Eileen Holmes
Executive Director/Co-Founder of RAPSA
Eileen has worked for over 11 years in the educational field and has been the creative mind behind the Reaching At-Promise Students national conferences and leadership institutes and the Reaching At-Promise Students Association.  She has developed a team of experts who have worked diligently in creating one of the "best professional development conferences" out there today.  This same team is spearheading RAPSA, an association for educators working with at-promise students and for businesses and community members wishing to influence positive changes for education.  Ms. Holmes comes to us with a marketing and business background.

Linda C. Dawson. Ed.D.
Co-Founder of RAPSA
Dr. Dawson had a vision for an organization where like-minded educators could discuss and share ideas about working with the at-promise student population.  With hard work and collaboration from staffers throughout SIATech, the Reaching At-Promise Students Association (RAPSA) was born.

Dr. Dawson began working at SIATech in 2000 and has served as its Superintendent and CEO since 2004. She brings a wealth of experience in educational leadership positions, including principal of Abraxas High School and assistant principal at Twin Peaks Middle School and Bernardo Heights Middle School, all in the Poway Unified School District. She has been recognized as the Outstanding Secondary Administrator by the Association of Poway School Managers and Teacher of the Year for her exemplary role at Bernardo Heights Middle School. 

Joanne Motz
Community Liaison
Joanne brings to RAPSA over 10 years of educational experience from the continuation and charter school settings.  Utilizing over 30 years of business experience in both the medical and educational fields, Ms. Motz has coordinated the educational vendors and sponsors for the “Reaching At Promise Students National Conference” for the past three years.  Joanne looks forward to serving as the liaison between community leaders and businesses through RAPSA’s Partners in Promise Program. 

Sheryl Armstrong
RAPSA Consultant
Sheryl comes to RAPSA with over 15 years of educational experience, both in the classroom and as a leader for other teachers.  As a fellow with the San Diego Area Writing Project, she works with other educators to demonstrate how to incorporate writing in all aspects of the curriculum and how to manage on-demand testing situations.  Ms. Armstrong brings her love of teaching to RAPSA.

Ernest Silva
Legislative Advocate
Ernie has worked with nonprofit associations providing strategic advice on intergovernmental issues, resources and policy development for over eighteen years.  He has worked with a number of educational organizations including SIATech, the Association of California School Administrators, the California Charter Schools Association, the Coalition for Adequate School Housing and a number of individual school districts, county offices of education and charter schools.  He has an energetic commitment to finding alternative solutions and expanding opportunities for all learners.