Our Team

Tristan Bragg

Tristan Bragg is an educator who is committed to educational equity and inclusivity both inside and outside of the classroom. In her current role as Leadership Coach, Tristan partners with BRES schools and district clients to assist them in achieving their academic & district goals by implementing and maintaining effective school systems. Additionally, she supports with developing our leadership coaching team and building out internal systems.

Tristan began her career as a 2006 Teach for America [TFA] Houston Corps Member in the Houston Independent School District [HISD] as a Kindergarten & 1stgrade teacher. During her tenure with HISD, she had the privilege to serve as a teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. She then served as a literacy coach for Indianapolis Public Schools and an assistant principal for Pflugerville ISD. In 2018, she relocated to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to serve as the founding Academic Director of Uplift Elevate Primary in Fort Worth, TX.

Tristan has also worked for the TFA Houston Summer Institute to train and support incoming corps members across the country. Her roles during summer institute include Corps Member Advisor, School Director, and both Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness Facilitator & Coordinator.

Tristan is a proud alumna of Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA and Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. In her free time, she enjoys working out, reading, quality time with family & friends, and racking up frequent flyer miles.

John Celestin

John began his career in education as a 2012 Teach for America Corps member in New Orleans, Louisiana, serving 6th to 8th-grade special education students. Over the past decade, he has dedicated his efforts to the primary division, working with Pre-K to 5th-grade students in New York and the Dallas-Fort Worth area at Uplift Education.

His leadership transition began in 2019 when he became a PYP Dean at Uplift Meridian Primary. He then advanced to the role of Academic Director at Uplift Williams, overseeing nearly 600 scholars from Pre-K through 5th grade.

John’s educational work is driven by his core values of equity, excellence, and relationships. These principles are at the heart of his approach and guide him in creating inclusive and high-performing educational environments.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Eckerd College in Saint Petersburg, Florida, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Southern Methodist University.

On a personal note, John has been happily married to an educator for nine years and cherishes his time with his wife and son.

Hunter Dansby

Hunter Dansby started his career in education as a high school Algebra teacher in Eastern North Carolina through Teach For America. While teaching at this placement school in Duplin County, Hunter founded and instructed his school’s first ever ACT preparation program for juniors. It was his work helping high school students navigate the college application process that inspired his passion to ensure all students, particularly those in underserved communities, have equitable access to a life of opportunities and choices through education. 

After teaching, Hunter became an Assistant Principal at a PreK – 8th grade school in Duplin County, NC. As an Assistant Principal, Hunter designed data driven systems that provided teachers clarity on how to analyze student academic projections to ensure instruction and planning met the needs of all students. 

In 2019, Hunter transitioned to Dallas to become the Academic Director at Uplift Heights Middle School. During his tenure at Uplift, Hunter and his team worked diligently to keep student attendance high during the COVID-19 pandemic, foster a safe and collaborative staff culture, and most recently, ensure students’ math and literacy levels exceeded pre-pandemic levels. 

In his current role as a Senior Leadership Coach, Hunter both partners with BRES schools and district clients to assist them in achieving their academic goals and supports BRES Leadership Coaches in their coaching development to ensure maximum impact with their clients.  

Hunter holds a Master’s degree in School Administration from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Finance and Business Honors from Texas A&M University. In his free time, Hunter enjoys hosting and cooking for friends and family, reading fiction, playing basketball, and traveling with loved ones. 

Rachel Denn

Rachel Denn is a seasoned operations and program management professional with a strong track record of advancing organizational success through strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and stakeholder engagement. Her diverse background in education, nonprofit, retail, and human resources has equipped her with a unique ability to streamline processes, foster community partnerships, and deliver high-impact initiatives. 

Rachel brings a solid foundation in administrative support, process optimization, and team collaboration—core strengths that drive operational efficiency and support long-term organizational goals. Her expertise, combined with a genuine passion for mission-driven work, makes her a valuable asset to any team. 

