E3 Alliance

08/28/2026

E3 Alliance’s Community Engagement Manager Maria Rosas spent time with our campus partners during back-to-school events this month. Here are a few moments that stood out to her.

Visiting school-year kickoff events this month was deeply inspiring. From teachers setting up welcoming classrooms to principals connecting with students and families, the dedication and care across our schools were evident everywhere we went.

A few favorite moments:

Cooling off at “Paletas with Palacios, where families came to converse with their principal while their little ones enjoyed a popsicle on a HOT Texas evening.

Leading professional development on strengthening community and family partnerships and hearing teachers share how they plan to engage parents as partners, collaborators, and assets in their students' education.

Watching a second grader translate for their parents was a touching reminder of me translating for my mother while growing up.

Much gratitude to districts (Lockhart ISD & Pflugerville ISD) and campus partners for including E3 Alliance in this busy and meaningful month! Wishing all teachers, leaders, students, and families a very successful and fruitful school year!

And a special shout-out to our E3 Alliance team — Nwando, Gregory, Doug, and Vanessa — for supporting our campus partners as they prepare for their first day of school!

08/25/2026

Here’s to a new school year filled with learning, growth, and new possibilities! 📚

E3 Alliance wishes students, families, and educators across Central Texas a strong start and a great year ahead.

08/24/2026

We're excited to welcome Briana A. López to E3 Alliance!

Briana is our newest Research Analyst, with many years of conducting applied research with American Institutes for Research, Search Institute, and Youth Rise Texas.

She is deeply committed to ensuring that every child enters school equipped to learn, grow, and thrive. She holds a PhD and a master’s degree in human development and family sciences from The University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in child psychology from the University of North Florida.

Please join us in welcoming Briana to E3 Alliance!

08/13/2026

E3 Alliance is saddened by the passing of Dr. Ed Sharpe, a longtime education and community leader and an important part of the E3 Alliance story from the very beginning.

In 2005, Ed and our founder, Susan Dawson, sat together at The University of Texas at Austin Faculty Club and sketched on the back of a napkin what an organization dedicated to education systems change might look like. That idea ultimately became E3 Alliance.

Susan loved to tell that story.

Ed continued to help shape the organization, reviewing Susan’s early plans and serving on the E3 Alliance board for nearly a decade.

His contributions to E3 Alliance were just one part of an extraordinary 47-year career with UT Austin and UT System and decades of service to organizations throughout Central Texas. Along the way, Ed earned the respect of many for his leadership and wisdom and the affection of those who knew his kindness, wit, and friendship.

Our thoughts are with his wife, Molly, his sons, Will and Stuart, and all who knew and loved him.

Thank you, Ed, for helping imagine what E3 Alliance could become and for your many years of service to our community.

08/11/2026

We're looking forward to this candid conversation among amazing education leaders. Please consider voting for our SXSW session! Link below.

PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.

08/11/2026

What if one of Central Texas' greatest workforce resources is already sitting in our classroom?

Central Texas will need more than 33,000 new advanced manufacturing workers by 2030. At the same time, thousands of local students graduate from high school each year ready to build their future.

Connecting these two realities takes more than policy; House Bills 3 and 8 are important legislative actions. Employers, K-12 schools, colleges, and workforce partners must work together to create clear pathways from classrooms to career.

This can start with a classroom visit, grow through an internship or mentorship, and lead to a student graduating with a valuable credential and a full-time job offer.

The latest article from our Director of Career Pathways and Workforce Attainment Sara Salem looks at the opportunity in front of us and why investing in local students is essential to building Central Texas' advanced manufacturing workforce.

Read the full piece: https://e3alliance.org/about/news/texas-hidden-talent-pipeline-why-industry-must-see-k-12-as-its-workforce-of-tomorrow/

08/04/2026

With profound sadness, we share the passing of our visionary founder, Susan Dawson. Susan was a force of nature—an engineer turned social entrepreneur who transformed the landscape of education and healthcare in Central Texas

From increasing the regional STEM career pipeline by over 910% to launching the Susan Dawson Big Pink Bus to provide life-saving cancer screenings, Susan’s unbreakable and relentless courage and tenacity touched countless lives.

Susan is a true Texas legend whose legacy of data-driven change and relentless courage will benefit our community for generations to come.

https://e3alliance.org/about/press-release/e3-alliance-announces-the-passing-of-beloved-leader-and-founder-susan-dawson/

Celebration of life service details will be shared as they become available.

08/03/2026

Building a strong advanced manufacturing workforce takes regional collaboration.

That’s exactly what happened last week!

Leaders from industry, education, workforce development, economic development, and community organizations came together to examine Central Texas’ advanced manufacturing ecosystem and explore how greater alignment can strengthen the region’s talent pipeline.

Together, participants reviewed regional data, shared a vision for a more coordinated regional partnership, and offered valuable perspectives on a draft regional model and structure. The conversation underscored the value of building on Austin Regional Manufacturers Association established industry leadership while strengthening coordination across education, workforce, and economic development.

The ideas and feedback shared will help inform the next phase of this work and strengthen how partners can move forward together.

Thank you to our co-conveners Austin Regional Manufacturers Association (ARMA), Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area, and the City of Austin Government for bringing this important conversation together.

Manufacturing

07/28/2026

E3 Alliance is hiring for a Vice President of Finance and Operations! Apply by August 10, 2026.

We’re a Texas-based education collaborative that partners with school districts, higher education institutions, businesses, other nonprofits, and policymakers to drive education systems change.

You can apply for the position here: https://austincc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/details/E3-Alliance-Vice-President-of-Finance-and-Operations_R-9650?q=E3+Alliance

Position Overview:

E3 Alliance is entering a pivotal moment of continued growth, bold aspirations, and the advancement of its mission and vision. The incoming VPFO will be a key strategic partner to the President/Executive Director and senior leadership team and will play a pivotal role in shaping E3’s long-term financial direction and ensuring the organization is equipped to meet its growing ambitions. They will lead the development and ex*****on of financial, operational, and systems strategies aligned with mission and strategic goals.

The VPFO will be a proactive thought partner, advising the ED and Board of Directors on financial planning, risk management, and operational efficiencies. They will oversee finance, human resources, operations, and IT, ensuring the organization remains agile, effective, and resilient.

More details about the position, including required skills and salary range, are available here: https://e3alliance.org/about/careers/

07/10/2026

We're excited to welcome Douglas Stefaniak to E3 Alliance!

Douglas is our newest Development Manager, with many years of experience in the non-profit sector. He will work on building relationships with individuals, corporations, and community partners to better connect the broader community to our public classrooms.

As a first-generation college graduate, he believes deeply in the transformative power of schools. He holds a Bachelor's degree from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a Master's degree from University at Austin.

Please join us in welcoming Douglas to E3 Alliance!