Staff Biographies
David Dunn, Executive Director
The Executive Director of TCSA is David Dunn. David most recently served as Chief of Staff to the U.S. Secretary of Education. Mr. Dunn's experience includes service as Special Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy at the White House Domestic Policy Council, the Associate Executive Director and chief lobbyist of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), and 15 years in education and fiscal policy analysis for the state of Texas.
Maria-Theresa Sigua, Executive Assistant to Executive Director
As the Executive Assistant, Maria-Theresa Sigua manages all affairs concerning the Executive Director. In addition, she juggles a multitude of responsibilities associated with operations, serves as the primary project manager for the annual statewide charter school conference, and coordinates all member council meetings. Maria began her work with charter schools at the Charter School Policy Institute where she assisted in promoting The Next Step Campaign, the campaign that would eventually lead to the inception of the TCSA. Prior to joining TCSA Maria spent several years in the venture capital and investment banking industries and co-owned and operated a small business. Maria holds a degree in Business Management from St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas.
Chris Busse, Vice President of Quality Initiatives
As the Vice President of Quality Initiatives, Chris Busse is responsible for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the association’s trademark Quality Framework. In his previous role with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Mr. Busse was instrumental in defining the foundation’s strategic focus on performance management. His signature grants and initiatives included defining common indicators, planning and execution of performance management tools, and developing breakthrough intervention effectiveness tools. Mr. Busse graduated with honors from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.
Denise Pierce, General Counsel and Vice President of Member Services
Vice President of Member Services, Denise Pierce, is an attorney who joined the Association in February 2009 after 14 years of representing school clients including charter schools, traditional public schools, and community colleges. She also was an attorney with the Texas Association of School Boards and helped TASB develop member services. Denise is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and Texas A&M University.
Tracy Young, Vice President of Public & Government Affairs
Prior to joining TCSA as Vice President of Public and Government Affairs, Tracy Young served as Director of Communications for Texas House Speaker Joe Straus starting in 2009. Before joining the Speaker's staff, she was Deputy Regional Representative for U. S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, based in Texas. In 2005, Young was named Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach at the U.S. Department of Education where she directed the Strategic Communications team and the press office. Prior to her work at the U.S. Department of Education, she served as the Associate Director of Communications for President George W. Bush at the White House, directing domestic policy communications. Before the start of her public service, Young worked with N.R.C.C. media relations on behalf of congressional candidates across the country. She also worked in the non-profit sector with college students, university and community leaders to increase awareness and participation in volunteer service. Young graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Louisiana State University, and is a native of Euless, Texas.
Lindsey Jones, Director of Legal and Policy Services
Prior to joining TCSA as the Director of Legal and Policy Services, Lindsey practiced with the law firm of Schulman, Lopez and Hoffer, LLP, representing charter schools, foundations and traditional public schools. Before returning home to Texas, Lindsey served as a Staff Attorney at Lawyers Alliance for New York, the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations in New York City, where she provided counsel to a large number and variety of non-profit organizations, including charter schools and charter-related organizations. Prior to her work in the nonprofit sector, Lindsey practiced law in the corporate group at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York City. Lindsey was an Edward V. Sparer Public Interest Fellow at Brooklyn Law School and holds a B.A. with highest honors from the University of Texas at Austin. Lindsey is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and New York.
Kevin Coleman, Director of Financial Operations
As Director of Financial Operations, Kevin Coleman provides TCSA with financial, business and administrative supports needed to achieve the operational and financial objectives of the Association. Kevin is an experienced manager who has a focus on operational and fiscal excellence for nonprofits. He has leadership experience in healthcare organizations in Oregon, Washington and Texas and has significant accomplishments in administrative, financial, strategic planning, stakeholder relations and community activities. Kevin has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Eastern Washington University and a Bachelors degree in Business from Fullerton State University.
