
Gordon Falk
Executive Director
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Gordon Falk
Executive Director
Gordon Falk has 31 years of experience in supplemental education. After twelve years as a minority owner and director of another tutoring franchise, Gordon realized his dream of owning his own learning center in 2006. GradePower Learning has now been transforming children's lives in Austin for nineteen years. Gordon is just as passionate today about active thinking and independent learning as he was the first day.
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Nicholas Hernandez
Education Director
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Nicholas Hernandez
Education Director
Nicholas joined the GradePower Learning team as our Education Director in July 2022. His prior experience includes teaching middle school social studies and mathematics and educational research analysis. Nicholas has committed his life to education and is passionate about making a positive impact in students' lives. Nicholas enjoys the positive and supportive environment for young learners and their families that GradePower Learning provides. In his downtime, Nicholas enjoys spending time with his family, taking peaceful drives around Austin, and searching for delicious places to eat.
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Maria Garcia
Education Coordinator
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Maria Garcia
Education Coordinator
Maria contributes a strong STEM background to our team. She has experience as a lab supervisor, research scientist, training and development coordinator, and tutor. Maria is proud to be the first member of her family to pursue a university education and is driven to help others further their education. When she isn't instilling a love of learning in our students, Maria enjoys cooking, reading nonfiction, exercising, and spending time outdoors. She is also currently learning how to play the piano!
×Jocelyn Garcia
Learning Coach
Read MoreJocelyn Garcia
Learning Coach
Jocelyn has five years of experience teaching kindergarten and first grade and is currently employed at an AISD elementary school. She is the oldest of four siblings and is the only member of her immediate family to leave the country life behind for city life in Austin, where she loves water activities and exploring town with her friends. Jocelyn's educational philosophy aligns perfectly with GPL, making her a valued team member!
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Brian Carmelli
Learning Coach
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Brian Carmelli
Learning Coach
Brian moved to Austin from Baltimore in December 2024, where he was an assistant high school teacher. His mother, two sisters, and niece all live in the area and drew him here! Brian's hobbies include playing guitar, solving mathematics and linguistic puzzles, and gaming.
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Isra Cheema
Learning Coach
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Isra Cheema
Learning Coach
Isra has taught and tutored English for over ten years, and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at St. Edward's University. Her academic background includes teaching British and World Literature at the college level. Beyond her impressive academic credentials, Isra is multilingual, and a talented poet and creative writer. Her passion for fine arts and literature enriches our students' experience of language arts.
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Marissa Decker
Learning Coach
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Marissa Decker
Learning Coach
Marissa is an IB and World History educator and the campus chair of the National Honor Society. She is dedicated to student engagement, academic excellence, and equitable instruction. Her personalized, student-centred approach aligns with GradePower Learning's mission to build student confidence and academic success. Outside of work, Marissa enjoys puzzles, cats, archery, and rock climbing.
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Valerie Garcia
Learning Coach
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Valerie Garcia
Learning Coach
Valerie is a certified language arts teacher and an elementary school librarian. She is a highly dedicated and creative educator who believes that students of all backgrounds and abilities can achieve high academic standards. We are confident that her passion for education and her commitment to student success will make her an invaluable asset to our team. In her free time, Valerie enjoys reading, road trips, and music!
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Cheryl Paul
Learning Coach
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Cheryl Paul
Learning Coach
Cheryl's impressive 18 years teaching experience, including valuable time spent teaching overseas, has provided her with a diverse and enriching background that she loves to share with her students. Her extensive experience and varied teaching insights are a tremendous asset to young learners, and contribute significantly to their learning journey. Beyond her professional expertise, Cheryl's family hails from Louisiana. In her free time, she enjoys practicing Tai Chi and has a real passion for Broadway musicals.
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Faye Castro
Learning Coach
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Faye Castro
Learning Coach
Faye brings a strong background in mathematics and computer science to GradePower Learning. Raised in Round Rock, she is currently a graduate student in Mathematics at Texas State University. She has tutored a wide array of math subjects, including calculus.
Beyond her academic and tutoring achievements, Faye is passionate about learning and finds great satisfaction in helping students succeed. In her free time, she enjoys participating in Marching Band Color Guard competitions and gaming. She also has a dog named Eevee, named after the Pokémon character.
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Astrid Garcia
Learning Coach
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Astrid Garcia
Learning Coach
Astrid has eight years of teaching experience, five of them in special education. She is passionate about helping students gain confidence and independence in their learning. Astrid enjoys art, reading, movies, and, most of all, her dog Wednesday.
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