UPD Project Director Joel Harris leads large scale initiatives at the district, state, and national levels for UPD. Joel founded a nonprofit funding engine for education innovation in San Antonio public schools called City Education Partners. After completing the KIPP School Leadership Program at New York University and in 2009, Joel founded KIPP University Prep High School in San Antonio. Joel has taught multiple subjects for grades 6-12 in district and charter schools in Tennessee and Mississippi. Joel has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, the New Teacher of the Year of Southaven High School, and Rhodes College Outstanding Young Alumnus. In addition to living in and serving on multiple boards in Texas, Joel is most importantly a husband and a father of five.
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