KLRU is a proud participant in American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen, a public media initiative made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to improve educational outcomes for all youth from early childhood through high school graduation.
American Graduate: Let's Make it Happen is a long-term public media commitment, supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, to help communities implement solutions to the high school dropout crisis. Public media organizations, like KLRU, play a significant role building awareness and community capacity. In Central Texas, American Graduate is:
KLRU will also use this national initiative to give voice to successes and recognize American Graduate Champions - those organizations and individuals whose work is having an impact, and offering hope for even greater progress on this critical issue.
KLRU has selected an advisory group of local leaders to help guide this project, which includes presenting special broadcast and online programming, creating original productions, hosting community forums and other special events to raise awareness of the issues and solutions.
Sharing the inspiring stories that are making our community a success.
Betsy Abell
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Advocate, AISD
Jacob Aguirre
Student, Hays High School
Monica Aguirre
Community Health-Care Professional
Bako Ambianda
Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur, Philanthropy, and Engineering Student
Rudi Andrus
Executive Director, Mainsprings School
Joye Ardrey
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School Academy of Public Services
John Armbrust
Teacher, Founder and Executive Director, Austin Achieve Public Schools
Melissa Arasin
Teacher, Austin ISD International High School
Jon Bailey
Assistant Principal, Gus Garcia Young Men's Leadership Academy
Joseph Baird
Teacher, Lehman High School
Maria Balderas
Student, Hays High School
Glenell Bankhead
Principal, Elgin ISD
Caitlyn Banning
Student, San Marcos High School
Friends of Kara Barfield
Students, Cedar Ridge High School
Quain Barfield
Father of Student at Cedar Ridge High School
Brandy Beasley
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Emily Berger
Student, Hays High School
Paula Berny
English Teacher, San Marcos High School
Quinton Black
Basketball Coach, Cedar Ridge High School
Bavu Blakes
Musician and Teacher, Decker Middle School
Michael Bomani
Mentor, Round Rock
Friends of Samajae Bonds
Pflugerville High School
Stephanie Bonnet-Kramer
Early Childhood Program Administrator for Hays CISD
Bonnie Bosarge
Counselor, Hays High School
Kaelynn Bowers
Student, Hays High School
Hattie Bowman
Art Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Candace Briceno-Connolly
Art Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Mary Brinkman
Principal, Sci-Tech Preparatory
Ryan Brittain
Wind Symphony Band Director, Cedar Ridge High School
Les Brown
Public Speaker and Author
Rebekah Bryan
Youth Group Leader & Student, San Marcos High School
William Bugh
American Sign Language Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Valerie Burleigh
English Teacher, SUCCESS High School
Lori Burns
Mother of Hays High School Student
Ever Calderon
Father of Hays High School Student
Maria Martin Del Campo
Teacher, LBJ High School
Constable Maria Canchola
Community Leader and Mentor
Natalie Cannon
Teacher
Nancy Cantu
Mother of Hays High School Student
Cayla Cardiff
Piano Teacher & Gay Straight Alliance Club Leader, Cedar Ridge High School
Catherine Changos
Student and Photographer, Hays High School
Chaka
Musician and Mentor at E4 Youth
Alexander Christou
Student, 7th grade
Glenn Clark
Serviceman and Father Cedar Ridge High School Student
Brit Coleman
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
The Communities In Schools XY Zone Program
Communities In Schools of Central Texas AmeriCorps Members
Debbie Cook
Retired Teacher and Tennis Coach, Hays High School
Kristie Copeland
Theater Director and Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Christopher Corn
Car Salesman and Community Donor, Round Rock
Sheila Coy
Spanish Language Teacher, Del Valle High School
Ivanna Crippa
Program Coordinator, Breakthrough Austin
Paul Cruz
Superintendent, Austin Independent School District
Nicole Daugereaux
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Ty Davidson
Principal, Travis High School
Susan Dawson
Executive Director, E3 Alliance
Emmalee Day
Cheerleader and Student, Bowie High School
Leslie Decker
Language Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Deanna Deolloz
Artistic Associate, Creative Action
Sugar Ray Destin, Jr.
