Nuestra Junta y Equipo - Families Empowered TX

CONOZCA AL EQUIPO

Ray Cacheiro

Programs & Partnerships Manager

Ray Cacheiro

Programs & Partnerships Manager

Email: rcacheiro@familiesempowered.org

Ray brings to Families Empowered a strong background in family support, program coordination, and community outreach, along with a deep passion for serving families. Originally from Cuba, Ray completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of Havana with a specialty in Food Science and is fully bilingual in English and Spanish.

In his role at Families Empowered, Ray helps lead outreach and program operations. He coordinates events, supports social media and communications, and manages campaigns and reporting to ensure families receive clear, timely information about their school and scholarship options. Ray also serves as a point of contact for partner organizations, helping connect schools, community partners, and Texas families.

When Ray isn’t busy helping families navigate the school choice process, he enjoys singing, theatre, and sharing his love of food as a social media content creator. Having experienced firsthand how confusing and overwhelming school choice can be, Ray is committed to being a steady, compassionate guide for Texas families as they search for the right schools for their children.

Colleen Dippel

Founder & CEO

Colleen Dippel

Founder & CEO

Email: cdippel@familiesempowered.org
Phone: (713) 589-8767

Colleen Dippel began her career as a public-school teacher. Colleen is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Families Empowered, a Texas based not for profit parent service organization. Families Empowered has provided K-12 school navigation services to over 105K low-income families in Texas. Colleen was a 2013 LEE Emerging Political Leadership Fellow and a 2017 Pahara-Aspen Fellowship recipient. She served on the Advisory Board of the Rice Educational Entrepreneurship Program at the Jones School of Business. She is a member of the John Cooper School Booster Club Board and the Dyslexia School of Houston Board. Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Board of the Thrive with Autism Charter School. She and her daughter are active participants in The Woodlands TX chapter of the National Charity League.

She considers being a mother to her two children her greatest accomplishment.

Marcia Pena

Family Success Specialist

Marcia Pena

Family Success Specialist

Email: mpena@familiesempowered.org

Marcia joins the Families Empowered team with over 15 years of experience in customer service and a deep passion for helping families. Originally from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of San Pedro Sula.

When she’s not assisting families with school choice, Marcia enjoys spending time with her family, exploring small Texas towns, and volunteering in her community. As a mother, she understands the challenges of navigating school options and is dedicated to supporting parents in finding the best educational fit for their children.

Deanna Sheaffer

Director of Business Development

Deanna Sheaffer

Director of Business Development

Email: dsheaffer@familiesempowered.org
Phone: 713-589-8767

Deanna Sheaffer has more than 25 years of non-profit advancement/development experience, primarily in education.  Deanna has worked with the Advancement Team at KIPP Houston and was the Director of Alumni Support for Teach For America’s Houston office. She received her MBA from the Jones Business School at Rice University and in 1999, Deanna joined Rice University as the Director of Alumni Engagement and Finance. She originally moved to Houston as a 1991 Teach For America corps member.

She is married to a native Houstonian and is the mother of four sons.

Allison Squier

Sr. Family Success Specialist

Allison Squier

Sr. Family Success Specialist

Email: asquier@familiesempowered.org

Allison Squier joined the Families Empowered team to support parents searching for schools as a Senior Customer Service Representative.

In her previous career as a business development executive, she played a critical role in helping businesses expand into Latin American countries. In her role as a Financial Client Service Representative at Bank of America, she regularly attended to the needs and finances of international clients.

In her free time, Allison loves to paint, travel with her family, and above all, enjoy good food and wine with friends.

Ray Cacheiro

Programs & Partnerships Manager

Bio

Email: rcacheiro@familiesempowered.org

Ray brings to Families Empowered a strong background in family support, program coordination, and community outreach, along with a deep passion for serving families. Originally from Cuba, Ray completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of Havana with a specialty in Food Science and is fully bilingual in English and Spanish.

In his role at Families Empowered, Ray helps lead outreach and program operations. He coordinates events, supports social media and communications, and manages campaigns and reporting to ensure families receive clear, timely information about their school and scholarship options. Ray also serves as a point of contact for partner organizations, helping connect schools, community partners, and Texas families.

