Prosper Waco Hires Hermann Pereira as Senior Content Specialist to Advance and Strengthen Work in Education

Prosper Waco is pleased to announce the hiring of Hermann Pereira as senior content specialist for education. In this role, Pereira will implement strategic approaches to engage the Waco community in collaborative work for the measurable betterment of education, deepen the engagement of Prosper Waco’s partners in education, coordinate and mobilize community working groups and manage Prosper Waco leadership projects related to education. Along with these tasks, Pereira will work to ensure Prosper Waco’s accountability to funders through grant management, planning, reporting and budgeting; while also serving as a liaison with community leaders in Waco and state and regional educational organizations. Pereira will provide assistance in building partner capacity in data collection and interpretation as he works with Prosper Waco research and evaluation staff as they analyze and interpret data for shared measurement.

“We welcome Hermann Pereira to the work of Prosper Waco.  Waco already knows him as a proven champion for children, their education and their hope for a bright future,” said Prosper Waco CEO Suzii Paynter March. “Waco is preparing educational pathways for success and we look forward to Hermann’s leadership for years to come.”

Pereira has spent the past 14 years in education in a variety of roles such as teacher, coach, director, assistant principal, and principal. In his most recent role Pereira was the principal of Connally Career Tech Pathways in Technology Early College High School as well as the Career and Technology Education Director at Connally ISD. His leadership has earned his campus and district a number of grants and recognitions from the Texas Education Agency, University of Texas STEM Center, Educate Texas and Texas State Technical College. He also spends his summers as a National Staff Developer for Advancement Via Individual Determination. He has led professional development in leadership, curriculum, culturally relevant teaching, and career and technology. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Masters in Educational Administration from Baylor University.

Pereira believes community partnerships are the vehicle to creating sustainable solutions. He serves as the chair of the Prosper Waco working group Heart of Texas P-20 Council which brings together representatives from the independent school districts (ISD), McLennan Community College, Texas State Technical College, Region 12 Education Service Center, industry, chambers of commerce and government. The organization works to promote streamlined, transparent degree pathways for students to move quickly and successfully through their education and on to college and/or a career. Hermann is active with the United Way of Central Texas and was a founding member of the Young Leaders United affinity group. He serves on the City of Waco Parks and Recreation board and the Centex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board as well. Hermann was recently recognized by the Waco Chamber of Commerce as one of the “Top 40 under 40” individuals in the community and Educator of the Year by the Centex African American Chamber of Commerce.

“I am excited about what is in store for 2020. I have been a passionate educator for the past 14 years in the Waco area so this opportunity is a natural progression in my career,” Pereira said of his new role. “Working at Prosper Waco will allow me to advocate and bridge the gap for all students in Waco.”

Prosper Waco is a collective impact initiative focused on addressing issues facing the Greater Waco community in the areas of education, health and financial security. As a facilitator and convener, Prosper Waco encourages collaboration amongst existing nonprofits, city and county governments, business, foundations and churches to build on and increase the effectiveness of current efforts and develop new strategies to bring about measurable and sustainable positive change within the focus areas for the members of our community. For more information, please contact [email protected].