Motivational Speaker, and Co-Founder of Claim your Destiny Foundation
Yesica Diaz
College and Career Counselor, Eastside Memorial High School, AISD
Kenneth Dimmitt
Teacher, San Marcos High School
Phillip Eaglin
Founder & CEO of Changing Expectations
Eric Elmore
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High-School
Kerri Espinoza
English and G-Force Teacher, College and Career Counselor, LEO Club Sponsor; Hays High School
Andy Esquivel
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Gabriel Estrada
Teacher, Community Organizer, Painter
Andre Ferree
Father to Nolan Ferree, student at Cedar Ridge High School
Nolan Ferree
Student, Tutor & Varsity Basketball Player, Cedar Ridge High School
Travis Fissel
Student, San Marcos School
Vanessa Flores
Counselor, KIPP Austin Collegiate
Lacy Folsom
English and Debate Teacher, Hays High School
Kelly Foster
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High-School
Tearsa Foster
Teacher, Travis County Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program
Joellen Gates
Mother and Addiction Counselor
Joseph Gallardo
UT graduate and Non-Profit Organization Founder
Chris Gardner
Teacher, Hays High School
Montserrat Garibay
Vice-President, Education Austin
Dr. Eva Garza-Nyer
AISD College Counselor, Educator, and Board Member
Jordan Gesch
Track Coach, Cedar Ridge High School
Holly Glickler
Mother of Hays High School Student
Alejandro Góngora
Principal, Decker Middle School
Audrey Gonzalez
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Josue Gonzalez’s Friends
Students, Cedar Ridge High School
Lidia & Alejandro Gonzalez
Parents to Josue Gonzalez, student at Cedar Ridge High School
Karen Grampp
Volunteer/Coordinates Friday Backpack Program at Anderson Mill Elementary
Jodi Granado
Teacher, SW Key Juvenile Justice Alternative Ed Program
James Hall
Vice Principal, Cedar Ridge High School
Rhonda Hauser
Director, UT Priscilla Pond Flawn Child & Family Laboratory
Autumn Hendrickson
History Teacher, Pflugerville High School
Denise Hernandez
Attorney and Mentor at Con Mi Madre
Ernest Hernandez
Father to Cedar Ridge High School students
Javier Hernandez
Deputy Sheriff
Lynn Hernandez
Mother to Joshua and Jordan Hernandez, students at Cedar Ridge High School
Samuel Hernandez
Football Coach, Cedar Ridge High School
Tim Holland
AP Physics Teacher and PSAT/SAT Prep Instructor, Cedar Ridge High School
Jose Jimenez
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Terrany Johnson
Founder, Urban Artist Alliance
Cortney Jones
Founder and Executive Director, Change 1
Patricia Jones
Mother of Hays High School Student and Counselor at Morningside Elementary School
Kelly St. Julien
Hot Spot Coordinator, Boys & Girls Club of Austin; Site Director, Boys & Girls Club East
David Keils
Student and Football Player, Hays High School
Brenda Key
Fifth Grade Teacher and Mother of Cedar Ridge High School Student
Valerie King
English Teacher, Hays High School
Lady Panther Dance Team
Pflugerville High School
Dr. Sterling Lands II
Archbishop, Teacher, Motivator, and Role Model
Latinitas
Austin-based nonprofit organization
Anthony Leflet
Head Band Director, Hays High School
James Lilley
Assistant Manager, Andy's Frozen Custard in Round Rock
Sandra Lindsey
Mother of Hays High School Student
Neil Little
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Briana Lopez
Full-time worker, Mother & Student
Jonathan Lopez
Student, Hays High School
Travis Loy
Physics Teacher, Hays High School
Gina Lozano
Teacher and Debate Coach, Hays High School
Libby Lucera
French teacher, Westlake High School
Monica Martin
Teacher & Coach, Miller Middle School
Julissa Martinez
Student, Hays High School
Thomas Martir
AmeriCorps College Forward division counselor, Crockett High School
Maura Masters
Teacher, Austin High School
Sevylla del Mazo
Music Teacher
Sterling McGruder
Principal, Gus Garcia Young Men's Leadership Academy
Raasin Mcintosh
ESL Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Linda Medina-Lopez
Founder, Young Hispanic Professional Association of Austin; AISD Community Engagement
Rodolfo Mendez
Community Leader and Mentor
Kasey Misner
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High-School
Kristi Mitchell
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Ranson Moore
Student and Pole Vaulter, Hays High School
Cassandra Mora
Mother of Hays High School Student
Kaylee Morales
Student, Hays High School
Ashley Moran
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Joshua Moreno
Teacher & Coach, Peredes Middle School
Dr. Sarah Moreno
Teacher, San Marcos High School Academy of Health & Human Services
Ginger Morris
Creator of the Greater Austin High School Musical Theatre Awards
Cori Mullins
Tennis Coach, Cedar Ridge High School
Bianca Neal
Restorative Justice Coordinator/KIPP Connections Charter School
Maria Nesloney
Teacher, Rockport Fulton High School
Tracy Niemann