When Ray isn’t busy helping families navigate the school choice process, he enjoys singing, theatre, and sharing his love of food as a social media content creator. Having experienced firsthand how confusing and overwhelming school choice can be, Ray is committed to being a steady, compassionate guide for Texas families as they search for the right schools for their children.

Colleen Dippel

Founder & CEO

Bio

Email: cdippel@familiesempowered.org
Phone: (713) 589-8767

Colleen Dippel began her career as a public-school teacher. Colleen is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Families Empowered, a Texas based not for profit parent service organization. Families Empowered has provided K-12 school navigation services to over 105K low-income families in Texas. Colleen was a 2013 LEE Emerging Political Leadership Fellow and a 2017 Pahara-Aspen Fellowship recipient. She served on the Advisory Board of the Rice Educational Entrepreneurship Program at the Jones School of Business. She is a member of the John Cooper School Booster Club Board and the Dyslexia School of Houston Board. Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Board of the Thrive with Autism Charter School. She and her daughter are active participants in The Woodlands TX chapter of the National Charity League.

She considers being a mother to her two children her greatest accomplishment.

Marcia Pena

Family Success Specialist

Bio

Email: mpena@familiesempowered.org

Marcia joins the Families Empowered team with over 15 years of experience in customer service and a deep passion for helping families. Originally from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of San Pedro Sula.

When she’s not assisting families with school choice, Marcia enjoys spending time with her family, exploring small Texas towns, and volunteering in her community. As a mother, she understands the challenges of navigating school options and is dedicated to supporting parents in finding the best educational fit for their children.

Deanna Sheaffer

Director of Business Development

Bio

Email: dsheaffer@familiesempowered.org
Phone: 713-589-8767

Deanna Sheaffer has more than 25 years of non-profit advancement/development experience, primarily in education.  Deanna has worked with the Advancement Team at KIPP Houston and was the Director of Alumni Support for Teach For America’s Houston office. She received her MBA from the Jones Business School at Rice University and in 1999, Deanna joined Rice University as the Director of Alumni Engagement and Finance. She originally moved to Houston as a 1991 Teach For America corps member.

She is married to a native Houstonian and is the mother of four sons.

Allison Squier

Sr. Family Success Specialist

Bio

Email: asquier@familiesempowered.org

Allison Squier joined the Families Empowered team to support parents searching for schools as a Senior Customer Service Representative.

In her previous career as a business development executive, she played a critical role in helping businesses expand into Latin American countries. In her role as a Financial Client Service Representative at Bank of America, she regularly attended to the needs and finances of international clients.

In her free time, Allison loves to paint, travel with her family, and above all, enjoy good food and wine with friends.

JUNTA DIRECTIVA

Leo Linbeck III, Chair

President and CEO, Aquinas Companies, LLC

Leo Linbeck III, Chair

President and CEO, Aquinas Companies, LLC

Jason Bernal

Superintendent - Premier High Schools

Jason Bernal

Superintendent - Premier High Schools

Alexandria Hodge

Development Director, Agape Development (OBR, Junior League of Houston)

Alexandria Hodge

Development Director, Agape Development (OBR, Junior League of Houston)

Debbie Hurwitz

Community Leader, Parent and Coach

Debbie Hurwitz

Community Leader, Parent and Coach

Lalla V. Morris

Legal Counsel & Manager, Data Privacy & Records Management, CenterPoint Energy

Lalla V. Morris

Legal Counsel & Manager, Data Privacy & Records Management, CenterPoint Energy

Alison Porter

Owner, Apex Leadership Company

Alison Porter

Owner, Apex Leadership Company

Annette Van Brunt

President, Van Brunt & Associates, Inc.

Annette Van Brunt

President, Van Brunt & Associates, Inc.

Leo Linbeck III, Chair

President and CEO, Aquinas Companies, LLC

Bio

Jason Bernal

Superintendent - Premier High Schools

Bio

Alexandria Hodge

Development Director, Agape Development (OBR, Junior League of Houston)

Bio

Debbie Hurwitz

Community Leader, Parent and Coach

Bio

Lalla V. Morris

Legal Counsel & Manager, Data Privacy & Records Management, CenterPoint Energy

Bio

Alison Porter

Owner, Apex Leadership Company

Bio

Annette Van Brunt

President, Van Brunt & Associates, Inc.

Bio