Contigo Ed Creators + Creatives
We are excited to introduce you to Contigo Ed Creators & Creatives! This is a talented group of educators, practitioners, and leaders from across the country. They have been and will continue to help Contigo Ed produce and share relevant content and valuable resources for educators.
Creators are direct-to-student school practitioner that brings theory and practice to life through video content. They are working to bring their advising experience and background to life by providing strategies, tips and guidance on a variety of postsecondary topics.
Creatives play a key role in ensuring content produced by Contigo Ed is relevant, accurate, and up-to-date. Creatives are known and celebrated leaders in their respective roles. Creatives will serve as consultants to Contigo Ed staff members on focused and targeted areas of expertise.
Learn more about each of them below! Check back to see what videos each of our Creators have made! They’ll also be posted on social media.
🎥Creators
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College, Career, & Military Readiness Coach - Keller ISD
Fort Worth, TX📽️: Meet Kelli • Day in the Life Resume Microcourse Review • Texas Success Initiative (TSIA2)) • College App Obstacles
This is my 15th year in education and my 8th year as a school counselor. I work for a large public high school in the Dallas-Fort Worth area as the College, Career, & Military Readiness Counselor, and this is my 3rd year in this position. Before this position existed, I was a school counselor doing all the expected duties, but my assigned campus responsibilities were financial aid, scholarships, and dual credit, so I've always been deeply involved in college readiness. I love my current role which allows me to focus on helping all students access and achieve their post-secondary goals.
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Director, Apprenticeships and Work-Based Learning - City Colleges of Chicago
Chicago, IL📽️: Meet Vince • Postsecondary Pathways • Award Letter Comparison • Counselor/Teacher Collaboration
Vincent is a first-generation college graduate from the University of Southern California. With over a decade of experience in the college access space, he has worked directly with students and families in schools for over eight years, followed by the last two years at the national level with The College Board. His work centers around guiding students for postsecondary success and demystifying the college admissions process. Despite a lack of strong high school counseling or support, he was fortunate to participate in a rigorous college prep program that emphasized the importance of pursuing higher education. In his current role as the Director of Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning Programs at City Colleges of Chicago, he leads initiatives that bridge the gap between education and industry, creating valuable opportunities for students to gain essential job skills while assisting employers in meeting their workforce needs. Vincent's passion lies in dedicating hard work, high spirit, and maximum effort toward achieving any set goal, driven by a belief in the transformative power of education.
Vincent is a first gen grad of USC (Fight on!). He has spent his entire career on the frontlines of the educational equity battle. With nearly a decade of experience in the college access space, he is a fierce advocate for higher education and is an expert at helping students and families navigate the complex college admissions process. His expertise lies in college and career planning, financial aid planning, and serving as the bridge that connects community with opportunity. He currently works at the City Colleges of Chicago as the Director of Apprenticeships and Work-Based Learning learning, where he brings together education and industry, helping students gain essential job skills and employers to meet workforce needs. Vincent lives in Chicago with his wife, daughter, and puppy, Frida. He is an avid reader, sports fan (Niners, USC, Warriors), and the family chef!
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Program Manager, EMERGE
Houston, TX📽️: Meet Linda •
Journeyed through 5 years in college counseling across public, private and charter schools. I thrive on forging connections, especially with first-gen students, nurturing their passions. As a college guidance consultant, I've been supporting students in Fort Bend ISD, Dallas ISD, and internationally. Whatever path a student chooses, I make sure they're armed with all the info for an informed decision, thinking big picture and long-term.
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High School Transition Counselor at KIPP Forward DFW
Irving, TX📽️: Meet Ceinna • Day in the Life • uAspire Cost Comparison • College Fit
My name is Ceinna Bush and I currently serve as a High School Transition & Success Counselor in Dallas, TX. I am originally from Los Angeles, CA and moved to Dallas last year. I have always enjoyed helping my community and I discovered my passion for working with high school students during college. I decided to become a college advisor and I graduated from San Diego State University with my Bachelor's in Communication, and earned my Masters in School Counseling from CSU Long Beach. This is now my 8th year supporting students as they navigate through high school & pursue their post secondary goals. I have also worked as the staff sponsor for a Black Student Union and mentored many students in Pretty Brown Girls, Good City Mentors & Delta GEMS. I genuinely love my job and I want my students to know that if they don’t have anyone else, I will always be there for them and will support them as much as I can.
