Jeanne Russell

The founding executive director for CAST Schools, Jeanne Russell also spearheaded the creation and design of signature San Antonio initiatives at the intersection of education and workforce, such as Café College, PreK4SA and SA Works. Today, she serves as a mentor in local schools, an adjunct professor at UT-San Antonio, an advocate for young people, and a board member of the Center for Health Empowerment in South Texas (CHEST), Pre-K4SA, Burkhart Research Institute for Orthopedics (BRIO) and the National Postsecondary Strategy Institute.

She began her career as a middle and high school teacher in East Harlem, Tokyo and Guatemala, and that experience taught her the value of listening to students, recognizing their strengths, and inviting them to co-create the learning experience. She spent a decade as a reporter and editor examining educational inequality before joining two San Antonio Mayors to craft their education policy agendas.

CAST Schools was designed as a regional partnership between independent school districts, higher education institutions, and local employers to spark economic mobility, and has been nationally recognized for its authentic, experiential and self-directed learning. During her 10 years at the helm, the network grew to 7 career-connected schools in 4 San Antonio school districts, connecting young people to real-world projects and high-demand, high-growth, high wage jobs. She has 2 adult children, both CAST graduates.