Administration

Alex Merritt

I am thrilled and humbled to serve as the principal at Alex Sanger Preparatory. I was born and raised in Charlotte, N.C., where I attended public schools and graduated high school with the International Baccalaureate Diploma. I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I studied English and Spanish. After college, I taught upper elementary for six years at Trinity Episcopal School in Charlotte while working on my Master of Arts in Teaching degree at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Ready for a new adventure, I moved to Texas, where I continued to teach upper elementary for 3 more years at Barton Creek Elementary and enrolled in the Principalship Program at the University of Texas at Austin. After completing the program, I got my first school leadership position here at Alex Sanger Preparatory as assistant principal under Hector Martinez (now Executive Director of the Samuell High School Vertical Team). I believe that every single child in every single classroom deserves a great teacher -- not by chance, but by design.

 

Folasade Burkman
Degrees:
BA - Broadcast Communication
MA - Educational Leadership

I am excited to be part of the Stallion family! I am a life-long learner who is very passionate about education. I believe in the value of education and its impact; consequently, I believe every student can learn and succeed. I have been in education for two decades. I was a middle school teacher for 15 plus years; my teaching years were (all) in Title I schools where I had an exceptionally successful career as an award winning ELAR teacher and impressive student scores on state tests.

I graduated Cum Laude from UT Arlington with a BA in Broadcast Communication; and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M Commerce. This is my fourth year as an administrator, and I am committed to adding value to the Sanger community. 

I am a mother to three beautiful children, and outside of work, I love spending time with my children and family, listening to music, reading, and trying new dishes at different restaurants. 

To quote Nelson Mandela, I (also) believe that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

 

Joseph Luedecke
 

Email: jluedecke@dallasisd.org

 

Rhianna Calendine

Degrees:
B.A. Middle Childhood Education
.M.Ed Education Policy

Passionate about the transformative potential of education, my journey in the world of learning commenced in the heart of Cincinnati, Ohio. Early years at a Montessori school laid the foundation for a love of knowledge. Fast forward to the University of Cincinnati, where I discovered my passion in an Intro to Education class. Post-graduation, I wanted more support to be the teacher I strived to be, so I joined Teach for America and ended up in Dallas at an International Baccalaureate Elementary School. 

A commitment to continual growth got me involved in organizations such as Leadership for Educational Equity, Urban Leaders Fellowship, and Dallas Kids First, providing insights into the intersection of public policy and education. Seeking a broader perspective, I pursued a degree in Education Policy from Johns Hopkins University.

I have a diverse teaching background spanning 5th, 6th, and 7th grades in Science, Math, and Reading Language Arts. Now, as the IB Coordinator at Sanger, I am enthusiastic about leading our school on its journey to becoming a premier IB institution. I believe in the profound impact of education to empower individuals and ignite positive change in our world. The wonderful community here assures me that together, we will champion Sanger's ascent to excellence in education.