Rachel Vargas, M.A.
Field Manager, CIS-SA
Rachel Vargas is a native Texan with a heart for helping young people discover their path to success. She has trained and coached individuals and organizations on Conflict Management, Organizational Leadership, and Restorative Practices in Schools. As a part of the CIS National DEI Implementation team, Rachel also leads the efforts in Advancing Racial Equity in Education and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion commitment for CIS-San Antonio. She longs for the day when punitive systems of oppression are re-designed and restorative mindsets return to our sacred land. Rachel has nearly a decade of experience in educational non-profit in K-12 schools. She is also a Doctoral candidate for Organizational Leadership at Abilene Christian University, where she researches Restorative Practices implementation and training. Beyond her professional identity, Rachel is a wife, mom, sister, and daughter, who loves outdoor camping, retro arcades, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and three pets.
Session Presenter for...
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Restorative Practices
Shelly Bosse, LMSW, MA
Community Education and Engagement Manager, CIS-SA
Shelly has worked for CIS-SA for over 10 years. She is a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) and has over 20 years experience in the field. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in Theatre. Shelly is a Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Instructor and a Trust-Based Based Relational Invention (TBRI) Practitioner through the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University. She has been trained in Mindfulness and is well versed in Trauma Informed Practices.
Session Presenter for..
- Youth Mental Health First Aid
- Trauma Informed Care
Kim Sayers, LPC-S
Clinical Project Director, CIS-SA
Kim has worked for Communities In Schools of San Antonio for over 13 years and is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. She has over 11 years of counseling experience, including over four years of experience in supervising LPC Associates. All of her work has been with at-risk youth and their families and has included assisting teachers and administrators in how to appropriately respond to their student’s unique and challenging behavioral and emotional needs. She is well versed in Trauma-Informed practices and is a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner through the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University. She also has specialized training in Mindfulness and Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques. She has been conducting Ethics trainings internally with CIS-SA staff for over four years and understands the unique ethical issues that counselors must face, but especially in a school-setting.
Session Presenter for..
- Ethics
Gustavo Gonzales
Site Coordinator, CIS-SA
Gustavo Gonzales Jr. is a Site Coordinator for CIS-SA with over 15 years of program experience in the field of working with diverse students from multiple school districts throughout San Antonio. In addition to providing services to students as a Site Coordinator, Gustavo is a lead facilitator for the (XY-Zone) Male Leadership initiative and has been the CISSA H.E.B Foundation camp lead coordinator team for 10 years. Overall, Gustavo has a combined 20 years experience working with at-risk youth in South Texas and has received additional training in Cultural Competency specifically for working with mentors / mentees to better understand diverse students of different backgrounds. Gustavo has presented to and trained many professionals in the area of leadership, mentoring diverse students of color, and facilitating groups / low ropes activities. In 2000, Gustavo earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Texas A & M- Corpus Christi where he was inducted into the National Sociological Honor Society a When he is not working hard with inner city at risk youth, Gustavo enjoys spending time in the outdoors, celebrating with family, and trying hard not to be the worst fisherman in Texas.
Session Presenter for..
- Understanding Cultural Competency
Frank B. Cardenas, LMSW
Manager of Early Childhood Well Being, Family Service Assocation
Fred has worked for over 36 years in various nonprofit and educational institutions. Work experience includes service provision and/or supervision/management in various nonprofit organizations including Family Service Association, Childsafe, Daughters of Charity Services, Brighton Center, the Mexican American Unity Council, San Antonio Independent School District, OLLU, the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation, and Roy Maas Youth Alternatives. Primary focus of work included the provision of prevention, mental health, social and educational services to young children, youth, and their families, particularly those at risk and/or affected by behavioral or mental health problems, trauma, and other special needs.
Fred also served as adjunct faculty at University of Texas at San Antonio and Our Lady of the Lake University, teaching graduate and undergraduate classes in social work. Fred Serves as an ex-officio board member for Voices for Children of San Antonio, and has volunteered at various nonprofit settings. Fred’s primary areas of expertise include early childhood mental health consultation, trauma informed intervention for young children and their families, special education advocacy, training and coaching of teachers and other early childhood education providers, and nonprofit leadership.
Session Presenter for..
- Self Care: The Last Thing We Address- Developing Our Own Self-Care Plan
Tami Logsdon, LPC-S
Program Director, Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas
Tami is the Program Director of the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas, located in San Antonio, TX. The Bereavement Center provides peer support groups for grieving families, grief-focused individual counseling for children, adolescents and their caregivers, bereavement camps, and school-based counseling and peer support groups.
Tami is a Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor with over 10-years’ experience in bereavement counseling with children, adolescents, and adults in addition to working with children and adolescents in inpatient, school, and detention settings. Skills include assessment, individual and group psychotherapy, case management, treatment planning, intern supervision, program development. Specialties include grief and loss, narrative therapy, Trauma and Grief Component Therapy.
Session Presenter for..
