Speakers
Keynote
Gian Paul Gonzalez
Youth Education & Wellness Expert; Founder & Director of Hope + Future Foundation
During the New York Giants’ 2011 Super Bowl run, much of their inspiration is attributed to Gian Paul Gonzalez (pronounced John-Paul). Prior to the Giant’s Christmas Eve game with the NY Jets, Gonzalez delivered the now famous “ALL IN” rally cry message during the Giants’ chapel service and is now widely recognized as having inspired the New York Giants to their Super Bowl victory and was featured on ESPN on Super Bowl Sunday, and has had notable appearances on Fox News, ABC and CNN. He has traveled across the nation as a motivational speaker for the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers, to the Army Cadets at West Point, United States Air Force, Anheuser-Busch, Sam’s Club, Patch.com, PNC Bank, DSW Shoes as well as many other corporate, athletic, government agencies, and educational institutions.
Texas Education Agency Speakers
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Monica Martinez
Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services
Monica Martinez has worked to promote quality education for students throughout the state of Texas at the TEA for the past 16 years. As Associate Commissioner for Standards and Support Services, Monica oversees the work of four divisions: Early Childhood Education; Curriculum Standards and Student Support; and State Board of Education, Support and College, Career, and Military Preparation.
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Krystal Garza
Director, Postsecondary Preparation Programs (P3) Texas Education Agency
Krystal Garza serves as Director, Postsecondary Preparation Programs (P3) for the Texas Education Agency. Krystal directs policy and leadership for the College and Career Readiness School Models (CCRSM), Dual Credit, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), OnRamps, College Preparation Assessments (ACT/SAT & PSAT/TSIA), HB3 Reimbursements and Texas College Bridge.
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Mary Hausle
Statewide Coordinator for College Career Readiness School Models
Mary Hausle is a statewide coordinator for College and Career Readiness School Models (CCRSM) at the Texas Education Agency. Her work supports Early College High School (ECHS) and Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) model implementation, technical assistance, and expansion. Prior to joining the agency, Mary served as a college advisor and project manager in the Rio Grande Valley and Central Texas regions.
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Darin Ford
Statewide Coordinator for College Career Readiness School Models
Darin serves as a College and Career Readiness School Models (CCRSM) Statewide Coordinator in the Postsecondary Preparation Programs (P3) office for the Texas Education Agency. He manages the path to designation application process, data collection, and grant funding procedures for all Early College and P-TECH High Schools in the CCRSM network.
Educate Texas Speakers
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Chris Coxon
Chris Coxon is the managing director of programs for Educate Texas, supporting a team working to improve educational outcomes for low-income, minority and first-generation students. Chris has served in a number of educational leadership positions, including district administrator and principal. Chris holds a Bachelor in Biology from Benedictine College and a Master in Education, Planning and Social Policy from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
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John Fitzpatrick
John Fitzpatrick is the executive director of Educate Texas, CFT's statewide education initiative. His role spans five areas: strategy, fundraising, advocacy, culture/talent and what he calls Team CFT. From 1997-2004, John had a dual role as the executive director of Skillpoint Alliance, a central Texas nonprofit, and vice president for education and workforce development at the Austin Chamber of Commerce.
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Kenya Wilson
As a director for Educate Texas, Kenya is committed to strengthening the college and career readiness of Texas students. In her work, she provides strategic leadership developing technical assistance for the Dallas Southern Sector System-Wide STEM initiative and Early College High Schools and Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools across Texas. Prior to joining CFT in 2018, Kenya served as a science/STEM specialist in Lancaster ISD.
