In 2011, we created our Teacher Advisory Board to recognize our star collaborators and inspire teachers across the country by celebrating their innovative skills and techniques.  Members of our Inaugural Board include:

Carla M. Brown
is an energetic educator, speaker, and public speaking coach with a savvy twist on securing success.  Convinced that cultivating relationships is at the crux of heartfelt achievements, she contends, "Life's rewards are a reflection of life's investments.  "Transitioning from Corporate America to the classroom, she's paired her business and HR degrees with experiences in the industries of healthcare, restaurant, journalism and education to become an incredible second grade teacher at MacGregor Elementary.

Known for engaging both students and audiences in participative learning, she captivates listeners with a call to accountability answered by a commitment to excellence.  Brown also enjoys freelance writing and exploring the culinary motif that always leads to palate pleasure.  Carla is married to Michael F. Brown. Sr. and has two children, Michael and Christopher.

Larissa Brown
graduated from the High School for Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) in Houston, Texas then went on to study at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and the University of Texas at Austin before joining Teach For America  in Oakland Public Schools teaching 3rd, Kinder and 4thGrades. After a brief stint in Buenos Aires, teaching English and learning Spanish. she returned to the Bay Area to join Aspire Public Schools where she was a founding teacher at Monarch Academy. She compounded her skills in a special needs classroom in Santa Monica before coming home to join the KIPP family as a founding Kindergarten Teacher at KIPPSHINE Prep.  At KIPP she grew into new rolls:  Learning Team Teacher and Instructional Coach. Larissa recently joined YES Prep Public Schools as an instructional coach and will continue to consult to KIPP.

Susan Cave
for over 20 years has worked in her passion: Elementary Education.  She has taught all grade levels from Pre-K through Fifth.  However, she loves teaching third graders the most.  For the last six years Susan has served as an HISD Science lead Teacher and worked in the Science Lab.  She surpasses most teachers today because of her ability to teach children as if they were her own. 

Susan's inspiration came from being a full time mom to her own three children before starting to teach.  Her oldest is completing his Masters at Southern University; her middle child is completing her Doctorate at Stanford University; and, her youngest is completing his bachelor's at Oklahoma University. Growing up in the small town of Pass Christian, Mississippi, Susan is the fifth of eight children to the late M/M Daniel Charlot Jr. Despite working full time, she graduated from Texas Southern University not only on-time but second in her class as Magma Cum Laude.   Mrs. Cave has been married to a wonderful husband, Charles, for the last 30 years. 

Two-time Local School HISD Teacher of the Year/2011 and  Exxon Mobile National Teacher Academy Participant, her style is her very own. Susan simply loves teaching!  She has over a thousand Professional Development hours with the majority focusing on Elementary Science.  She is currently working under the direction of Dr. Patricia K. Allen at Henry F. MacGregor Elementary School, in Houston, Texas as their Science Lab Teacher.  Susan believes in every child's right to a quality education.  Giving up on our children is not an Option!
 

Sylvia Healy
has always had a passion for teaching. She received her Bachelor's in biology at St. Edwards University in Austin, TX and went on to earn her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Houston. She is a certified as a Bilingual/ESL instructor, Elementary Biology and Early Childhood teacher.

Sylvia shares her wealth of knowledge in several HISD schools and is currently a Core Enrichment Teacher and our partner in the RFS Culinary and Gardening Ancillary classroom at Sylvan Rodriguez Elementary.

Sylvia enjoys spending time with her husband of 40 years, 3 children and 2 grandchildren; and also loves to travel, read, cook, sew and garden.


We look forward to sharing tips and insights from our Teacher Advisory Board members with you over the coming years.