The Board of the Foundation
Cecilia Silva, President
Dr. Cecilia Silva is associated faculty, Professor Emerita at Texas Christian University. She obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. Cecilia’s research focuses on bilingual/ESL and multicultural education. Her most recent publications examine academic language acquisition and conceptual understanding in science. She has been involved in preparing teachers to work in multiethnic and linguistically diverse classrooms. In 2015 she received the TCU Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar and in 2016 she was honored with the Piper Professor Award. Over the past 25 years Cecilia has collaborated with INA in the development and implementation of effective educational practices to support newcomers in the classroom.
Shannon Worrell, Board Liaison to INA
Shannon Worrell was born in Fort Worth and attended All Saints’ Episcopal School and the Trinity Valley School. She graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelors of Science in Education. She taught fourth and sixth grade in the Denton Independent School District. Shannon is very involved with All Saints’ Episcopal Church, having served as Flower Guild Director, Flower Guild Wedding Planner, and a liaison between All Saints’ and the Amazing Grace Orphanage in Kenya. She said that after her son Patrick died February 14, 2018, of accidental Fentanyl poisoning, she and her husband, Trace Worrell, struggled over what they could do to commemorate Patrick’s life. They wanted to honor his character, passion, generosity, kindness, and true love of people. According to Shannon, “I believe that assisting the immigrant and refugee students at INA and Success High School is a powerful way to honor our memory of Patrick while benefitting local families.”
Kyle C. Mankin, Treasurer
Born in Oklahoma and raised in Arkansas, Kyle graduated form the University of Oklahoma with a BBA in Marketing and Economics. Kyle’s career has spanned many industries including finance, retail, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and non-profits. Over the last 15 years Kyle successfully established and grew his Financial Advisory Group, lending his knowledge and expertise to a wide array of clients and institutions. He has successfully served four terms as Chairman of ASEC Endowment Board over the last 14 years and continues to provide his direction and support to various boards and committees. Kyle has served the educational community of Fort Worth (FWISD) as a Youth mentor through Academy 4, served on the PTSA, been an athletic booster, as well as, helping the greater Fort Worth community through the First Street Mission, Como Community center, and International Newcomers Academy.
Dr. Happy Carrico, Secretary
Dr. Happy Carrico is a native of Denton, Texas. She is a retired educator from the Denton Independent School District, where she served as a first-grade teacher, Reading Recovery Teacher, and Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Staff Development. She also served as principal of E.P. Rayzor and Newton Rayzor elementary schools.
She has a Bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of North Texas and a Master's degree in Reading and Principal Certification from Texas Woman's University. She received her Ph.D. in December 2009 with a major in reading and a minor in educational leadership.
Dr. Carrico published Linking Assessment to Reading Comprehension Instruction: A Framework for Actively Engaging Literacy Learners, K-8 in October 2008, along with her co-authors Dr. Nora White and Dr. Nancy Anderson. She is featured in Tony Stead's books Reality Checks: Teaching Reading Comprehension with Nonfiction, K-5 and Good Choice!: Supporting Independent Reading and Response, K-6. In 2012, E.P. Rayzor students and teachers were featured in Tony Stead and Linda Hoyt's Explorations in Nonfiction Writing: Grade 1. Under her leadership, Newton Rayzor students co-authored a set of books with Mr. Stead in 2014.
In addition to her leadership and expertise in pedagogy, Dr. Carrico serves on several boards. She is secretary for the First United Methodist Church of Denton’s Administrative Board, which is the governing board for the church, and she is secretary for the First United Methodist Church Staff-Parish Relations Committee. Dr. Carrico also served on the 2018 Denton ISD Bond Committee, which passed a $750,000,000 bond, and is on the current (2022) Bond Committee.
Christy Brammer, Member
Christy Brammer is a grants coordinator with Cengage Group. She graduated from Texas Christian University with a BA in English and a minor in Business. Her background in educational publishing, early childhood education and non-profit fundraising sparked an interest in improving education through the non-profit world. She has supported public education in Fort Worth by serving on multiple PTA executive boards and finance committees and is excited to serve the students and staff at INA through the PWMF.
Wende Dwyer Johnsen, Member
Wende Dwyer-Johnsen was born in Montana, grew up in Oregon, and graduated from the University of Puget Sound. Her career includes teaching elementary school in Washington state, serving as a Congressional aide in Washington, DC, working on the management team of a national tour of a Saudi Arabian cultural exhibit, and working as a corporate trade show pharmaceutical marketing executive in Boston. Over the past 12 years Wende has served several Fort Worth organizations through board memberships and volunteer endeavors - including INA.
David P. Manuel, Member
Dr. David P. Manuel earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Mississippi. He spent 42 years in higher education as a faculty member, dean, provost and university president. As a senior administrator, he worked closely with development staff and donors to build endowments, create endowed professorships and scholarships, and undertake capital projects and campus improvements.
During Dr. Manuel’s career, he has been actively engaged with students at all levels. His interest in immigrant and refugee students began during his graduate school experience, when he shared roommate facilities with international students. As a dean and president, Dr. Manuel engaged extensively with international students, developed international exchange programs and assisted universities in South America, Europe and Asia to achieve various levels of accreditation.
Besides his work with the Patrick Worrell Memorial Foundation, he has mentored students at the INA and helped them prepare for university admission. Dr. Manuel has a breadth of board experience, including serving on the boards of Texas Public Radio (San Antonio, TX), CHRISTUS Health System Central Louisiana (Alexandria, LA), Cox Health System (Springfield, MO), and The Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and School (Atlanta, GA).
Kip Wright, Member
Kip Wright was a social studies teacher for the Fort Worth Independent School District for eight years. He first became aware of INA when he was assigned to the school in 2012. He is a firm advocate for the school and is inspired by the great impact the school has had on student lives. Kip is a native of Atlanta, Ga., and a graduate of the University of Georgia. He has an academic background in history and historic preservation and has worked as an environmental specialist for the Georgia Department of Transportation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has served on the Board of Directors for Historic Fort Worth, Inc., and the Wedgwood Historical Association. Kip recently retired as a U.S. Navy Reserve officer, after 25 years of service, and currently works for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.