Houston, TX September 23, 2003

Project GRAD Houston Welcomes a
New Executive Director and a
Senior Director of Academic Programs

Project GRAD Houston, a nonprofit organization that has been rated as one of the top school reform models in the United States and currently serving over 48,000 students in 73 schools in the Houston Independent School District (HISD), announced today the selection of a new administrative team.   Project GRAD Houston has partnered with HISD with since 1993.

Roy Hughes was appointed the new Executive Director of Project GRAD Houston. Roy has an extensive background in business, most recently as a Partner with the Forte Group, a management consulting firm. Other experiences include his serving as the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Program Development and Budget in Washington, D.C. Roy graduated from and was an Assistant Professor at the US Naval Academy. He received his graduate degree in International Relations from American University.  Roy currently serves as an officer on several local boards including the Washington on Westcott Board of Directors. He previously served on the Board of Trustees Museum of Fine Arts, Board of Directors Houston Pops Orchestra, Board of Directors Junior Achievement, and Board of Directors Alley Theatre.

Ann Stiles was appointed the Senior Director of Academic Programs. Ann has been with Project GRAD since 1997, most recently as the Director of Mathematics for Project GRAD USA.   Prior to joining the Project GRAD organization, Ann served as a classroom teacher in HISD for several years. Before becoming a teacher, Ann worked in the fields of accounting and finance. She received her degree from the University of St. Thomas.

Both Roy and Ann look forward to furthering the mission of Project GRAD Houston – to ensure a quality public education for all children in economically disadvantaged communities, to increase high school graduation rates, and to prepare graduates for success in college.