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Independent Consultant / School Partnerships Coordinator
Romulus, MI📽️: Day in the Life • Pre-College Programs • Summer Melt
Meet Kharena, a seasoned educator, innovator, and entrepreneur, whose influence can be felt across multiple school systems in Southeast Michigan. She has spent 15 years in the classroom and in executive administration roles in secondary schools and at the University of Michigan College of Engineering. With a knack for project management, fostering partnerships, STEM education, and college access, Kharena is dedicated to uplifting youth who have been historically underserved.
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Independent Consultant
Houston, TX📽️: Meet Candice • Student Resumes • Supplemental Essays Counselor Tech Tools: Navigate • Recall • Connect
Hi, I’m Candice. I’m a creative, out the box thinker that values authenticity and creativity. I am passionate about creating replicable solutions to challenges creatively that are both inclusive and engaging. I am also driven by missions and initiatives that create equitable access spaces reflective of a myriad of experiences and diverse perspectives.
A native New Yorker, Houston Transplant, Creative, Content Developer and Educator, I’m a tapestry of my experiences and interests. I design and facilitate engaging and impactful learning experiences. In addition, I develop and maintain learning management systems across a variety of EdTech platforms, as well as lead and organize branding design, communication and community engagement efforts. I am also actively involved in recruitment development and initiatives for new hires. I am a proud graduate of Tufts University (04’BA) and Brooklyn College, CUNY(M.Ed. 07’) and the recipient of the HAASBE 27th Annual Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award(13’-14’). In addition, I am the recipient of three EMERGE Core Value awards: Talent Mobilizes Us(22’), Meaningful Relationships Fuel Us(20’) and Attitude of Gratitude(18’) (20’).
To actively broaden my skill set I am currently pursuing certification in UX/UI design and independently I am an emerging Surface Designer and member of the 2022 Immersion Surface Design cohort. In my free time I enjoy creating digital content and surface designs and making memories with my charismatic son and loving husband.
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College Counselor at St. Agnes Academy
Houston, TX📽️: Meet Rob • Day in the Life •
Counselor Letter of Rec • College Application Obstacles • Financial Aid Comparison • Motivations • Choosing a CollegeRob Mooring is in his 9th year as a College Counselor at St. Agnes. He spent three years as a College Counselor at YES Prep Public Schools, including one year as Director of College Counseling and Alumni at YES Prep East End. Prior to YES Prep, Rob spent three years as an admissions counselor at Pepperdine University. He and his wife Stephanie have two kids and a dog, all of whom they adore.
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Founder, Valle Conmigo
Houston, TX📽️: Meet Mayra • Day in the Life • College Essays
As a first-generation college student, Mayra navigated unfamiliar terrain and graduated from Connecticut College with her Bachelors of Arts and Texas A&M University with her Masters of Art on full scholarships! Given the challenges she encountered, she entered the education sector with the goal of affirming student identities and providing them with strategies to excel in the admission process. With a decade-long career in selective college admission space, Mayra has supported students across five Houston-area school districts as a counselor and content specialist. Whether she was facilitating cross-cultural dialogue at the Posse Foundation or directly supporting students and staff at EMERGE, Mayra approached the work with care and an unmatched level of hard work that she learned from her migrant parents. She has taken those learnings and paved a new path. Last year, Mayra launched her own business, Valle Conmigo LLC, as a way to provide DEI trainings to practitioners and college advising to students.
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Program Manager | University of Michigan Pathways to Public Health
Ann Arbor, MI📽️: Meet Paula • Day in the Life • WOOP
Paula Viñales-Bowman is a pre-college education professional dedicated to lowering barriers to college access for under-resourced students and communities that are underrepresented within post-secondary education. Trained at the University of Southern California, she received her Master of Art in Teaching degree and has served as an educator for grades 6-12. For a number of years, Paula supported a portfolio of at least 20 teachers across the Chicagoland area to support cohorts of 30 students each as they made progress toward postsecondary goals and overcame obstacles to enrollment. Paula supports education professionals through transformational coaching and encourages educators to lead with intentionality when building programs and structures that aim to support all students.
