Investing in our Students
Our purpose is to seek, cultivate, and obtain revenue to support projects and programs that enhance the basic required curriculum and broaden the range of NEISD students’ educational experience.
The North East Educational Foundation staff works closely with the Board of Directors to ensure North East ISD students have the best learning opportunities possible. We love promoting innovation within the District and surprising our teachers with classroom grants.
Audited Financials and Policies and Procedures Manual available upon request.
Katherine Sanchez-Rocha
Executive Director
Olga Valanos
Community Relations Specialist
Brooklynne Dominguez
Sparky
Branding Member
Katherine Sanchez-Rocha
Executive Director
Katherine Sanchez-Rocha Executive Director, joined NEEF in August 2022. Having grown up in San Antonio, she has deep roots in our great city and is a proud graduate of NEISD, as is her family.
Katherine passionately advocates for students and understands the need to connect education and the workforce. Prior to joining NEEF, Katherine served Alamo Academies as an Executive Director, in addition to her volunteer work involving issues dealing with family, education, and our military.
A few organizations she supports are the NEISD School Health Advisory Council, the Children’s Rehabilitation Institute Teleton (CRIT), Lo Bello Women’s Association, San Antonio Manufacturers Association, and her neighborhood associations.
When she is not working or volunteering, Katherine can be found enjoying the outdoors, digital photography, and gardening.
Olga Valanos
Community Relations Specialist
Olga joined NEEF in May 2022, where she is responsible for communications and community relations.
Previously, she consulted as a social media content creator and video editor. She also worked for the Geneva Foundation as a Marketing Communications Assistant at the Brooke Army Medical Center.
Before relocating to Texas from New Mexico, Olga held a variety of marketing roles in the private and public sectors. She also produced, directed, and marketed an award-winning documentary film that was viewed globally.
She holds an MBA from Loyola College in Maryland and a Bachelor’s in Art History from Boston University.
Olga enjoys time with her family, paddle boarding, hiking, biking, attending cultural events and art exhibitions. She believes in the value of education and is passionate about furthering opportunities for the next generation.
Brooklynne Dominguez
Development Coordinator
Brooklynne Dominguez joined the team in the Fall of 2021 as the Executive Assistant and transitioned to Development Coordinator in the Spring of 2024.
She is a product of NEISD, graduating from DATA at Roosevelt High School. With her father working for NEISD, she grew up in an NEISD family and was involved in athletics. Now her own children attend NEISD schools.
Brooklynne Dominguez previously worked in customer service, sales, and development. She earned her Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice as well as became a certified Paralegal in 2017.
Outside of work, Brooklynne enjoys spending time with her family, watching reruns of Friends, and eating all the delicious food Texas has to offer!
Sparky
Branding Member
Timeline of our History
The North East Educational Foundation was created in 1985 to expand educational opportunities for students of NEISD. Since that time, the Foundation has funded hundreds of projects that have enriched and enhanced students’ learning experience on our campuses.
NEISD Trustee John Seibert recommends to the Board of Trustees and Superintendent Ed West that a nonprofit foundation be formed to fund educational programs for NEISD. He reasons that the student population was increasing while state financial help was declining. The state had recently added several unfunded mandates which meant more of the school budget would be used for basic obligations and less would be used for enrichment. Since North East taxpayers would continue to expect students to receive an education of the highest quality, the District followed Seibert’s recommendation.
NEEF Board approves the formation of permanent investment funds into which 25% of undesignated contributions go each year. This was established so NEEF can remain financially sound and accrue interest over the years.
On the Foundation’s 10th anniversary, Texas Commissioner of Education Dr. Mike Moses speaks at NEEF’s gala and emphasizes the importance of education foundations to public schools. The gala raises approximately $15,500.
With hard work and determination, NEEF funds $124,500 in grant requests. As funds and responsibilities increased, it became clear the Foundation needed a liaison from the District staff to assist NEEF part-time. The Director of Partnerships for NEISD begins working with NEEF to assist and amplify fundraising efforts.
NEEF funds a whopping $218,101 in grant requests. The NEISD Board of Trustees and NEEF Board form a new “tightly coupled” model through a Memorandum of Understanding. The Foundation remains a separate, private 501(c)(3), and utilizes staff positions funded by the District to raise funds for the greater good of the District.
The NEEF Board enters into an aggressive three-year strategic plan to encourage growth and innovation within the Foundation.
100% increase in team spirit with our newest branding member, SPARKY! Our Facebook followers are asked to participate in the naming of our ‘lightbulb guy.’ NEISD teacher Leigh Anne Roeber is the first follower to mention the name ‘Sparky.’
Another record-breaking year, NEEF funds $363,000 in Innovative Grants for NEISD teachers and students! A flight simulator for Eisenhower Middle School and a sensory motor lab for Thousand Oaks Elementary School are among the 60 projects funded.
NEEF raised $162,195 to fund a computer lab at NEISD’s newly opened magnet campus, the Institute of CyberSecurity and Innovation (iCSI). iCSI is a hands-on, interactive academy for computer programming, network security, network engineering, and cybersecurity.
NEEF provided $150,000 in funding to make COL Henson’s dream of a rappel tower come true at Camp Henson. COL LaChance, Dir. of Army Instruction for NEISD, completed the project in the fall of 2024.