Our History
The idea for Learning Bridge came from our founder’s search for a tutor for her foster daughter. While she found many organizations in central Texas to help kids in foster care, she discovered that no organization existed to address the unique educational needs of kids in foster care.
After needs assessment and surveys of foster parents, Connect for Success launched as a pilot program at Foster Village in August 2020. Based on its early success, Learning Bridge launched as a standalone nonprofit in February 2021 and became a 501c3 organization in June 2021.
The Need
There are over 11,000 youth in foster care in Texas. These children have been abused and neglected and often have trauma that lasts a lifetime. Sadly, only half of youth in foster care graduate from high school and shortly after emancipation, 33% of foster youth become homeless. Due to many factors, kids in foster care are often one to two grade levels behind in school. (Source: DFPS, Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing, TEA)
- On average, a child moves at least four times while in care, according to Child Protective Services.
- 72% of foster care youth fail to meet grade-level standards. (TEA)
- Only 17% of Texas foster care youth are proficient in reading by the end of third grade. (TEA)
While these kids face many challenges, early interventions can make all the difference in providing youth with the resources to overcome hardship. Education, in particular, is one avenue which extra support can make a monumental difference in the lives of these children. (Source: DFPS)
Our Solution
Learning Bridge directly addresses this systemic gap through personalized tutoring. Learning Bridge gives students and caregivers a survey when they enter the program. Students, with the help of caregivers when needed, rate themselves on grades, school participation, school enjoyment, homework completion, and their ability to ask for help. We administer an identical survey at the end of the year to assess progress.
Our Impact
Students are seeing results: students report their tutor made a significant difference in their academic journey and that their confidence with schoolwork has increased. As one teen student summarized: “I feel much more confident in my ability to learn and complete work for classes. I’m really thankful because my Learning Bridge tutor was the one that was able to do that for me.”
Program Evaluation Reports
Team
Monica Wyatt, Program Manager
Monica’s leads all initiatives supporting students, their caregivers, and volunteer tutors. With experience as a middle school math teacher in Austin ISD for ten years, she brings her love of youth education and numbers! She also served as a foster mother and is ready to reconnect with the foster care system. Monica and her husband have three boys and a newly welcomed daughter that keep them very busy, but in her spare time, she loves watching her boys play baseball, reading, and playing board games with her family.
Current Board of Directors
Carole Wall, President
Carole is a native Austinite with with a strong record of service to children, families, and the broader community. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University at Austin and a master’s degree from St. Edward’s University. Her career includes more than seven years as a nonprofit grant writer and extensive experience in child welfare. She has worked as a CPS Investigator, Caseworker, Supervisor, and as a Forensic Interviewer at the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center.
Carole now serves as the Resident Services Program Manager at Foundation Communities, where she supports residents in a permanent supportive housing community. Her work is grounded in compassion, practical problem‑solving, and a belief that stable support systems can change the course of a person’s life. She brings that same perspective to her role as Board President at Learning Bridge.
Kristy Peloquin, Vice President
Kristy Peloquin is dedicated to public service and education, with extensive experience in nonprofit development, focusing on grant writing, donor relations and program management. She was the first staff member at the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission, where she helped establish Holocaust Awareness and Remembrance Month in Texas and developed statewide educational programs. Kristy has served over eight years as an Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College, earning multiple teaching award nominations and publishing creative works. Kristy holds an MFA in poetry and creative writing and has led therapeutic writing programs. Her published poetry explores the impact of secondary trauma on individuals and society.
Kim Walker, Treasurer
Kim Walker is a seasoned professional with a unique blend of expertise in both social work and accounting. She holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in Social Work and the other in Accounting. With a decade of experience as a social worker, Kim has a strong background in supporting individuals and communities. For the past 25 years, she has owned and operated Lillie Aguero & Associates Tax Office, where she specializes in tax services. Kim is also deeply committed to her community, having served as a treasurer and board member for various non-profit organizations, where she has applied her skills to support a diverse range of causes.
Camille Ip, Secretary
Camille is an executive with a background in digital strategy, business development, and partnership management. She has a longtime commitment to youth development and education— from volunteering as a college student at UT to reading with elementary students during her workday. She joined Learning Bridge in 2023 as a tutor, which inspired her deeper involvement and eventual board service. An accomplished leader in client‑success team management and scaling operations, she brings strengths in adaptability and cultivating partnerships to advance Learning Bridge’s outreach and impact. She has also volunteered with the Central Texas Food Bank and Dress for Success, reflecting her dedication to empowering the Central Texas community.
Erin Hudson, Member
Erin practiced law for over a decade focusing on commercial litigation before leaving her firm in 2021 to attend graduate school. She is currently pursuing a PhD in nutritional science at the University of Texas. Prior to moving to Austin, Erin served on the board of the Rio Grande Valley chapter of Girls on the Run. Erin has been serving the Learning Bridge mission since 2022.
Promod Radhakrishnan, Member
Promod is a Group Vice President at Oracle. He is a strong believer in the concept of leveraging technology as an enabler for society at large. He is passionate about the concept of Continuous Learning, and is committed to charitable causes focused on children’s education.
Anayeli Jaimes, Member
Anayeli is a healthcare executive and former pediatric nurse whose early clinical work shaped her commitment to advocacy and supporting others. In her current role, she partners with healthcare teams to strengthen patient care and champion frontline staff. A proud Austin native, she brings a deep appreciation for community and connection. Outside of work, she enjoys running (she’s completed a marathon in all 50 states) along with traveling, experimenting in the kitchen, and spending time with her rescue pup, Gordon Ramsay. She is honored to serve on the Learning Bridge board and contribute to an organization making a meaningful impact on students’ lives.
Legacy Board of Directors
Kettisha Jones, Member
Dr. Jones is a seasoned PK–12 education leader with experience as a principal, district administrator, and nonprofit managing director supporting Multilingual Learners. She has led school improvement efforts in Houston ISD, Pflugerville ISD, and Tulsa Public Schools, consistently strengthening student outcomes and instructional leadership. A former Teach For America corps member, she is driven by the belief that every student deserves a high‑quality education. She holds degrees from Spelman College, the University of Houston, and the University of Mary Hardin‑Baylor, along with a Superintendent Certification from Sam Houston State University.
Kristene Blackstone, Member
Kristene works as an independent child welfare consultant after serving as the Associate Commissioner for Child Protective Services in Texas from 2016 to 2020. She was previously the Deputy Director for Field Operations for the Texas Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division, where she oversaw the daily operations of the Field Operations Division. She has over 27 years of public service experience working with children and families. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of North Texas and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin.
Abhilasha Mittal, Secretary
Abhilasha has been working in the IT industry as a software developer for more than 15 years. She frequently participates in philanthropic activities with various charities. She has also tutored at Learning Bridge, virtually guiding an 11th grader in San Marcos, TX.
Cortney Jones, Member
Cortney Jones advocates for and elevates the voice of youth in foster care and is an advocate for change in the system as a whole. Cortney has worked in policy development, advocacy, public education and case management for more than 18 years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas A&M-Commerce and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Texas State University-San Marcos. Cortney was appointed to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Council in 2021. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Change1, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of youth in foster care.
🔷 If you are interested in joining the board and have special skills in development, fundraising, communications, have experience in child welfare or are a former foster youth, we welcome you to connect with us at info@learningbridgetx.org.
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