- Grief Talk- Working With Grieving Students
Maria Hoenigman, MA
Senior SIte Coordinator at L.E.E. High School
Maria Hoenigman, MA., has been with Communities in Schools of San Antonio since
March 2017. She earned a BA in sociology from St. Mary’s University and a Master of
Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy at St. Mary’s University. She has worked in the
non-profit world for more than 15 years with populations ranging from small children to
older adults, supporting their mental health needs. Maria’s passion is to empower
students and families to be successful despite any barriers they come across. In her free time, Maria loves spending time with her husband, and 3 children in their home, laying
on the hammock, and baking.
Melina Acosta, LMSW
Senior Site Coordinator at Colonial Hills ES
Melina Acosta, LMSW, has been with Communities in Schools of San Antonio since
October 2019. She earned a BA in psychology from UT San Antonio and a Master of Science in Social Work degree from UT Austin. She has worked with children ages 0-13 and finds meaning in helping students and families overcome barriers to success. In her free time, Melina enjoys spending time with friends and family, going to trails, reading, and caring for her pets.
Hilda Macias, BSW
Site Coordinator at Roosevelt HS
Hilda Macias, BSW, has been with Communities in Schools of San Antonio since January 2021. She earned a BSW from Texas State University. Hilda has worked with children of all ages while pursuing her college degree and after completing it. She has supported students with resources that fit in with different areas. Hilda loves to read, watch movies, and listen to music. Most importantly she loves to help her students, family, and friends while giving all the love she can to her fur baby.
David Gauna
Field Manager, CIS-SA
David Gauna has 40 years of experience in the Mental and Social Health field. He has been a Experiential Educational activities “ROPES” (Reality Oriented Physical ExperienceS) facilitator for 36 of those years, working with a wide range of organizations. These include: schools, hospitals, camps, corporate groups, sports organizations, veterans and universities. He is also a High ROPES facilitator 30 years. He has presented at the AEE (Association of Experiential Education) Annual International Conference.
David enjoys doing the Experiential Educational activities with people because it helps them see themselves grow outside their comfort level. They are also having fun not knowing they are out of their comfort zone.
Kim Beauchamp
CIS Site Coordinator at Holmes HS
Kim is going into her 4th year as a Site Coordinator with CCIS-SA. She has a Master’s degree in Social Work from Eastern Washington University. For over 20 years Kim has worked with at risk youth in settings that include juvenile court, youth shelters and k-12. Her experience covers a variety of areas including Parenting classes, Prevention/Intervention work, Victim-Offender Mediation, Life Skills Training and small group facilitation. She is also a certified low ropes facilitator for CISSA and has had the opportunity to lead Ropes activities across San Antonio for multiple school groups, including facilitating Ropes activities at District levels. Kim is currently located at Holmes High School and was recently recognized as CIS-SA’s Employee of the Year for 20-21.
Thomas Bowman
CIS Site Coordinator at Holmes HS
Thomas Bowman is a Site Coordinator at Community In Schools. He received his Bachelor degree in
Sociology from Radford University in 2011. Thomas has been facilitating experiential learning activities
(ROPES) since 2017 and has continued to learn new and different activities to engage youth and adults
in fun and thought-provoking ways. In his free time Thomas enjoys spending time with family and
friends, going to the newest local spots around San Antonio, and playing video games.
Veronica Sandoval, MS, LPC-S
Lead Clinical Caseworker
Veronica Sandoval is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. She has been providing mental health services for a little over 8 years and has been fully licensed for over 5 years. She has provided crisis intervention support and primarily counseling to adults, children and adolescents in shelters, foster care agencies, private practice, and recently school settings. She graduated from Texas A&M University- Kingsville with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 2012 and then enrolled at Texas Woman’s University-Denton where she received her Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2014. She has been with CIS-SA for a little over 3 years and has provided counseling services to students of all ages with high mental health needs. She currently is serving as the Basecampus Project Coordinator through a collaboration with Clarity Child Guidance Center, East Central ISD and CIS-SA to provide services of wellness coaching and consultation to teachers and staff about the mental health needs in their school campuses. Lastly, She has a passion in implementing expressive arts and play techniques during counseling and is a strong advocate for the mental health wellness of individuals in the community and in the school setting.
Jonathan DeJesus, MA, LPC, NCC
Clinical Caseworker, CIS-SA
Jonathan De Jesus, MA, LPC, NCC is a Project Access Clinical Caseworker with Communities In Schools of San Antonio. Jonathan has a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Guidance from Texas A&M University San Antonio and has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2017. He has worked for Communities In Schools of San Antonio for about 8 years, starting as a site coordinator working primarily with middle school students. He has been in the Clinical Caseworker role in primarily rural districts for the past two and a half years, most currently with Devine ISD providing mental health services for students.
Nattasha Wilkerson
STEM Director, CIS-SA
The CIS-SA STEM department is led by CIS-SA STEM Director Natasha Wilkerson. Natasha holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University and is the co-founder of Vivify, a K-12 STEM curriculum company that provides resources to STEM educators. Prior to CIS-SA, Natasha worked as an engineer for the Department of Defense, including nanomaterials research, Navy radar electromagnetic interferences testing, and satellite spectrum management.
Session Presenter for..
- Launching Youth Into STEM