Paula is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology (2009) and the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education (2012).
🧰Creatives
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Senior Director of College & Career, Achievement First Public Charter School
Brooklyn, NYAmy considers her calling to be a “match maker” because of her deep belief in the power of informed decision making when deciding on one’s postsecondary path. As a proud women’s college graduate, she knows how that decision has ultimately changed her life trajectory and afforded her the opportunity to explore learning and the greater world in ways she didn’t know were possible. Her core belief is that all students, regardless of who they are or where they come from should have a postsecondary experience that allows for that same exploration and wonder.
Amy has spent her entire 20+ year in the professional world as an educator. Growing up in a small town in the Midwest, she came to East Coast for college and has found those two educational experiences have informed so much of her understanding of the power of education.
After college, Amy started her career in education as a 3rd grade teacher in Harlem and then moved on to recruiting college graduates to become teachers. That lead to one of her most pivotal roles of founding a college access office at the Bronx Lab School, a public school in Bronx, NY, she believes in the power of education and the role in plays in anyone’s life.
Her time at Bronx Lab was the most formative in her life as it clarified her passion and interest in college access for all students. In her time work at Bronx Lab, she supported hundreds of students in applying to all types of college & universities across the country.
Amy currently oversees the college and career access programming for a K-12 charter school network to ensure that all students have the best-in-class postsecondary advising to support a life of choice and fulfillment. Serving most Black and Brown students with high financial needs, she oversees and supports the college & career access programming across the network’s seven high schools and manages the network support team that supports the both the access and success programming within those high schools.
Amy got her B.A. in sociology at Smith College and her Master’s in Teaching from Pace University. When she’s not thinking about college & career access, she’s spending time with her family (Two daughters, Charlotte (10) and Frances (5) ) in Jersey City and trying out new recipes and restaurants.
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Director of Secondary English, YES Prep Public Schools
Houston, TXSeeta Estrada is the Director of Secondary English at YES Prep Public Schools overseeing the creation and implementation of a rigorous in-house English curriculum that increases student achievement for thousands of students across Houston. Notably, under her leadership, YES Prep’s state English assessment passing rates have increased by 14% in three years and by 5% from 2019 reversing learning loss from Covid across the district. Her experience has instilled in her the belief that all students deserve access to choices for their future, and that rigorous, college-ready instruction is essential to providing those choices. During her over a decade in education, Seeta has been a middle school English teacher, literacy specialist, AP English Literature teacher, instructional leader, and curriculum designer. Seeta lives in Houston with her husband, and in her free time, you can find her taking long walks with her sweet coonhound mix, Paloma, or coaching and attending CrossFit classes at Urban Athletics Heights.
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District Partner, Customer Success — Allovue
New Orleans, LAI am a thoughtful, empathic, and strategic relationship leader with over 10 years of experience supporting implementation, consulting, and customer experience in the K12 space. I started my career in higher education where I led orientation, admissions, and advising efforts for Louisiana State University. In 2018, I moved to the tech industry and since then I have had the opportunity to lead customer success teams at four education focused companies – Naviance, PowerSchool, SchoolMint, and Allovue. I'm incredibly passionate about helping educators implement new technology and I currently support districts as a consultant at an education finance company.
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College Access Director, CollegeTracks
Silver Spring, MDWith a dedicated commitment to educational equity and empowering underserved student populations, I am a seasoned professional in the field of college access and success. Currently serving as the College Access Director at CollegeTracks, I lead and manage a team of 12 program staff, steering our mission to empower first-generation-to-college students and those from immigrant and low-income backgrounds. My responsibilities include hiring, training, and supporting staff as well as collaborating with the Chief Executive Officer to champion the organization's mission and sustainability. Prior to this role, I served as the Assistant Director of College Access, focusing on program expansion and training. Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated a strategic, data-driven approach to programming, fostering collaborative relationships with various stakeholders. My extensive experience also includes roles where I delivered college access services, designed and led workshops, and managed a volunteer program. My background reflects a passion for creating opportunities and bridging systemic gaps to guide students successfully through higher education.
