Antonio. Under her leadership, CAST has grown into a system of career-themed campuses that integrate project-based learning, industry partnerships, and real-world experiences to prepare students for college, career, and lifelong success.
A former teacher, award-winning investigative reporter, and public sector leader, Russell has helped shape transformative education initiatives across the region. She played a key role in the development of Pre-K 4 SA and other collaborative efforts that strengthen educational pathways and advance economic mobility for students and families.
Diana Rodriguez-Ruiz, M.Ed.
Diana Rodriguez-Ruiz is an educational leader with 18 years of experience advancing high-quality, equitable learning opportunities for young children. She serves as Assistant Principal at Graebner Dual Language Academy in San Antonio Independent School District, leading instructional systems that support bilingualism, biliteracy, and strong academic foundations.
She has served as a Dual Language and Special Education teacher and campus administrator, creating inclusive, research-aligned early learning environments. Recognized for her leadership and impact, she has received awards including Linguistically Responsive Assistant Principal of the Year, the Heights Hero Award, and Community Champion recognition from the San Antonio Spurs. Rodriguez-Ruiz brings practitioner insight, strategic perspective, and a steadfast belief in the foundational role of early childhood education to her service as a Board Member for Pre-K 4 SA.
Joseph De La Garza Jr.
Joseph “Joe” De La Garza Jr. brings more than 40 years of experience in banking and commercial lending. He currently serves as a Business Development Officer with LiftFund, supporting small businesses seeking access to capital, and previously retired from Jefferson Bank as Senior Vice President in Commercial Lending. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles across multiple financial institutions in San Antonio.
A graduate of The University of Texas at San Antonio with a BBA in Accounting, De La Garza has remained deeply engaged in the community. He has served on numerous advisory boards and commissions, including as 2019 Board Chair of the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, and on the boards of AVANCE San Antonio, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the San Antonio Local Development Company, and Barrio Comprehensive Family Health Clinic. A San Antonio native, he comes from a family rooted in public education.
Richard Perez
Richard Perez is President of the San Antonio Medical Foundation, where he leads efforts to advance health care, biomedical science, and community well-being through stewardship in the South Texas Medical Center. With more than two decades of experience in public service, his work is driven by a deep commitment to the San Antonio community.
Perez holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Texas State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas. His career includes leadership roles with the City of Laredo, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, San Antonio City Council, and regional planning and economic development initiatives. A founding member of the Pre-K 4 SA Board, he brings a strong focus on collaboration, innovation, and advancing opportunities for children and families.
Andrea Greimel
Andrea Greimel is a retired early childhood bilingual educator with 36 years of classroom experience in the field, including positions in Mexico, Edgewood ISD, and San Antonio ISD. During the course of her career, Ms. Greimel has devoted much of her time outside the instructional day to three passions: the development and implementation of high-quality early childhood education programs, high-quality dual language programs, and the development of robust and authentic collaboration among educators and parents of young children in the educational process.
In Mexico, Ms. Greimel was part of the foundational team in establishing a dual language school serving students from Pre-K to Preparatory. In Edgewood ISD, Ms. Greimel, along with colleagues, wrote the initial grant for the introduction of the 3-year-old program, as well as for one of the first dual language magnet school programs in Texas.
This program was unique in that it drew students to the Westside from across the city. At San Antonio ISD, Ms. Greimel collaborated with colleagues to sustain and upgrade another historic dual language program so that it could acquire In-district charter status, welcoming students from across the county. She was central to the collaborative, campuswide development of the early childhood curriculum at Carvajal Early Childhood Center. There she also introduced an innovative model for authentic parent and family engagement, called Family Literacy Events, which won a national award from the National Center of Families Learning, sponsored by Toyota.
Barbara Triplett
Barbara Triplett is an early childhood education leader with extensive experience guiding instructional programs with a clear vision, strategic direction, and a strong focus on continuous improvement. Drawing on leadership roles at both the campus and central office levels in public education, she specializes in designing and implementing systems that strengthen quality, consistency, and measurable student outcomes. Her work includes PreK and Kindergarten curriculum writing and resource development, district-wide professional development design and facilitation, instructional coaching across multiple campuses, and leadership support for turnaround school initiatives.
