Leadership

Richard Marquez, President
		Richard Marquez began what is now a well-rounded career in education in 1975 as a middle school teacher. Over the past thirty years, he has worked in every possible area of the education business. As a creative and innovative leader, he has initiated many changes that are now considered educational norms.  (Read More)

 
Richard Marquez, President & CEO
Yolanda Cruz, Vice President of Education
Lew Blackburn, Vice President Business Services Melissa M. Groetsch was born in a suburb of Chicago and was raised in Indiana. When she was sixteen, her parents decided to move to Central Minnesota where her father’s family has lived for over 150 years. After graduating from Albany High School, Melissa attended Mayville State University in North Dakota and majored in Elementary Education and Psychology. During her senior year, she was chosen to complete student teaching in McAllen, Texas.
After graduation in 1991, Ms. Groetsch accepted a position at Brown Middle School, McAllen, Texas as a Special Education teacher. Brown Middle School was considered one of the most challenging schools in the district due to gangs, drugs and poor academics. As part of a team, she helped transform the school, and she mentored and influenced many of the students to improve their lives and to see that education was the way to a better life. Ms. Groetsch took on several leadership roles at this campus including: team leader, special education department head, chair of the campus “Student Assistance Program”, and member of the campus and district site based decision making team. Brown Middle School was one of the first schools in the Rio Grande Valley that implemented Full Inclusion for the special education population. During her last year at Brown, she was voted Teacher of the Year.
In 2001, Ms. Groetsch transferred to Rowe High School where she was a teacher for the Campus Alternative Education program. During this time period, she attended University of Pan American to pursue her Masters in Educational Leadership. After earning her Master’s in 2004, Ms. Groetsch accepted a position at La Joya ISD as a High School Assistant Principal. La Joya High School is one of the largest high schools in the Rio Grande Valley with an average population of 2,400 students. During her time there, she took pride in helping homeless, at-risk, and special population students graduate from high school and attend post secondary institutions.
Melissa enjoys spending time doing volunteer work, reading, baking, and spending time with her close friends, former students, and her dog, Milo.
Mene Ra Khepera is a man deeply committed to his purpose and passion, of helping others, especially children, discover their power and greatness.

Mene Khepera, formerly Irving Atkins, was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He attended elementary and high school in Texarkana, Texas. After graduating from high school in 1983, Mene received a full four-year scholarship to Memphis State University where he later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology and communications. Shortly after earning his Bachelor’s Degree, Mene began working on his Master’s in education.

In 1989, Mene moved to Dallas and launched his professional career as a family and youth counselor for Mental Health and Retardation (MHMR). Mene’s eleven years at MHMR was the foundation for preparing him for the experiences and challenges he would encounter in the field of education.

Shortly after leaving MHMR, Mene secured a position with Community Education Partner (CEP). His first year at CEP, Mene served as a Behavioral Specialist. Having experienced a great deal of success in this position, Mene was promoted to administration, where he served as an assistant principal over student discipline.

In this position, Mene once again proved himself as a man deeply committed to the success of students. As a result, Mene was asked by upper-level management to join the National Expansion Leadership Team to open a new school in Atlanta. Mene accepted and became one of a six-member team to open a new alternative school in Atlanta. After the school opened, Mene became one of the administrators for the school.

In 2004, Mene became the first principal of a Texans Can! at Dallas South. After six years, Mene still serves as the principal. Over his seventeen year career as a counselor and educator, Mene has impacted thousands of lives by empowering youth and families through education.

Mene has been married for almost fifteen years to Nia Khepera and they are the proud parents of two sons. Mr. Donald Mills has been an educator in public, private, and charter schools for the last nineteen years. Mr. Mills holds certification in several areas but is most proud of his certification in special education, principalship and superintendency. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Special Education, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and PhD. coursework in Educational Administration.
Mr. Mills is an experienced leader in planning and initiating campuses that grow into successful and acclaimed schools, as well as in providing improvement strategies to struggling campus and guiding them toward success. Mr. Mills also provides consultation services to schools throughout Texas and New Mexico for 504, Special Education, and School Board training. His skills and extensive training in auditing have provided him with the insight and ability to locate school strengths and weaknesses in order to reorganize and restructure failing schools. His use of thinking maps has assisted him in revamping campuses to become schools which are high performing and, above all, student based. His unique presentation style, humor, and personality allow him the ability to be a strong team builder while providing staff development for teachers, and most importantly in building lasting relationships with students.
Mr. Mills believes in site based decision making, and empowers stakeholders to become active members of the learning community. He unceasingly strives to lead campuses that are student centered, with high expectations for positive student outcomes.
Faustino was born and raised in Los Fresnos, semi rural community in South Texas close to Brownsville. He is the oldest of ten children, a former migrant worker, and the first to go to college. He has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree with a social studies background and a Master’s degree with mid-management certification. Faustino started his career in education (teacher/coach) in 1972. He spent 16 years in the classroom as a master teacher before becoming an administrator. In his 16 year tenure as a Principal, he was involved with improving student achievement dramatically. He inherited five low performing schools and improved the rating in each of the schools from low performing to “Recognized” and “Exemplary.” In 2002 Faustino retired for a year but returned to education as a high school social studies teacher from 2003-2004. As a teacher, he improved student performance on the TAKS test (90% of his students passed the exam). In 2005 he became the principal at L. V. Stockard Middle School, (Dallas ISD) a low performing school. In 2010 the campus received a “Recognized” rating by the Texas Education Agency. In the summer of 2010 Faustino became the principal at Dallas Can!, Oak Cliff campus. He and his wife, Dora, of 37 years and have three children, a son, Faustino H. and two daughters, Diana and Vanessa. They also have two grandchildren, Jolie Marie, three years old and Ivan, who is five months. Next to his family and work (he loves to teach!), his passion is golf, weight lifting and reading articles/books about teaching and learning. He is extremely excited about joining the Dallas Can! Oak Cliff family and looking forward to a great year!