Damon Neiser serves as the Regional Vice President of Partnerships for Texas at MIND Research Institute. Damon has been helping districts across the nation bridge the gap in educational equity for more than a decade. Damon brings his passion for sparking curiosity in mathematics to Texas to ensure that every student can reach their highest potential regardless of their zip code. Damon has been a featured speaker at SXSWedu, Ole Miss, University of Arkansas, and more with a focus on how technology can empower educators, inspire creative thinkers, and prepare students to be successful in the 21st Century. Damon’s role at MIND spans from helping districts to solve the challenges of today to empowering his team to anticipate the needs in education tomorrow.

Sandra Consilio serves as Program Manager, Texas, at MIND Research Institute. Prior to joining MIND, she served Brazosport ISD as the K-12 Math Director. During that time she actively managed to leverage ST Math with the best math instructional practices which resulted in incredible results for the schools she served. As MIND’s program manager for Texas Home Learning adoption and Math Innovation Zones (MIZ), Sandra guides districts to ensure fidelity of implementation and full compliance with TEA requirements, as well as planning to maximize the impact ST Math will have for students and teachers. In addition, she provides support, coaching and collaboration to team members at MIND as a subject matter expert. Professional development, on-boarding experiences, and certification/coaching experiences are also part of Sandra’s skill set in working with adult learners. With 19 years as a Texas public educator, Sandra has vast experiences with instructional design, educational leadership, curriculum management, and educational technology.

Christina Pipkin (as known as Pip), holds the role of Social Impact Manager servicing districts across the state of Texas. She was born in Dallas, TX but moved to Houston, TX at a young age. She attended grades 4th-12th in Alief ISD, ultimately graduating from Hastings High School. In 2008, Pip graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA with a BA in Early Childhood Development. While in college, she was a Bonner Scholar, a scholarship program that allowed her to work with nonprofits in a multitude of roles. After graduating from Spelman, Pip moved back home to Houston where she started her teaching career in Fort Bend ISD. She taught 2nd grade self-contained for 5 years. In 2013, Pip moved to Cypress-Fairbanks ISD where she taught 3rd grade ELA, Reading and Social Studies. In 2015, Pip transitioned out of the classroom to work as an ALEKS Sales Rep with McGraw-Hill Education. After the company acquired Redbird Mathematics, she became a Personalized Learning Implementation Specialist working directly with K-12 schools and districts that use ALEKS and Redbird Mathematics. She supported them with implementing the programs with fidelity, best practices, blended learning strategies to use in their classrooms and data analysis to monitor their students’ growth. In addition, she’s currently a grad student at Houston Baptist University where she is getting her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with Instructional Technology integration.

Garrett Girouard, Education Partnerships Manager, has been part of the MIND Research Institute team for over nine years. In his role, he proactively shares ST Math information, research, and resources with school and district leaders to ensure that they are aware of the benefits of ST Math’s unique instructional approach. He also helps districts secure funding for ST Math through philanthropic partners, grant opportunities, and ensures that ST Math is represented at mathematics and instructional leadership events across the state. He has been supporting Math Innovation Zones districts since the inception of the program. Prior to his move to Texas, he supported hundreds of ST Math schools (and thousands of teachers) across the country through technical implementation, initial onsite professional learning, and ongoing coaching and program support. Previously, he was an elementary teacher in Denver Public Schools where he led instructional technology and data analysis professional learning for his peers.

Ann Tutor is the Regional Implementation Manager working with districts across the state of Texas as they get started with ST Math.  She got her Masters in Teaching with certification in Early Childhood from the University of Memphis and taught for Shelby County Schools for 12 years in grades K, 2, and 3. While Ann worked with the Math and Language Arts Departments on curriculum development and the summer STEM program for Middle School students, it was her love of teaching students and teachers how to use technology to integrate curriculum that resulted in her being recruited by the district’s Technology Department, where she worked as a Curriculum Technology Trainer for 5 years. Currently Ann’s passion is to use her experience to ensure that Districts are supported in getting the best start possible as they implement ST Math with fidelity and purpose, resulting in what we at MIND know is possible – ensuring that all students become mathematically equipped to solve the world’s most challenging problems!

Kayla Merritt is the Program Manager for Phillips 66 for MIND Research Institute. Kayla has worked with MIND for three years supporting schools in 6 different states. Kayla started her career teaching middle school math in Albuquerque, NM where she was introduced to ST Math. In addition to teaching, Kayla coached tennis and soccer. Her love for technology and math made moving to MIND a perfect fit. As Program Manager with Phillips 66, she gets to work with districts and communities who partner with Phillips 66 to provide trainings, support, and community engagement.

Lance Matus serves as Inside Partnerships Manager for Texas at MIND Research Institute who supports the ST Math Texas Education Partnerships Managers as they support Texas schools and districts. Lance has been at MIND for over a year but has also spent almost 4 years with educational software companies. Before moving to the business world, Lance spent 24 years in public elementary education in the Austin Area. He mainly taught fifth grade but also spent some time as an assistant principal and technology coordinator. Lance holds a Bachelor's of Science Degree from the University of Texas at Austin in Applied Learning and Development and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Concordia University at Austin. He is Texas Educator Certified lifetime in Elementary Self-Contained (1-8) and Elementary Mathematics (1-8). He also has a Texas Principal Certification (EC-12).

