Marcus Leadership Academy has assembled a faculty that is committed to create together a learning community that knows no limits to the LEADERSHIP potential and academic SUCCESS of every student, every staff member, every day!

Daniel Calvo

Principal

Daniel Calvo is proud to join Marcus Leadership Academy as a Principal on its 60th anniversary. He is proudly transitioning to take the reigns and continue the legacy of greatness and commitment to cultural and academic excellence that distinguishes Marcus Leadership Academy. Read More ->

Tarannum Khandekar

Counselor

Tarannum Khandekar is excited to join Dallas ISD at Marcus Leadership Academy as a counselor. Her goal is to ensure equitable academic, career and social/emotional development opportunities for all students. She obtained her master’s in educational psychology from Texas A&M University.  Read More ->

Lindsey Aldridge

Lighthouse Coordinator

Ms. Aldridge began her career in Dallas Independent School District right out of college. She started teaching 3rd grade at John J. Pershing Elementary. She has worked for several elementary schools around the area but has been here at Herbert Marcus teaching Gifted and Talented students for 13 years. Read More ->

Esseiny Alanis

Demonstration Teacher

Ms. Alanis is originally from a village named Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico but she grew up in Pleasant Grove. Her paternal grandparents were migrant farm workers through the "Braseros Program" who only had a third grade education. At the age of 5 years old Ms. Alanis came to Dallas ISD as a newcomer to Cuellar Elementary for Kindergarten, Pleasant Grove Elementary for 1st-6th Grade. Ms. Alanis is proud of her humble beginnings. She started working at the age of 10 with her maternal grandmother preparing and delivering tamales on Saturdays to purchase clothes from Garage Sales. Her first grade teacher encouraged her to apply to Longfellow Career Exploration Academy Middle School. Her father worked the graveyard shift at Pilgrim's Pride packing chickens, he was a construction worker, a dishwasher while going to barber school, and now he owns a barbershop. Her father's example taught Ms. Alanis the importance of education and therefore she attended the Rosie Sorrells School of Education at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center. She received her Bachelor's in Bilingual Education to empower students just like her teachers empowered her when she was labeled as an "at risk" student. She pursued her MBA in International Business from Texas A&M International University. She graduated from the Region One "ILP3" Integrated Leadership Principal Preparation Program. Ms. Alanis was a Reading Instructional Coach and now she serves as the Demo Teacher for Reading at Marcus Leadership Academy.

Emma Bruce

Assistant Principal

Ms. Bruce comes with over 30 years of experience in elementary. Ms. Bruce has taught PreK to 8th grade. She was a Prekindergarten teacher for 18 years, a TAG teacher, Special Education teacher, instructional coach and an elementary Principal. Ms. Bruce has a Bacherlors degree in Costume and Clothing Design and her Masters in Education Administration.

Jose Salas

Demonstration Teacher

Mr. Salas was fortunate to be part of the Alternative Certification program in 2002. Have been privileged to be and Educator ever since. Making a positive impact in our students lives is my driving goal. He has Bachelor in Computer Science with Network Specialty

Blanca Gomez

Campus Records Coordinator

Blanca Gomez's love of helping children and parents led her to Marcus Leadership Academy in November of 2002 when she became Coach's teacher's assistant.  Her attention to detail caught the eye of the Campus Registrar who borrowed Blanca to assist with student records as the CRC assisstant.  Ms. Gomez possesses a knack for understanding each person’s uniqueness which is why she was chosen to be a Pre-K teacher's assistant for many years until landing her current position as the "face" of Marcus Leadership Academy as the front desk Clerk.  Read More ->

Xochilt Garcia

Parent Instructor

Jacqueline Rodriguez

Counselor

Ms. Rodriguez is thankful for the things she have accomplished and helped her be the person she is today. She attended Brookhaven College DCCCD and received her Associate of Arts in Teaching. Then she attended Texas Tech University where she got her Bachelors of Science in Education EC-6 and Texas Womans's University earning her Masters in School Counseling.

Vincent Cleamons

Testing Coordinator

Vincent Cleamons began his teaching career in 2005 as a middle school math teacher in Okmulgee, OK. Since then he has taught grades 4-12, and in 2018, found a home teaching 4th grade math and science at Herbert Marcus Elementary. In 2020, he became the campus Testing Coordinator and currently oversees assessments and logistics. Read More ->

Monica Garcia

Newcomer Coordinator

Mrs. Monica Garcia began her career in education back in 2013 as part of a DISD’s Alternative Certification program. Since then, she has been offering her services as a bilingual teacher at Herbert Marcus Elementary. She is in charge of the newcomers strategic interventions at Marcus Leadership Academy Read More ->

Janet Graham

Office Manager