Brian Levy, Director of School Support Services
Brian brings a wealth of operational, entrepreneurial, sales, and management experience to TCSA. As National Loan Origination Manager at Chase, he improved loan processing operational efficiency from two days to two minutes. As Director of Sales for CIT Group, Brian was instrumental in building a cohesive network between higher education institutions and high school counselors to the benefit of students and their families. Brian will apply this experience to helping individual members and developing services for our collective membership.
Jennifer Limas-Mota, Director of Grassroots Advocacy
With expertise in strategic project management, growing organizational missions, and developing program strategies, Jennifer fills the Director of Grassroots Advocacy position at TCSA. She has worked for Business Investment Growth Austin, St. David's Community Health Foundation, and the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition in senior project management roles. Most recently, Jennifer worked at Austin CAN! Academy, a local open-enrollment charter school, as a development officer. In this role Jennifer planned and implemented all development initiatives while cultivating and sustaining a dynamic network of supporters. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Communication and Business Foundations. In addition, she holds a certificate from a Project Management Professional Program at the University of Texas in Austin.
Art Serna, Director of Training Services
Art Serna is the Director of Training Services for the Texas Charter Schools Association. He previously served as lead of contract policy and quality assurance operations at the Department of Family and Protective Services. Art was instrumental in developing various training programs for contract management staff throughout Texas to improve accountability and compliance in client service contract operations, as well as leading a dynamic team providing technical assistance services to a dispersed workforce. Previously, he spent five years as a program manager for the YouthSolution® program, an innovative youth program focusing on improving educational outcomes for struggling students in Texas. He is an AmeriCorps Alum who completed his service in the Rio Grande Valley focusing on delivering assistance to at-risk, minority populations. Art received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and an MS degree in Management of Technology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of the OneStar National Service Commission Board.
Kim Treadaway, Director of Marketing
Kim’s expertise in small business marketing and design stems from her previous agency work, including the world-renowned Pentagram Design. With a great breadth of experience in visual communications, Kim has provided creative solutions for such non-profit organizations as The Lance Armstrong Foundation, Cook Children's Hospital, The Blanton Museum of Art and The Harry Ransom Center. Kim holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Communication Arts from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Amanda Thomas, Director of Advocacy
Amanda promotes charter policy and monitors Texas and national education legislation. Amanda has helped build a strong network of charter school supporters and increased public awareness through her use of social media. Before joining the Association, Amanda worked in public relations and community outreach with the largest charter operator in Texas. Previously she was co-owner of a small business. Amanda graduated with honors from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Toni Templeton, Quality Initiatives Data Analyst
Toni provides TCSA with vast experience in education, having been a teacher, assistant principal, and instructional specialist. Most recently, Toni worked as the Annual Yearly Progress Specialist at Austin CAN! Academy and played a critical role in the school's rapid improvement. In this role, Toni disaggregated school results and helped teachers and administrators utilize this real-time information for the benefit of their students. In her work with TCSA, Toni will bring this experience to our members across the state, as well as analyzing and communicating charter results to our external stakeholders. Toni holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.
Erin Tholen, Member Services Associate
Erin is proud to join the Texas Charter Schools Association as the Member Services Associate. Erin started her career in the non-profit sector working for a large community-based non-profit agency in California. There, she worked with families, schools, local government and local foundations to implement a ground-breaking results-based accountability structure for schools in Santa Barbara County. In addition to her experience collaborating with organizations across multiple sectors, she has a Bachelor of Art in Communication and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. In her role at TCSA, she will be responsible for coordinating membership for charter schools, vendors, educators and parents. In addition, she will provide support for the Charter School Technical Assistance Network (the Network), a collaboration between TEA, Region XI Education Service Center and TCSA.
Nadia Luna, Office Manager
Nadia Luna joins TCSA as Receptionist and Office Manager, bringing with her over 5 years of administrative and legal assistance experience. Prior to joining TCSA, she worked as executive assistant/paralegal at a workers’ compensation law firm, but was drawn back into education, having previously served as a School Success Intern for Breakthrough! Austin during her undergraduate career at the University of Texas. There she helped create first-generation college students and looks to expand her educational experience into the charter schools movement.