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Government from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s degree in International Relations from St. Mary’s University. 

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, reading, and embracing a slower-paced lifestyle focused on well-being and mindfulness. She has been an active member of the Junior League since 2014, contributing to local initiatives that empower women and support underserved communities. Rachel is also a graduate of the T. Boone Pickens Leadership Institute, reflecting her ongoing commitment to service and leadership development. 

Sharon Duplantier

Sharon started her career in education almost 20 years ago in the charter corps of Teach for America in Philadelphia, where she taught 5th, 6th, and 7th grade in both North and South Philadelphia. She then returned to her native New Orleans to teach in post-Katrina public schools and was a 4th, 5th, and 6th grade Math teacher. In 2012, she moved to Dallas and began her journey as a school leader, first working as an Instructional Dean, where she led the school to become IB authorized and then quickly transitioning to be the Academic Director of Uplift Hampton Preparatory Middle School and then the founding Director of Uplift Gradus Preparatory, a Primary school in DeSoto, TX that serves PK-5th grade.

In her current role as Leadership Coach, Sharon partners with BRES schools and district clients to assist them in achieving their academic & district goals by implementing and maintaining effective school systems. Additionally, she supports with developing our leadership coaching team and building out internal systems.

During her time as a school leader, Sharon was selected to be a member of the first cohort of the Principal Impact Collaborative and now serves on their Alumni Council. She also serves as a DEI Facilitator for Teach for America. Sharon is committed to educational equity and works to dismantle systemic racism in schools and other institutions through activism and education. Prior to her work in education, Sharon was a Grants Manager for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Denver, CO.

Sharon is a proud graduate of Howard University in Washington, DC, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in African American Studies and a Masters Degree in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction. While at Howard, Sharon was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Phi Beta Kappa.

In her time away from work, Sharon is committed to self-care and enjoys exercise, traveling the globe, and spending time with family and friends.

Shaquela Ford-Carter

With nearly 17 years of experience in education, Shaquela Ford-Carter is a passionate advocate for scholar success, educator development, and equitable school systems. Her journey began in Dallas ISD as a Kindergarten teacher at Erasmo Seguin Elementary. She later joined a public charter school network, where she served in a variety of roles—including 5th grade teacher, reading interventionist, founding dean, and Academic Director.

As a school leader, Shaquela led successful turnaround efforts at the elementary level. She is known for her ability to build strong teams, grow teacher capacity, and foster school cultures rooted in collaboration, data-informed practices, and community connection. Most recently, she served as the principal of a primary school in Oak Cliff, where her leadership was defined by her commitment to excellence and a deep belief in the potential of every scholar and educator. 

Now, as a Leadership Coach with Big Rock Educational Services (BRES), Shaquela partners with schools and districts to help them achieve transformational outcomes through strong systems, sustainable practices, and empowering leadership.  

A proud native of West Dallas, Shaquela holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Texas A&M University–Commerce. Outside of her work, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family—especially her twin sister. 

Dr. Monica Garrett

Dr. Monica Garrett has been an educator and administrator for over 25 years. Dr. Garrett has successfully turned around two local Public Schools’ learning communities during her 25-year career in FWISD.

In her current role as a Leadership Coach, Monica partners with BRES schools and district clients to assist them in achieving their academic & district goals by implementing and maintaining effective school systems.

Before joining BRES, Monica served on the secondary level from 6th-collegiate as a Teacher, Assistant Principal for middle and high school, and Principal of three middle schools.

Monica has been recognized for her leadership and effectiveness in Fort Worth Independent School District. Monica has a belief that all students can and will learn. This belief has allowed her to serve and provide support to ensure that systems of equity were implemented to ensure that all students, regardless of race or socio-economic status, were treated fairly.

Throughout Monica’s role as an educational leader, she has implemented systems that contribute to closing academic achievement gaps. She has also been a strong advocate for ensuring that race did not determine the level of education a student deserved.

