Yesenia Aviles Esteves
ILTexas Aggieland
Students and Families: CLICK HERE to connect with Ms. Aviles!
Yesenia Aviles is ecstatic to serve as the Dean of College Advising at International Leadership of Texas – Aggieland High School. She was born and raised in Austin, TX and is a graduate from Texas A&M University – College Station, where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Sociology with a Minor in Psychology. While earning her degree, she volunteered with the Brazos Interfaith Immigration Network assisting with citizenship classes and English classes.
As a first generation student, Yesenia is looking forward to meeting with all of the students and helping them realize their true potential and achieve their dreams. She wants to make the process of applying to colleges and scholarships as easy and stress-free as possible.
In her free time, she spends her time with her niece, reading, spending time with her dog, Lila, and crocheting.
Cailyn Byrd
ILTexas Arlington-Grand Prairie
Students and Families: CLICK HERE to connect with Ms. Byrd!
Cailyn Byrd is the Dean of College Advising at International Leadership Texas Arlington-Grand Prairie High School. She went to Abilene Christian University where she received her Bachelors and Masters in Social Work. This will be her 6th year on the ASP Team. She worked as our ASP Alumni Coordinator for a year, before getting to do work with our students on the high school level.
She remembers feeling very isolated and limited in knowledge during her own college application journey. She loves that she gets to be in a place to help students and families avoid those feelings. Ms. Byrd’s loves that we all get to work through this process together, and create the best solutions for the next generation of college students. Finding success and hope in every student’s story is what she looks forward to most.
Robert Martinez
ILTexas Garland
Students and Families: CLICK HERE to connect with Mr. Martinez!
Robert Martinez is excited to work as the College Advisor for ILTexas Garland High School! He was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and went on to receive his B.A. in English & Sociology from Texas A&M University-Commerce Honors College. After graduating with his bachelor’s, he pursued a Master’s in Elementary Education at Arizona State University. While earning his graduate degree, he worked for the Arizona Education System, teaching 4th, 5th, and 6th grade across the Phoenix Metropolitan Area as part of Teach for America. He attributes much of his success to the support and mentorship of his former College Advisor, Sara Morgan, and other ASP Alumni & Staff.
When Robert isn’t working, he enjoys exploring Dallas and finding restaurants to try new food or cuisines. He also enjoys reading, playing video games, attending musical festivals, hiking, and spending time as a dog dad to his Pomeranian, Shiloh.
Funmi Balogun
ILTexas Katy-Westpark
Students and Families: CLICK HERE to connect with Ms. Balogun!
Funmi Balogun is thrilled to serve at International Leadership of Texas Katy-Westpark High School as the Dean of College Advising. She was born and raised in Houston, Texas and went on to receive her B.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin.
Before her time at UT Austin, she was able to gain experience in childcare through private tutoring and babysitting. During her first year of undergrad, she was able to use her prior experience to assist various families through the college admission process by overlooking admissions essays and recommending various volunteering opportunities. Additionally during her second year, she worked as a student caller for the university. Although short lived, she was able to provide financial and organizational resources, such as unknown scholarships, emergency student funds, and networking strategies through the alumni system, to the current and past students of UT Austin.
During her last two years of undergrad, Funmi was able to gain irreplaceable experiences at two non profits in Austin, Girls Empowerment Network and Girlstart. Through her position as a project management assistant at GEN, she assisted in the marketing and outreach sector of Austin and Houston communities throughout the school year via mailings, phone calls, tabling, and email communications. Through her time at GEN, she learned how to build community and how to gain trust with students from all walks of life. She was able to build with them and provide assistance through the various processes of becoming a young adult. Additionally, Funmi was able to intern at Girlstart, a non profit that aims to provide a year-round, intensive suite of STEM education programs for K-12 girls. Funmi specifically provided Girlstart Summer Camp curriculum, material support, and implemented inventory systems for organization of at-home curriculum for over 500 students. This position gave her a strong desire to advocate for STEM resources in all communities that may lack.
Funmi is very excited to utilize all that she has learned to help the incredible students of ILTexas achieve their goals and navigate all that comes with the college process.
Garienne Stiggers-Salone
ILTexas Keller-Saginaw
Students and Families: CLICK HERE to connect with Mrs. Salone!
Garienne Salone is the Dean of College Advising at The International Leadership of Texas Keller-Saginaw. She is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University and The University of Texas at Arlington with her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Social Work. While at PVAMU, Mrs. Salone was apart of many organizations; PVAMU PALS( Freshmen Mentorship), Campus Activity Board, PVAMU Purple Jackets(Women’s Empowerment group), the Social Work Action Club(SWAC), and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Mrs. Salone is a Fort Worth, Texas, and is no stranger to college advising. As someone who was brought up in a household that placed a strong importance on education, she is excited to help the next generation fulfill their academic goals. Mrs. Salone wants students to understand that higher education will not only be the dream, it will be the standard and they deserve the opportunity to take full advantage of all higher education has to offer.
In her spare time Mrs. Salone loves to spend time making memories with her family, husband and son.
Kristen Phillips
ILTexas Lancaster-Desoto
Students and Families: CLICK HERE to connect with Ms. Phillips!
Kristen Phillips is ready to help the students of ILT Lancaster-Desoto High School achieve their higher education goals! A little about Kristen; although born and raised in Grand Prairie, Texas she left home just a few short hours away to attend Texas A&M University (WHOOP!) in the Fall of 2018, majoring in International Studies.
During her second year in school, she started working with the university’s admissions office to provide a current student perspective to prospective students! This was where her love for higher education began! After helping her university for three years, she was ready to inspire more students! Now going into her third year with ASP, she’s excited to answer questions from parents and support students through their individual college processes, watch them shine wherever they go, while also making it affordable!
Outside of her love for helping students, during the Fall season find her watching every second of every college football game, especially the Aggies! She’s a big traveler and has been very blessed to have seen many parts of the world, her favorite being Istanbul, Turkey (a study abroad she did in school)! When she’s not traveling or watching a game she’s spending time with family or practicing her makeup skills! Don’t be shy, come say hi to Ms. Kristen Phillips!
Catherine Bonilla
ILTexas Windmill Lakes-Orem
Students and Families: CLICK HERE to connect with Ms. Bonilla!
Catherine Bonilla is excited to serve as the ASP College Advisor at ILTexas Windmill Lakes-Orem High School. She’s a Salvadoran-American, who grew up in North Houston and attended YES Prep North Central. She is a first-generation student who attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology/Anthropology with concentrations in Family Studies and Women’s & Gender Studies.
Her previous work experiences include providing non-academic resources to elementary students and their families in Houston ISD and working at a immigration nonprofit to advocate for newcomers arriving to the country. During her time at St. Olaf, she was a Resident Assistant to first year college students for three years. Working with first generation, first years and migrant students, she was reminded of the opportunities she’s had due to higher education. She wants other students with her background to have the same or better opportunities she had when applying to college. As the youngest of four, but the second one to attend college in her family, she’s familiar with the anxiety and pressure one feels to select and attend a college. She’s excited to be a support system to both students and families in this stage in their lives.
During her free time, she enjoys taking walks, finding new coffee shops or doing yoga. She loves attending concerts, supporting the Astros/Dynamo and taking road trips. She also enjoys doing fun activities with her sisters, nieces and nephews. If she’s not out and about, she’s at home watching Abbott Elementary or reading books with her weighted blanket.