Lucy Erspamer
Students and Families: CLICK HERE to connect with Ms. Erspamer!
Lucy Erspamer is absolutely excited to return to Thomas Jefferson High School to continue advising who she believes to be the greatest students in the DFW metroplex, (and beyond.)
Ms. Erspamer was born and raised in East Dallas and is a proud product of DISD schools. She attended Harry Stone Montessori and BTWHSPVA, where she discovered her love of writing. Ms. Erspamer continued her education with a BFA in Comedic Arts with a concentration in comedy writing at Emerson College, located in Boston, MA.
Ms. Erspamer grew up aware of the opportunity gap affecting the students in DISD. She is dedicated to affording the same access she had to college to the students that she advises. As a writer herself, Ms. Erspamer loves listening to students’ experiences and helping them understand that they too have a story worth telling.
In her free time, Ms. Erspamer is a voracious reader, and finishes over 100 books every year. Do not let her see you with a book unless you are ready for a long conversation.
Abril Marquez
Students and Families: CLICK HERE to connect with Ms. Marquez!
Abril Marquez is incredibly excited to serve as an ASP College Advisor at Thomas Jefferson High School. She grew up in Oak Cliff, and is a proud Dallas ISD alumna. She is a first-generation student who attended the University of North Texas at Dallas where she received a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources and Master in Business Administration.
Being a first-generation student Ms. Marquez is familiar with the struggles presented to high school students when applying to universities, thus, she has made it her mission to assist students regardless of background or circumstance to help them succeed in school and life.
Ms. Marquez likes to live her life by a quote from a famous doctor who once said “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” That was, of course, Dr. Seuss. She plans on instilling this mindset in her students because she wants them to understand the importance of education.
In her free time Ms. Marquez enjoys traveling, going to concerts, and spending time with friends and family.
Gabriela Ayala
Students and Families: CLICK HERE to connect with Ms. Ayala!
Gabriela Ayala is incredibly excited to be returning to Thomas Jefferson High School to serve their amazing community and students!
Ms. Ayala was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and is a Dallas ISD Alum herself, from Skyline High School. She then went on to pursue a Bachelors from Texas A&M University majoring in International Studies and two minors in Spanish, and Tourism Management. As a first generation Latina herself, she is hoping to impact the lives of other Dallas ISD students, with hands-on advising for their future. Ms. Ayala believes post secondary education should be available to all students and is here to help encourage this.
Some of her interests include outdoor walks, traveling, farmers markets, reading, and coffee shops.
Heriberto Cano Caro
Students and Families: CLICK HERE to connect with Mr. Caro!
Heriberto Caro is excited to be an ASP College Advisor at Thomas Jefferson High School. He grew up in West Dallas and graduated from Skyline High School. He is a first generation graduate from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelors in Business Administration in Supply Chain Management.
Before joining the Academic Success Program, Heriberto spent four years in the corporate world working in the logistics industry where he managed the transportation of orders for international customers. Heriberto left the corporate world because he realized that he wanted to work for an organization that values human impact rather than quantitative efficiency. Heriberto believes that education provides students the opportunity to foster self-actualization and believes his mission in life is to help people reach their full potential via higher education.
In his spare time, Heriberto likes to train in boxing, write in his notebook, practice improv at the local comedy club, and read books about psychology or philosophy.