Monica holds an Ed.D from Tarleton State University, a Master’s degree in educational leadership from Prairie View A&M University, and a Bachelor of Science from Jarvis Christian College. She holds certifications in the following specialty areas: Texas teaching certification, Texas K-12 principal certification, and Superintendent certification.

Besides enjoying her profession, Monica loves to help others, eat out, volunteer, and hang out with family and friends.

Chelsea Harned

Chelsea Harned is a creative and collaborative educational leader with almost 20 years’ experience in classroom teaching, leadership development, and school improvement. Chelsea is committed to improving and celebrating the academic experience for all students.

In her current role as Director, Impact Systems and Organizational Learning, Chelsea works alongside BRES leaders and coaches to maximize student impact by refining and evolving systems related to research-based academic practices, HQIM implementation, and alignment with state agency initiatives.

Before joining BRES, Chelsea was a Consulting Director for TNTP where she collaborated with school districts and state Departments of Education around building, enhancing, and executing professional development, data analysis and reporting, and ongoing coaching for school and district leaders. Chelsea started her education career as a classroom teacher in Washington, DC and continued on as a classroom teacher, school leader, and district leader in different public school districts in Texas. Chelsea has also been an Adjunct Professor for Relay Graduate School of Education where she taught graduate courses for preservice and certified teachers.

Chelsea is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station, TX, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in History. She also earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from American University in Washington, DC. Outside of work, Chelsea enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her friends, family, and pets!

Nicole Harper

Nicole Harper brings over two decades of transformational leadership experience to her role as Head of Program Impact. In which she orchestrates strategic program initiatives while managing an elite leadership coaching team that partners with district leaders to drive systemic change and maximize student outcomes across diverse educational landscapes. 

Her distinguished career spans the full spectrum of educational leadership, from classroom instruction through executive administration. Nicole has served as a 9th-12th grade educator, Assistant Principal at both middle and high school levels, and Principal of two elementary campuses, demonstrating exceptional versatility across both traditional public and charter school environments. 

Nicole’s leadership has garnered significant recognition, including her launch of the AVID program in Garland Independent School District and her designation as Administrator of the Year in Desoto Independent School District for leading a remarkable campus turnaround. She has always led with the belief that all students can and will learn, implementing systems that contribute to closing academic achievement gaps and ensuring that all students regardless of race or socio-economic status have access to high-quality education. Her unwavering commitment to the principle that all students can achieve at the highest levels has become the cornerstone of her leadership philosophy and the driving force behind her systematic approach to organizational transformation. 

Nicole holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Prairie View A&M University and a Bachelor of Science from Jarvis Christian College. She maintains active Texas teaching and K-12 principal certifications, ensuring her leadership remains grounded in current educational practice and regulatory requirements. 

Beyond her professional achievements, Nicole is deeply committed to and leads with her faith in Jesus Christ, and quality time with her family. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she is dedicated to service, scholarship, sisterhood and social justice. Nicole is married and has four beautiful daughters, bringing a holistic perspective to her leadership approach that resonates throughout her professional endeavors. 

Melissa Kern

Melissa has spent her career working as an educator, instructional coach, and most recently as an operations leader in the education sector. She is mission-driven and passionate about educational equity, and in her role as Operations Manager at BRES, she drives the systems and structures that allow the organization to maximize its impact on student achievement.

In her current role, Melissa oversees cross-functional operations that support BRES’s coaching, data, and partnership lifecycles. She leads the development and implementation of scalable internal processes, knowledge management systems, and operational tools that ensure efficiency, clarity, and alignment across the team. Melissa also partners closely with leadership coaches and district stakeholders to ensure that operational excellence translates into seamless collaboration and stronger student outcomes.

Prior to BRES, Melissa worked at an education non-profit supporting relationship-building and coordinating programming with districts and school leaders across the country. She also played a key role in standardizing internal processes and external communications across multiple teams and departments.

