Meet the Board

Edward has a Bachelors in Social Behavioral Sciences from California State University, Monterey Bay. He also earned his Masters in Teaching from University of Southern California. He holds two teaching credentials: general education (k-8) and special education, mild to moderate (k-12). His partner is currently an LSSP at IDEA Public Schools, and they have two children: Sofía and Olivía.

Edward has been working in education since 2005. He deeply believes in educational equity and inclusion. His pedagogy is embedded in the growth mindset and culturally relative teaching. He strives to maintain a learning environment that is safe and least restrictive. Edward's holistic teaching style is centered around individual student academic advancement, coupled with socio-emotional growth. His expertise is in motivational development, behavior support, executive functioning skills development, and general academics.

 Erin is a Human Resources Supervisor for the Library Department of the City of Austin, overseeing Talent Acquisition, Compensation, and Organizational & Employee Development. Her work facilitates her adoration for building community and public service. Many of  the positions she has held over the years have had one unifying theme: a  desire and dedication to serving the historically underserved. 

Her  responsibilities include creating and revising policy, strategic  planning, and quality assurance. She plans the needs of the organization  and forecasts resources to drive the mission. She plans to bring the same passion and strategy to Swan Start. 

Her self-care practices include spending time with her 'modern family,' a routine two-mile run, and binge watching baking shows.

 Tim works in technology sales and has fifteen years' experience working  with non-profits. He specialized in helping them maximize their  potential (something SSSP is very excited about.) As a graduate of the  University of Texas, Tim finds satisfaction in helping others achieve  success in their personal life and in academia. 

He is eager to apply his  passion, dedication, experience, and skillset to his newest pet  project, the Swan Start Scholarship Program. 

Jake teaches English and English Language Development at a high school in Los Angeles, CA. He holds a BA in Communication Arts and Spanish Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Southern California. 

Through his work in education over the past six years, Jake has developed a love for teaching writing and communication skills through poetry, music, and literature. He has also worked as a slam poetry coach, with teams finishing in the finals and semifinals in the LA-based "Classic Slam" poetry event hosted by Get Lit - Words Ignite. He now serves as his school's union chapter chair, with much of his time dedicated to organizing his colleagues towards transformative and restorative justice initiatives in his school district. 

 Sarah works as an Early Childhood Coordinator for Leander Independent School District, coordinating the prekindergarten program, which is free for underserved populations of children in the state of Texas. Her work includes writing curriculum, developing professional learning opportunities for teachers and instructional assistants, recruiting, public relations, community outreach, and program planning and improvement.

Holding a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus in Early Childhood Education, Sarah has previously worked as a teacher and an ABA therapist for children diagnosed with autism. Her passion for lifelong learning, work to open access to education as a way to empower underserved children and their families, and her community connections will feed the outreach channels of the organization.

  Belinda brings over 20 years of public service experience to the Board including her work with various state and local agencies and nonprofits. She received a B.A. in government and Mexican-American studies as well as a certificate in project management from the University of Texas at Austin. Additionally, she completed a fellowship in the Texas Governor’s Office and earned a certificate in grant writing from the Austin Center for Nonprofit Studies. She is currently studying toward a master’s degree in public affairs at the University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley. 

A native of Alice, Texas, Belinda is inspired by her late father to work hard toward addressing barriers to education and to, as he would say, “Do it to it – get it done.” She is also an avid reader, and enjoys fishing and barbecuing with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.