Sarah Kirby Tepera has experience with foundations, schools, teacher management, and with large, effective non-profit organizations in the ed reform space. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, she began her career as a bilingual 5th grade teacher in Houston, TX, as part of Teach For America. Sarah went on to earn her Master’s degree in public affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas and in 2004 became a program officer for the Texas High School Project (THSP), a $261 million partnership of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Texas Education Agency, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and Communities Foundation of Texas. During her tenure at THSP, she designed and managed programs for a $13.6 million grant for education leadership initiatives and teacher recruitment, development, and retention. She also worked with senior leadership in three large Texas districts to develop a comprehensive leadership development program focused on governance and district-level policies. She also served as the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Teach For America, where she managed the development of internal infrastructure to support improved external partnerships, regional program accreditation and compliance to national and state regulations.

Superintendent Salary: https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/adhocrpt/adpea.html