Her leadership extends beyond the school system through active engagement in state, regional, and community-based organizations focused on advancing early childhood. Barbara serves on the Region 20 Early Childhood Advisory Board. She has held leadership roles with TAASPYC and contributes to statewide instructional quality efforts through TEA IMRA and HQIM evaluation and writing. She also partners with universities, including UT San Antonio, Our Lady of the Lake University, and St. Mary’s University, to support educator preparation. Deeply rooted in community service, she has contributed to organizations such as SASO, Kinetic Kids, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, reflecting her commitment to supporting children and families both inside and outside the classroom.
Frances Guzman
As one of San Antonio’s retired educators, Frances has focused on educational advocacy, staff development, and served as both an administrator and classroom teacher. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in history and Spanish with a minor in secondary education. She has a master’s degree in elementary education with an elementary certification. Frances has also completed all coursework for a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction and obtained an administration mid-management and supervision certification. Additionally, she has served on many advisory boards and commissions during her professional career.
These associations include Head Start board, National Parenting Education Network, SAAABE/TABE (bilingual education), PTA leadership, and a Mayor’s Commission on Women and Families. Frances has been an advocate for education from infancy to adulthood. She has worked in family leadership, early childhood education, bilingual education, drop-out prevention, and curriculum development, and has been involved in all aspects of education including as teacher, administrator and board member.
Alissa Levey Baugh
Alissa Levey Baugh brings over 40 years of experience in early childhood education to the Board. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a Kindergarten Endorsement from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in early childhood education from UT-San Antonio.
Baugh began her career teaching kindergarten, second grade and ESL in the San Antonio Independent School District.
She then moved into executive administration, first as the director of the University Presbyterian Children’s Center program and then as director of the JCC Block and Dreeeben School for Young Children. Baugh led both schools to earn NAEYC Accreditation. She also provided professional development for the City of San Antonio Children’s Resources and was an adjunct professor in the Early Childhood Studies Program at San Antonio College. Baugh served on the board of the San Antonio Association for the Education of Young Children.
She created a 30-hour course on NAEYC Accreditation, which was initiated by the Center Quality Enhancement Project, to help 10 low-income early childhood programs achieve NAEYC Accreditation. She also served as a NAEYC Validator.
Baugh created a Cultural Friendship Exchange (CFE) program bringing together children in programs from different locations in the city who otherwise would not have the opportunity to interact and received funding from the San Antonio Area Foundation and later, the United Way. Additionally, she initiated the “Start Seeing Diversity” Conference and put together a committee each year to develop sessions that helped educators learn how to work with children from diverse backgrounds and with diverse needs. More than 300 early childhood educators attended each year. Through a grant from the Kronkosky Foundation, Baugh launched and administered a citywide parent education program (Precious Minds, New Connections) for families with children from birth through four years of age.
After retiring from her position at the JCC, Baugh has stayed active in both the field and the community. She has written curricula for Quaver Music and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and provides professional development for local early childhood programs. She also assists in voter registration with the League of Women Voters and the Educator Voter Registration Initiative, as well as serving on the board of the National Council of Jewish Women — San Antonio.
Dr. Shari Albright
Dr. Albright serves as the Murchison Distinguished Professor in Education and chair of the Department of Education at Trinity University. In June 2018, Dr. Albright led the organization Raise Your Hand Texas as the executive director. Prior, she was the executive director of education at the Asia Society and chief executive officer of the Asia Society International Studies Schools Network, a national network of small, internationally-themed schools in urban, underserved communities, dedicated to preparing college-ready, globally competent citizens. Shari also served as the principal of a public magnet school in San Antonio, Texas—the International School of the Americas—and was named the Texas High School Principal of the Year for 2004 by the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. In 2004, her school was awarded the Goldman Sachs Prize in international education.
She also served as an elementary school administrator, central office administrator, and elementary teacher in East Central ISD prior to teaching on the faculty of Trinity University. She earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Trinity University and her doctorate in educational leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Vacant
Jan Kirby is an early childhood education professional with decades of experience supporting children and families in San Antonio. She began her career teaching kindergarten and later focused on preschool programs for children with disabilities, earning certifications in Early Childhood Handicapped education, ESL, and interpretation. Kirby also holds a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
A long-time resident of District 10, Kirby has been actively engaged in her community, serving on the Northern Hills HOA board for 18 years and volunteering with organizations such as Morgan’s Wonderland. Her deep commitment to early childhood education and inclusive learning informs her work in supporting programs that foster the development and success of young learners.