A L U M N E W S
OUTSTANDING IN HIS FIELD
Young Alumnus Focused on Educating
Underserved Community
Atriple-degreed Trinity alumnus is chang- ness Journal, recognized by State Representative
ing the face of education in San Antonio, one Mike Villarreal as an “Innovator in Educa-
KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) school tion,” and named “Outstanding Young San
at a time. For his passion and dedication to Antonian” by the Downtown Rotary Club of
preparing and motivating the educationally San Antonio.
underserved of the community for a success- Larson received the Outstanding Young
ful college career, Mark Larson received the Alumnus Award at a luncheon in his honor
Trinity University Alumni Association’s November 19, 2009 in the Great Hall.
2009 Outstanding Young Alumnus award.
Larson, who earned a B.S. in math in 1997,
Carol Casler
a Master of Arts in teaching in 1998, and a
Master of Education in School Administra-
within the organization. tion in 2002, began his career as a math
But Healthwise is not the only place Casler teacher at the International School of the
is making a difference. A passionate conser- Americas in San Antonio. In 2002, he received
vationist, she has devoted time and energy to a Fisher Fellowship for aspiring school lead-
the Idaho Conservation Board for several years ers at Berkeley’s Hass School of Business and
and was president for four years. One of the trained under principals at high performing
most active volunteers in this statewide con- middle schools around the country. He spent
servation organization, she was active at the his fellowship year designing KIPP Aspire
grass roots level including making phone calls, Academy, a 5-8 middle school that opened
and testifying at hearings. She lobbied for its doors in 2003.
environmental reform for mining companies, Within six years, Larson’s KIPP Aspire
sought passage of the clean water act, and Academy boasted outstanding state and
was instrumental in the preservation of 3.2 national scores, the highest attendance rates
million acres of wilderness in Idaho—the in the city, and waiting lists at each grade
largest contiguous area in the lower 48 states— level. In 2009 he was appointed CEO of KIPP
and has been active in the Idaho League of San Antonio, a growing network of inner-
Conservation Voters on the state, regional city college preparatory public schools that
and national levels. includes two middle schools and a high school.
Mark Larson
Utilizing her talents and skills honed at Noted for 10-hour school days, Saturday
Healthwise, Casler has made a difference at school, plus a mandatory three weeks of EDITOR’SNOTE: KIPP began in 1994 when
Planned Parenthood of Idaho and the Snake summer school, KIPP Aspire gets results. Its two Houston teachers launched a fifth-grade
River Alliance among other organizations. second class of graduating eighth-graders public school program after completing their
Additionally, she serves as chair of the fund- shattered stereotypes, earning more than commitment to Teach for America. The
raising committee for Terry Reilly Health $500,000 in scholarships to elite private high growing network, which now includes 82
Services, the primary provider of health care schools, including exclusive east coast insti- KIPP public schools in 19 states and the
to migrant workers and indigent people and tutions as well as the most competitive magnet District of Columbia, enrolls approximately
the only federally licensed community health high schools in the city. 20,000 mostly African-American and His-
center in southern Idaho. She also has vol- Larson, an increasingly high-profile voice panic/Latino students. In 2000, the co-
unteered with La Leche League, Boise Art for education reform, is spearheading a plan founders of Gap, Inc. established the non-
Museum, and the Idaho Fish and Game M.K. to expand KIPP to 10 schools—four elemen- profit KIPP Foundation that focuses on
Nature Center. She is active in politics and tary, four middle, and two high schools by recruiting, training, and supporting out-
works on “get out the vote” efforts. 2017, all serving primarily disadvantaged kids. standing leaders to open new, locally run
Casler will receive her award during the Trinity is not the only entity to notice. KIPP schools in high-need communities.
annual dinner in the Great Hall that honors Larson, who was a member of Leadership For more information visit www.aspire
both the Distinguished Alumnus and the San Antonio 31, was named a “Forty Under academy.org/html_english/about.html or
Spirit of Trinity awardees. 40” leader in 2005 by the San Antonio Busi- www.kipp.org .
JANUARY 2010 43
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