Mary Jane Smith serves as Inside Partnerships Manager for Texas at MIND Research Institute. While MJ joined MIND on July 1st of last year, she has been working with schools across the US for over two decades through many different educational technology companies. In Texas, she ended her almost 20-year public school career as the Elementary Mathematics Coordinator in Fort Bend ISD in 1996. MJ brings years of experience in elementary mathematics education and a passion for getting all students able to solve the hard problems that face us as a nation and world. MJ’s role at MIND for Texas consists of supporting ST Math partners to renew and expand their use. She supports all three ST Math Texas Education Partnerships Managers as they support Texas schools and districts.

Shahnaj Ahmad is an Education Success Manager, serving districts across the state of Texas. Shahnaj has been an educator since her student teaching days at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX. Shahnaj began her professional teaching career in an elementary school in 2006 and has most recently been an elementary school principal. Shahnaj joins the team from Dallas, Texas, which is her second home after moving there from sunny Southern California in 2000. Shahnaj received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas; she completed her Instructional Leadership Certification at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas in 2013. Shahnaj is dedicated to use her experiences in education to support district with successful implementation of ST Math.

Alex Eckert is an Education Success Manager serving districts throughout the state of Texas.  Alex also serves as the Program Manager for Math Innovation Zones (MIZ), guiding districts to ensure fidelity of implementation and full compliance with MIZ requirements.  Prior to joining MIND Research Institute in 2019, Alex was public school educator in California for over 15 years, teaching high school math and serving as a site administrator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.  Alex loves helping others achieve their potential and is passionate about working with all educators to improve instructional practices while providing equitable access to high levels of math education for all students.

Cynthia Johansen is an Education Success Manager, serving districts across the state of Texas. Cynthia grew up in the Brazoria County area in Texas where she currently resides. She has held various leadership roles in her 14 years of education. She began her educational career as a math teacher where she was one of the first teachers to pilot ST Math in her district. She assisted with the district wide implementation of transforming the classroom with 1:1 devices. During this time she was able to work with teachers on implementing best practices in the blended classroom. As a former Curriculum Coordinator, Cynthia worked at the administrative level to implement research based instructional strategies district wide. She has an extensive background on data tracking and working with campus leaders to align district initiatives. Cynthia is excited to put her experiences in education to use when meeting with districts across Texas to successfully implement ST Math.

Jeanie Pitre is an Education Success Consultant based in Houston, Texas. She has ten years of experience in education as an elementary school teacher. In addition to her teaching experience, Jeanie served as a Math Instructional Coach at Title 1 campuses for five years. In this role, she supported the curriculum, assessment, and instructional needs of elementary math teachers. In her spare time, Jeanie enjoys crafting and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to work with other educators and help them learn more about ST Math!

Candace is an Education Success consultant based in Dallas, TX. Candace has a Master of Arts in Teaching and 6 years of experience in the education sector. She has worked in diverse communities across Texas and North Carolina as an early education teacher, a middle school after school program leader, and as a 2nd grade math and science teacher. She discovered her love of teaching math when she became a math teacher! Candace is excited to join the MIND team because she has seen first hand how their ST Math programming can revolutionize a math classroom and empower students to love math and she wants to give that opportunity to as many teachers and students across the country as possible. In her spare time, Candace enjoys reading, baking delicious treats, and hanging out at her parents’ farm.

Michelle Young is an Education Success Consultant Michelle knows that early success and conceptual learning in math builds enthusiastic and lifelong learners. This is her 17th year in the field of education and her 5th year as an education consultant. So far, the favorite part of her job at MIND is working with other team members who are passionate about math and helping teachers and students succeed! Michelle has worked as a classroom educator and Associate Principal, with broad experience in developing, reviewing, and administering education assessments. She loves to learn about all things EdTech.

Gabby Grossman is a Professional Learning Specialist, serving districts across the state of Texas. She began her career in education at Northwestern State University of Louisiana when she completed her Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. After college, Gabby spent 7 years teaching grades K-3 in both Louisiana and Texas. Most recently, she spent 3 years as an assistant principal and instructional coach at KIPP Texas. During her time as an assistant principal, she focused on supporting teachers in best practices of math instruction, implementing research-based curricula, and strategic use of data to improve student outcomes. Gabby is committed to the mission of MIND Research Institute and is so excited to be working towards removing all barriers for all kids.

Allison Ross serves as a Professional Learning Specialist for the great state of Texas and resides in Fort Worth. Prior to joining MIND this year, she spent six years as an elementary educator in Birdville ISD and nine years in the roles of Middle School Educator and Curriculum Coordinator & Coach at independent schools serving gifted and talented learners. Throughout her teaching journey, she honed her skills in differentiation for the gifted and talented population, developed several Project-Based Learning units, and revitalized her school’s service-learning and applied research programs. Additionally, she presented on topics related to executive functioning, digital citizenship, prosocial gameplay, giftedness & perfectionism, and Project-Based Learning. Allison holds a Bachelor’s degree Early Childhood Education from Texas Christian University and her Master’s degree in Gifted Education from Hardin-Simmons University. She has a passion for math, enjoys encouraging learners who possess or lack confidence in the subject matter, and supporting teachers as they do the same.

JiJi is a 3-foot-tall penguin on a journey through the world of ST Math. Students help JiJi overcome obstacles by solving math puzzles – and they associate JiJi with the thrill of challenge and success. JiJi crosses the screen every time a student successfully completes a puzzle, leading them to the next challenge. JiJi is curious, persistent, patient, and friendly.
JiJi’s name means “little chicken” in Mandarin.