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Master College Admissions Counselor, IvyWise
Baltimore, MDCarolyn is an experienced educator who has worked in college access and admissions for over a decade. She has served as a college admissions counselor, policy advocate, high school counselor, nonprofit manager, and independent college counselor, all with the goal of increasing college access for low income and first generation college students. She has a master's degree in Education Policy from Vanderbilt University and is in the process of completing her doctorate in Education Leadership through the University of Kentucky.
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Special Education Math Teacher at Ridgewood High School
Ridgewood, NJMy name is Lauren Rosenfeld and I am a 22-year veteran teacher specializing in secondary level special education math instruction. Content and delivery differentiation are crucial for student mastery and achievement and I pride myself on continuously learning new techniques to engage students. I am also deeply connected to the educational practices of our student athletes; it is imperative that NCAA requirements are met by each individual so that they can compete at the next level. Students are not always made aware of the requirements before graduation time and need a strong and knowledgeable point person so that they can achieve their fullest potential. I hold a BA degree in Public Health from the University of Rochester, NY and MA in education from St. Thomas University in Houston, TX. I was a Teach for America Corps member, Houston ’02 and currently teach in northern NJ.
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Director of Advanced Academics, Austin ISD
Austin, TXDr. Elizabeth “Sev” Severance serves as the Director of Advanced Academics (which includes Gifted and Talented, Advanced Courses, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), AVID, and GEAR UP) in Austin ISD. She has worked at the campus, district, and state levels supporting college readiness and advanced academics. She believes every student should have access to information about their postsecondary options to feel informed and empowered to succeed.
After watching so many of her students enroll in college, but leave before the first year, she decided to pursue a doctoral degree in educational leadership with a higher education concentration. Working in college readiness programs and various programming models, led her to add a graduate certificate in program evaluation. She graduated in 2020 with research focusing on college advising and the ways the K-12 system does and does not support postsecondary opportunity and success.
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Director of College Counseling, YES Prep Fifth Ward
Houston, TXI am a deeply loyal educator & campus administrator, committed to educational equity for underserved populations with specific emphasis on college & career readiness.
My greatest professional strengths are my concentrated detail-orientation, data and results driven mindset, and my adaptability in the ever-changing college admissions and education landscapes.
My 13 years of unique & diverse experiences as a founding staff member and campus leader, have developed my expertise in…
Curriculum creation and implementation for 8th-12th grade college- and career- readiness courses; emphasizing aspiration, exploration, academic readiness, and application preparation
Strategizing in response to multi-faceted data collection, analysis, and synthesis aimed at maximizing the intersection of college access components, including: admissions policies, state legislature, financial aid processes, student credentials, and subsequent matriculation & persistence outcomes
Pioneering and championing cutting-edge research, instructional strategies, and college/career preparation systems
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Education Services Specialist / Department of Defense / Air Force
Great Falls, MTLaura Tovar is a first generation college student and the oldest of 3 siblings who has attended and graduated college. Born and raised in Watsonville, California, Laura's passion for education grew when she learned that a degree would allow her to have what her parents could not have; a better job. She obtained her Bachelors in Psychology, a Masters Degree in Counseling and currently pursuing her EdD in Higher Education. She has been in the education system for over 10 years working as a Middle School Math teacher, Instructional Coach and Academic Counselor. Laura is now an Education Specialist currently living and working in Montana. Her areas of focus are higher education working with students in Middle School, High School and College as well as Active Duty Military members. When she is not working, she enjoys baking, and spending time with her family.
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Senior Regional Program Manager, Postsecondary Success with Aspire Public Schools - Central Valley
Dr. Luangchee Xiong (Lu-won-see Zong) serves as the Regional Director for Post-Secondary Pathways at Aspire Public Schools, focusing on educational initiatives and pathways for Aspire schools located in the Central Valley region. With over a decade of service in the field of education, particularly specializing in academic counseling, Luangchee brings a wealth of experience and expertise in master scheduling, dual enrollment, the creation of systems and processes, and programmatic planning. Luangchee is dedicated to fostering collaborative partnerships, nurturing a culture of academic excellence, and empowering scholars and teammates across the Central Valley Region to pursue their educational and career aspirations and achieve their full potential.