Melissa received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Leadership from the University of Dallas. Beyond her professional work, she is an avid reader who values continuous learning and personal growth. She finds joy in being actively involved in her children’s lives and contributing to her community, where she is committed to fostering connection and service. Melissa also has a passion for travel, embracing opportunities to explore new places and cultures that broaden her perspective. These experiences fuel her curiosity, adaptability, and ability to build strong relationships—qualities that strengthen her leadership and operational impact at BRES.

Dr. Ashley Lay

Ashley started her career in education over 15 years ago as a classroom teacher. She has served in various teacher and administrator roles across all grade levels in both Texas and Oklahoma. Most recently, Ashley served as an Administrator Coach at the Education Service Center Region 11 in Fort Worth where she supported both campus and district administrators as a Texas Instructional Leadership coach. She has a passion for the work of continuous school improvement, aims to support leaders to build systems and processes that are sustainable, and is driven to ensure that all students have access to the very best education where every single student thrives academically, socially, and emotionally. As a Leadership Coach, Ashley partners with BRES schools and districts to support them in achieving their academic and district goals by implementing and maintaining effective school systems.

Ashley received her Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Midwestern State University and earned her Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of North Texas. While serving as a campus administrator, she was inspired to pursue her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Texas Tech University. Her dissertation, Systematically Developing Instructional Leadership Capacity through Texas Instructional Leadership: A Design Development Study of Lesson Alignment, Formative Assessment, and Coaching, has provided current research for school and district administrators across the state of Texas. She enjoys gardening, spending time with her family and friends, volunteering to serve her community, and traveling!

Miguel Ortega

Miguel Ortega is dedicated to empowering school leaders in his role as Leadership Coach at BRES. With extensive experience in education spanning over 13 years, Miguel specializes in guiding schools through the implementation of best practices and school-wide systems using a collaborative approach.

Miguel’s journey in education began in Fort Worth, Texas, where he excelled in bilingual education, demonstrating that all students can succeed academically. His commitment to educational equity and excellence led him beyond the classroom to roles such as teacher leadership coach, where he mentored new educators in challenging environments.

In 2016, Miguel achieved his aspiration of becoming a school leader in Dallas ISD, serving for 7 years in the Accelerated Campus Excellence (ACE) Program. Under his leadership, two “improvement required” campuses transformed from “F” to high “B” ratings, a testament to his team’s dedication and expertise. Miguel attributes part of his success as a principal to the coaching he received from Big Rock Education.

It is Miguel’s personal mission to give ALL students an excellent education and access to a life of their choice. Two of the values that drive Miguel are a strong sense of community and Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality”.

Miguel earned his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Columbia University and holds a bachelor’s degree in International Communications and Business from Texas Christian University. Outside of work, Miguel treasures time with his family and friends, and is a passionate supporter of TCU football. Go Frogs!

Elizabeth Oviatt

Elizabeth has served students, families, and fellow educators for nearly 15 years in Dallas and Tarrant counties. She started her career in education as a 4th grade teacher in East Dallas with Teach for America, cultivating confident learners and avid readers. With 100% of her students meeting or exceeding standards on state exams in her first year of teaching, she served as an Exemplar Teacher for her campus for the remainder of her time in the classroom. She found great joy in mentoring other young teachers in their practice and supporting curriculum writing and implementation for teachers across the network.

She later transitioned to school leadership, and as an administrator, it was her privilege to develop teachers and teams to excel in their support of scholars through collaborative data practices and equitable school systems. Her love of developing effective teachers grew through her time as an adjunct Professor for the Relay Graduate School of Education, and most recently, Elizabeth served as the principal of a primary school in Arlington, Texas. Her time as a school leader was marked by a deep commitment to grow teachers and staff in their instructional practice, develop their strengths, and build positive relationships with the community. In her current role as a Leadership Coach, Elizabeth partners with BRES schools and district clients to assist them in achieving their academic and district goals by implementing and maintaining effective school systems.

