Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN) has hired Karla Loya-Stack as Chief Program Officer where she will develop and expand programs with a focus on Respect Starts Here – Listen, Learn, and Act, an anti-bias program pursuing empathy and equity through education. To date, YWPN supports more than 4,600 students in 6^th to 12^th grades at eight all-girls, college preparatory public schools in Texas.

Previously, Loya-Stack served as Chief Program Officer at Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas where she oversaw the program delivery for more than 1,000 girls at four Girls Inc. centers and other locations where its programs are offered. She helped increase the number of girls served by more than 40% with innovative outreach and program delivery methods.

Lynn McBee, YWPN CEO, said, “Karla’s strong background in education as a school teacher and with Girls Inc. will help us create and execute our programs with a focus on our pillars of college readiness, leadership and wellness life skills. She’s the perfect addition to our strong team.”

Loya-Stack served as a member of the National Girls Inc. Latina Initiative Pilot and Eureka! Summit Planning Committee to ensuring Latinas are exposed to STEM careers. Loya-Stack spearheaded Girls Inc. efforts to collaborate with four youth-serving organizations through the Imagine Science Collaboration, a pilot program to increase the number of youth that are receiving STEM education outside of school in underserved communities.

Before moving to Texas, Loya-Stack taught in The Public Schools of Brookline, Massachusetts, as an elementary world language teacher, where she supported the development of curriculum and cultural resources, mentored new teachers and served as a lead teacher in her school. She has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College. She is a staunch advocate of the importance of investing in the education of girls and has been a featured speaker and panelist for several Fortune 500 companies and local organizations, and has spoken on the issues girls face on various media outlets.

Founded in 2002, the Young Women’s Preparatory Network is a nonprofit agency that partners with public school districts in Texas to operate the largest network of all-girls, public, college preparatory schools in the nation. More information can be found at http://youngwomensprep.org.

Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN) announces the appointment of a new chairwoman, Evelyn Henry Miller, and three new members to its board of directors: Christine Breck, Lisa Cooley and Stef Mauler. A nonprofit, YWPN’s mission is to support single-gender, college-preparatory, public education in Texas and beyond, giving young women, many of whom are the first to attend college in their families, the academic and leadership skills to achieve success in college and in life.

According to Lynn McBee, chief executive officer of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network, “Evelyn has been a founding board member and has helped guide the organization from the very beginning and continues to do so because she’s passionate about our mission. We’re also pleased to have Christine, Lisa and Stef join us as their experience, leadership and energy are what the network needs to serve our young women.”

Evelyn Miller is the chief financial officer for TDIndustries, a premier mechanical construction and facility services company. She has more than 30 years of experience in the financial sector, as well as expertise in media and technology. Miller was named 2012’s Outstanding CFO for Midsize Public Companies by D Magazine. She is involved with many charitable organizations and has served on several boards, including eight years on the board of directors of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity. Currently, she also serves on the board of directors for Dallas CASA and DentaQuest. Miller earned her degree from the C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston.

Christine Breck serves as a managing partner of Longstone Capital Advisors. With more than 25 years of experience in the financial industry, she has worked in high level roles for Source Trading, Bank of New York, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken and the Bank of Darien. In 2008, she founded Texas Wall Street Women (TWSW), a not-for-profit networking and philanthropic group for women in the financial industry in Texas and serves as president. TWSW supports Young Women’s Preparatory Network schools through financial and volunteer contributions. She received a bachelor’s in French from Connecticut College and is a CFA charterholder.

Lisa Cooley is dedicated philanthropist involved in many charitable organizations. A new member of Crystal Charity Ball, she is currently serving as the honorary chair for The Family Place’s Partner’s Card and co-chairing the New Friends New Life luncheon. She has co-chaired of the Children’s Cancer Fund, and has served as honorary chair of both Heroes and Handbags and Housing Crisis Center. She moved to Dallas after graduating from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and she and her husband, Clay, started a car sales business. A mother of three and a dedicated advocate for many organizations, she and Clay have have been involved with many organizations including Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, Dallas Women’s Foundation, among others.

Stef Mauler is founder and president of The Mauler Institute, an educational consulting firm that offers support for high school students and their families with planning and transitioning into college. Previously, she served as senior director of Operations Practice and Management for Corporate Executive Board in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, she worked for Lazard Asset Management and the University of Pennsylvania in undergraduate admissions. Mauler graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts in economics and international relations from the University of Pennsylvania and received her MBA from Harvard Business School. She also has a certificate in college counseling from the University of California, San Diego. 

In addition to Chairwoman Evelyn Henry Miller, the other board members include Matt Adams, Laura Estrada, Margaret Keliher, Barbara D’Auria Lerner, Marion Flores (treasurer) Camie Shelmire, Michele Snyder, Kelly Tacke (past chairwoman) and Michele Vobach. Honorary Directors are Gina Betts and Todd Williams. Each board member serves for three years and is eligible to serve two terms.

Founded in 2002, the Young Women’s Preparatory Network is a nonprofit agency that partners with public school districts in Texas to operate the largest network of all-girls, public, college preparatory schools in the nation (http://youngwomensprep.org).

Seniors at Irma Rangel, a member of Young Women’s Preparatory Network and the first all-girls public school in Texas, celebrated its Senior Signing Day with their classmates, family, friends, sponsors, supporters and college representatives on May 19. With their college posters lining the walls, cheering and pom-pom waving classmates and the first all-girls female drumline for Dallas ISD, the seniors processed into the auditorium to their favorite class songs.

