Hello, my name is Danica and I am first and foremost a high energy, creative risk-taker who specializes in human-centered distance learning/teaching for both adult and child learners, social-emotional curriculum design, educational technology and edutainment product development, startup and non-profit leadership and relationship building with school districts, community partners, non-profits and foundations with the goal of effectively maximizing efforts to help remove barriers and propel communities and schools forward.I have dedicated my professional life to establishing and maintaining a high social impact with local and national school districts, teachers, students and families in hopes of creating upward momentum and lasting change in at-risk communities. After a successful and wildly proud 12 year run at teaching elementary school at some of San Antonio's toughest schools, I made the big leap and tough decision to exit from the classroom, motivated by the possibility of having an even greater impact within the communities I served. Stars aligned, and I was connected to a small circle of San Antonio's best and brightest entrepreneurs, philanthropists, advertisers, marketers and creatives, including San Antonio's own local treasure, Lionel Sosa. Brainstorming sessions began about how we could best help San Antonio succeed, ideas were on fire and before we knew it, our new EdTech non-profit, Yes! Our Kids Can was born. Yes! Our Kids Can's mission was to disrupt the cycle of generational poverty by creating a fun, effective, digital learning program teaching kids social emotional learning, soft skills and instilling higher education attainment expectations. I became the Director of Curriculum and oversaw the development of classroom curriculum and educational tie-ins throughout all digital content, as well as assisting in marketing and sales to school districts. Like many start-ups, the environment was fast-paced, ever changing and we all wore many hats. Although my main job was to oversee the curriculum team, see projects through to completion and write creative curriculum and entertaining scripts for our animated characters, what I realized I loved most was networking, presenting, training, fundraising and collaborating with other fantastic individuals and organizations all working toward one goal, to create the largest social impact possible through a cohort of change agents. Together we grew an idea into a company that is affecting measurable change with the multitude of school districts it serves. 10,000 kids and counting!