Elizabeth graduated from Texas A&M University with a honors degree in Political Science and earned her Masters in Education with a Specialization in Urban School Leadership at Southern Methodist University. She further pursued her graduate studies with the Harvard Graduate School of Education & Harvard Business School, earning a Certificate in School Management and Leadership.
Elizabeth originally hails from San Antonio and enjoys visiting her family and favorite Tex-Mex restaurant there regularly. She spends her free time cooking for all her loved ones, serving at her church, and delighting in time with friends.

Karen Salerno

Karen Salerno has worked on behalf of children for 20 years as a teacher, principal, district and non-profit executive, and consultant with a focus on school and district leadership, STEM education, equity in access to educational opportunities, and organizational learning. In her current work at BRES, she serves as Strategic Advisor, working alongside the BRES team to develop the vision for the organization’s support of educators across the country, reimagining what is possible for students and K-12 school systems.

Prior to joining the Big Rock Educational Services team, she served as the Vice President at the National Math and Science Initiative, a non-profit organization committed to building inclusive mindsets and practices that create and sustain equitable access to high-quality STEM education.

In her previous role as a Partner at TNTP, Karen spent significant time in partnership with school districts and state agencies, developing a personal investment in the educators and children served by the organization’s work. Her passion for supporting educators in realizing their own potential for impact, advancing more equitable outcomes for students, and elevating the educator profession is her life’s work. She is a University of Texas graduate and pursued her graduate studies at the University of Michigan and the Harvard School of Education New and Aspiring Leaders Program. Karen is based out of Dallas, TX where her most important and valued role is serving as Chief Transportation & Snack Officer to her children, Isabella and Luca.

Matt Khirallah

CO-FOUNDER

Before co-founding BRES, Matt served as the Director of Operations at Uplift Luna Preparatory, a K-12 campus in the Uplift Education network. As a school leader in a growing network, he managed all logistical and operational elements involved in the opening of this elementary and secondary school. Additionally, in his role, Matt oversaw all non-instructional departments of the campus. Through his work in schools, he learned the importance of sound operational systems in ensuring an instructional atmosphere that truly puts students first. Matt oversees internal operations at BRES which includes ensuring clients receive exceptional customer service, partners have clear communication and resources are easily accessible to all BRES stakeholders.

Prior to transitioning to a career in education, Matt served as the Outreach Coordinator for Catholic Charities of Dallas, Immigration and Legal Services. In this work, he developed a passion for service and education that easily translates to the core mission of BRES.

Matt received his B.S. in Applied Arts & Sciences/Business Leadership from University of North Texas at Dallas. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Scott Hudnor

CO-FOUNDER

Beginning his career as a Teach For America corps member, Scott has spent the greater part of the last 30 years working in public education and brings his broad diversity of experiences to his current work as the Co-Founder and Chief Academic Officer at Big Rock Educational Services in Dallas, Texas.

Prior to co-founding BRES in May of 2014, Scott worked at KIPP Dallas-Fort Worth working closely with the Executive Director and school leaders to create and implement systems used district-wide around data driven instruction, observation and supervision, and student culture.  Prior to his experience at KIPP, he led an existing charter elementary school with high scholar achievement and opened two successful urban college prep schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.  As a result of these experiences, Scott has learned the importance of identifying, prioritizing and implementing high impact systems or “big rocks” and seen firsthand how doing this has directly led to high student achievement.

Scott was featured in Driven by Data by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo for his work as a school leader in creating and implementing high impact school systems that led to high student achievement.

He received his B.S. in Business Administration from Castleton State College, and an MA in Education from Johns Hopkins University.  He was in the New Leaders program where he also obtained a CAGS in Educational Administration from Pace University.  Outside of work, Scott enjoys reading and working out.