Elisabeth Sanders, Irma Rangel junior, served as the emcee and welcomed everyone. Lisa Curry, Irma Rangel principal, told them how proud she was of their efforts and accomplishments. Ann Marano, College Bound Advisor, added, “By going to college, you create better lives for your community and your families.”

Lynn McBee, YWPN CEO, welcomed everyone including special guests DISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa, DISD Chief of Staff Dr. Cynthia Wilson, DISD Trustee Bernadette Nutall and DISD Executive Director Adrian Luna. “Your hard work, dedication, perserverance, leadership against adversity and other obstacles make you a ‘Rangel graduate’ meaning you are truly exceptional and the best in class.”

Much like a celebratory sports signing day, Irma Rangel’s Senior Signing Day marked one more milestone before the students receive their diplomas. As each senior was called on stage, she excitedly proclaimed where she will attend college.  To date, 100% of the girls have been accepted to college with 97% being accepted to a four-year college/university. This is particularly exciting for the girls and their families as 82% of the Class of 2016 will be a first-generation college attendee. The total offers of academic and merit scholarship amount for the class is $9.76 million.

At the end of the event, the seniors gathered on the stage to recite the school creed with a finale of confetti.

A special thanks to the sponsors:

$2,500: Prairie View A&M University, Texas A&M University- Kingsville, Employees of Goldman Sachs

$1,000: Beth and Chuck Thoele, Texas Woman’s University

$500: Centenary College of Louisiana, Color Me Safe, LLC, Frost, University of Oklahoma, University of Texas at Arlington, Wilson Elser, LLP, Angela Zambrano. 

Founded in 2002, the Young Women’s Preparatory Network (http://youngwomensprep.org/) is a nonprofit agency that partners with public school districts in Texas to operate the largest network of all-girls, public, college preparatory schools in the nation.

Junior League of Dallas (JLD) Sustainers hosted a special luncheon for the graduating seniors at Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, a member of Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN), at JLD headquarters on April 16. Those in attendance included students, family, Irma Rangel Principal Lisa Curry, College Bound Advisor Ann Marano, Community Liaison Katie Allbritton, Advisory Council Chair and JLD Sustainer Beth Brown and JLD Sustainers. 

Meredith Mosley, JLD president, welcomed the students, the faculty and families and shared what JLD does. “The mission of the Junior League of Dallas is to develop women leaders who support the community. With more than 70% of our members working outside the home, we are in every part of this city working and volunteering for many worthy organizations.” She encouraged the seniors in their journey from high school to college, quoting from Ernest Hemingway: “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

Sandy Ammons, JLD Sustainer president, welcomed everyone and thanked Carin Moeller and Amy Hatfield, who co-chaired the luncheon. She told the students that volunteering is important and to consider joining JLD after they complete college.

Moeller incorporated the Irma Rangel creed into her thoughtful remarks and finished with the last line: “Girls Today, Women Tomorrow, Leaders Forever.”

Hatfield had all the seniors stand for the exercise portion of the program, where she gave out door prizes based on certain information such as where they were born, how many siblings are in their family, etc.

The most popular attraction at the luncheon was the photo booth where the young ladies took photos dressed in colorful costumes and props.

Hatfield added, “This is the fourth year that the JLD Sustainers have celebrated the senior class, and we took their theme, Dream Big, and added, Dream Big in Texas. We know that these young ladies are on the path to fulfill their dreams with high school and college diplomas.”

Young Women’s Preparatory Network Chief Marketing Officer and JLD Sustainer Juliette Coulter added, “What a celebration that the JLD Sustainers hosted for the seniors, especially the special gifts they presented. Irma Lerma Rangel was the first all-girls school in Texas and first member in the Young Women’s Preparatory Network. Now there are seven schools just like this one throughout Texas.”

YWPN network schools currently serve students in grades 6 through 12 on seven campuses across the state of Texas. YWPN’s results are amazing—100 percent of the girls graduate from high school and 100 percent are accepted into college. Sixty-eight percent of all students come from economically disadvantaged homes, and 68 percent of the Class of 2015 are first generation college students. More information can be found at http://youngwomensprep.org/.  

On February 3, two of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network schools, Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School (Irma Rangel) and Young Women’s Leadership Academy at Bill Arnold (YWLA), faced off in game one of the varsity lacrosse season with Irma Rangel scoring a victory. It was the first time these schools played each other as it’s the inaugural season for YWLA.   

Irma Rangel has had lacrosse as a team sport for seven years, thanks to BRIDGE Lacrosse, a nonprofit that uses the game to broaden the horizons of urban youth and to promote health and wellness.

Ties to the sport have helped strengthen the team as its coach, Diney Hobgood, played on the inaugural Irma Rangel team, while she was a student. She graduated from Irma Rangel in 2011 and the University of North Texas in 2015. Assistant Coach Maddie Nayfa, a 2011 Irma Rangel graduate and 2015 Texas State University graduate, joined her this year to provide additional coaching.  

Hobgood said, “Watching my girls play lacrosse is incredible. They work hard in classrooms all day and still come to practice ready to give 110% and leave their hearts on the field after every single game. This group of girls exemplify what it means to be a well-rounded student-athlete. They are committed; they take care of each other; they persevere, even when we are the underdog, and their enthusiasm is unparalleled. All of this put together has really amped up the team's performance and evolution as a true competitor in North Texas. Being their coach and ‘big sister’ is truly an honor.”

Afterwards, the teams talked as this is the first year of a lacrosse program at YWLA. Hobgood added, “We gave them words of encouragement as it took us almost seven years to establish our team. They left enthused and eager to improve. It was awesome to watch both teams laugh and embrace each other.”