THE TEAM Ann Richards School The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders (ARS) is a public all-girls* college preparatory school of choice within the Austin Independent School District. Ranked #15 in Texas and #121 nationally (US News & World Report), it was founded to educate students from diverse backgrounds and serves grades 6-12. ARS is part of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN), a member of the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS), and an affiliate school of the Young Women’s Leadership Network (YWLN).*which also includes gender-fluid and nonbinary youth. Photos of Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders sent by Laurel Dicus with Rogers-O’Brien Construction and taken by Sterling E. Stevens. “We decided to partner with UT Austin because we aim to strengthen and innovate our approach to STEM problem-solving, enhancing its effectiveness and fostering creative, forward-thinking solutions within our mission statement. We saw the opportunity to be part of a transformative, arts-integrated approach that fosters climate resilience, empowers students and teachers as co-creators of knowledge, and drives meaningful action for a more sustainable and equitable future.” -Christina Almaraz Ortiz, Academy Director, Ann Richards School Administrators& Teachers Christina Almaraz Ortiz, Interim Principal Sharon Roy, STARS Chair Gwyneth Udy, Math Donna Blackburn, STEM Danielle Willie, English Baylie Head, Theatre Students Grades listed based on time of the project. Chloe Jillian Joy, 7th grade Ella Sullivan, 9th grade Annika Wood Akinmusuru, 11th grade Xochitl Peralta, 7th grade Genevieve (Eve) Wilcox, 7th grade Lily Rerecich, 10th grade Harper Langford, 7th grade Lucia Catalina Romero-Guerra, 7th grade Norah Young, 7th grade Eloise Atterberry, 10th grade Winnie Hakizimana, 9th grade Ann Richards students, teachers, and administration with UT Austin Facilitation Team. UT Austin Facilitation Team Fall 2024-Spring 2025 Katie Dawson Project and Research Lead Lara Dossett Project Coordinator Lynn Hoare High School Lead Gabrielle Lewis Festival Coordinator and Researcher Walker Zupan MFA Graduate Student Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities Madi Palomo MFA Graduate Student Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities Nora Borre MFA Graduate Student Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities Planet Texas 2050 Planet Texas 2050 is a University of Texas program to advance interdisciplinary research on climate resilience with and for frontline communities in Texas. KD will expand here! Juliet Whitsett In her capacity as the Artist Fellow for the University of Texas’ Planet Texas 2050 Initiative (2022–2025), Austin-based installation artist and educator Juliet Whitsett worked with our creative team to support curriculum design and engage students and teachers at ARS in installation art as a means of location-specific environmental education. KC Coyne Alexia Leclercq Additional Project Support This project was supported by the wisdom and work of many other people, including but not limited to: Alice Brandenburg, Website Designer. Daniel Ruiz Bustos, Videography Director & Editor. Mateo Hernandez, Facilitator, Curriculum Developer. Juan Levya Khristián Méndez-Aguirre Lily Odekirk, Facilitator, Curriculum Developer, Website Project Manager.