Mother of Hays High School Student
David Null
Teacher and Coach, Hays High School
Alex O'Brien
Math Teacher, Hays High School
Eric O'Malley
Father of Austin-area High School Students
Nikki Pacquing
Artist and Sister of Marc Lucas, student at Cedar Ridge High School
PALS Members
Cedar Ridge High School
Favi Parrilla
Parent Educator, Any Baby Can
Sarah Parriott
Business Teacher and Tutor, Cedar Ridge High School
Tammy Partridge
3rd Grade Teacher, Steiner Ranch Elementary
Saul Paul
Musician, Speaker, and Mentor
Liz Conway Plachta
Executive Director, Ruby's Rainbow
Brianna Pratt
Student, San Marcos High School
Project MALES
Mentoring Program in the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at UT Austin
Hannah Ramsey
Student and Softball Player, Georgetown University
Tom Ray
AP Government Teacher, Hays High School
Kaylor Reiter
Student, Cedar Ridge High School
Faith Reed
Cheer Captain and Student, Hays High School
Cathy Requejo
Supervisor, AISD Project HELP
Allison Rich
Supervisor, UT Student, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics Mentor
Kevin Ritcherson
College Prep Coach
Rachel Ringeisen
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High-School
David Robb
Journalism Teacher, Pflugerville High School
Brady Roberts
Brother and Student, West Ridge High School
Alexus Robinson
Student, 11th grade
Ashley Robinson
Student, San Marcos High School
JP Rodriguez
Volunteer for Communities In Schools
Marisa Rios
Mother of Hays High School Student
Cathy Rollins
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Dorothy Salas
Dropout Prevention Specialist, Anderson High School
Eric Salomon
Teacher, Cedar Ridge High School
Jamie Saucedo
Student, San Marcos School
Courtney Seals
Program Director, Southwest Key Programs
Jason Senegal
Father of Isabella & Alaura Senegal, students at Cedar Ridge High School
Sarah Simmons
College & Career Advisor
Sarah Shaney
Communities in Schools Program Manager, Eastside Memorial High School
Megan Sheffield
Immigration Lawyer
China Smith
Dance Instructor for Youth and Teens
Chris Smith
Youth/Associate Pastor
Timothy St. Peter
NCC Program Volunteer, Success High School
Mandy Stalcup
Communities in Schools Program Manager, Crockett High School
Gabrielle Stein
Art Teacher, Means Young Women's Leadership Academy
Wendy Phillips Sturdevant
Associate Principal, Lake Travis High School
Christel Sullivan
Teacher, Harmony School of Excellence
Mai Theingi Tun Than
Parent Support Specialist
Grant Thomas
Life-Long Teacher, Program Director & Innovator
Isaac Torres
Program Coordinator, Generation Texas
Linda Felina Torres
Student, San Marcos High School
Track Team
Cedar Ridge High School
Jeremy Trojacek
Football Coach, Cedar Ridge High School
Remy-Brice Uwilingiyimana
Hot Spot Program Coordinator, Boys & Girls Club East
Aisha Wahab
Executive Director, United Democratic Campaign
Kasandra and Yakez Washington
Parents and Community Workers
Marianne Wensmann
Teacher and YMCA Youth and Government Club Sponsor, Hays High School
Doni Whitlow
Mother
Srey Wicks
Manager at Goodwill
Marshall Williams
Teacher and Coach, Cedar Ridge High School
Barbra Wilt
Mother to Round Rock student
Rosey Woodfin
Kindergarten Teacher, Round Rock
Tiffany Woody
Youth Advisor, CARY
Rosanna Worthington
Communities In Schools Teacher, Manor ISD
Mary Yancy
Practicing Psychologist and Active Community Volunteer
Brian Zane
Wresting Coach & Teacher, San Marcos High School
Katy Aus, Program Coordinator-Target Graduation, United Way for Greater Austin
Amber Carden, Private Client Advisory, Senior Vice President, U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management
Dr. Paul Cruz, Superintendent, AISD
Susan Dawson, President, E3 Alliance
Lydia De La Garza, Truancy Specialist, Manor ISD
Yesica Diaz, College & Career Counselor, Eastside Memorial High School, AISD
Margo Dover, Executive Director, Skillpoint Alliance
Phillip Eaglin, PhD, Founder/CEO, Changing Expectations
Jodi Granando, Graduation Coach-Twilight Program, Eastside Memorial High School, AISD
Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm, Special Assistant to the President/CEO, Austin Community College District
Maria Ortega, Parent, Parent Teacher Student Association President at Bertha Sadler Mean, AISD
Christian Palacios, Alumni from Breakthrough & McCallum Fine Arts Academy, AISD
A'lexus Robinson, Student, Eastside Memorial High School, AISD
Drew Scheberle, SVP, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce
Suki Steinhauser, CEO, Communities in Schools of Central Texas
Tiffany Woody, Youth Advisor, CARY (Council At-risk Youth)
Mary Yancy, PhD, Educational Psychologist
Rocky Zepeda, District Coordinator for At Risk Student Services, Del Valle ISD
American Graduate: Let's Make it Happen is a public media initiative made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to help local communities keep more students on the path to graduation.