Equity Planning: People Over Process

Senior Planner, AISD Abigail Weiss, AICP is a Senior Planner at Austin ISD. She provides data analysis and graphics for the Planning and Asset Management Department. Recently, she has been involved in projects relating to the Long-range Plan including creation and implementation. Prior to working at Austin ISD she worked … Read More

Senior Planner, AISD Abigail Weiss, AICP is a Senior Planner at Austin ISD. She provides data analysis and graphics for the Planning and Asset Management Department. Recently, she has been involved in projects relating to the Long-range Plan including creation and implementation. Prior to working at Austin ISD she worked in the public and private sector in Jacksonville, FL. Abigail holds a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University where she focused on GIS. Read Less

Director of Planning, AISD "I am a Planner with a passion for schools, learners, and education. After obtaining degrees in both Architecture and Psychology, I received a Masters of Science in Human Environment Relations concentrating in Facility Planning & Management from Cornell University, focusing my research on K-12 learning environments. … Read More

Director of Planning, AISD "I am a Planner with a passion for schools, learners, and education. After obtaining degrees in both Architecture and Psychology, I received a Masters of Science in Human Environment Relations concentrating in Facility Planning & Management from Cornell University, focusing my research on K-12 learning environments. In 2017 I lived in Melbourne, Australia as a Fulbright Postgraduate Scholar. There I collaborated with the Learning Environments Applied Research Network (LEaRN) at the University of Melbourne (https://msd.unimelb.edu.au/learning-environments-applied-research-network-learn) to study the design and use of innovative learning environments. This was part of a larger grant, Innovative Learning Environments and Teacher Change (http://www.iletc.com.au/). I continued this research through a PhD at the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Education. Check out my website to learn more: www.schooldesignresearch.com" Read Less

Community Engagement Project Specialist, AISD "Gloria Vera-Bedolla has extensive experience in community engagement, her community organizing has led her to be an advocate for social justice. Gloria began her career in Austin ISD as a Parent Support Specialist at Brooke Elementary School and currently holds the position of Family Engagement … Read More

Community Engagement Project Specialist, AISD "Gloria Vera-Bedolla has extensive experience in community engagement, her community organizing has led her to be an advocate for social justice. Gloria began her career in Austin ISD as a Parent Support Specialist at Brooke Elementary School and currently holds the position of Family Engagement Coordinator for Austin Independent School District. Her visionary community engagement strategies in Austin were instrumental in the passage of the historic 2022 school bond for Austin ISD. Gloria received a special recognition from Austin ISD called the Golden RAVE for her work during the bond campaign from Superintendent Dr. Anthony Mays. She was also nominated for a Salute! award for 2022 Classified Staff of The Year. She is a graduate of Leadership Austin, a program that develops community leaders. She received the 2021 Habla Con Orgullo award for Latino Community Leader-Leadership, Advocacy, and Action from HABLA, received the New Leaders Council's Community Resilience Champion award for work done during the pandemic, and was previously recognized by Austin ISD Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde for her tireless support and leadership in response to winter storm Uri. Vera-Bedolla is a community organizer and social justice advocate and works to support LGBTQIA+, Black, Brown, Indigenous people, and other communities who have been historically underserved. Gloria is a native Texan, a proud Latina, a wife, and a mother of 3 children, she is committed to public education and the success of all children. Gloria's strong commitment to training tomorrow's leaders drives her to show up as her best self everyday. Her favorite quote is from Ram Dass, We’re all just walking each other home." Read Less

National K-12 Planning Leader, DLR Group "Korey is a Senior Associate at DLR Group, an integrated design firm with offices across the United States, based in Chicago. As an architect and planner, Korey primarily works with K-12 school districts, developing master plans to help districts align their facilities with their … Read More

National K-12 Planning Leader, DLR Group "Korey is a Senior Associate at DLR Group, an integrated design firm with offices across the United States, based in Chicago. As an architect and planner, Korey primarily works with K-12 school districts, developing master plans to help districts align their facilities with their educational readiness. Additionally, she is a member of the Educational Research and Design Team at the firm, which focuses on research in K-12 education as it relates to design and planning. Before joining DLR Group, Korey held positions at Stantec, RNL, and Path21 Architecture & Planning. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and is certified with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Recently, she was elected to the AIA National Strategic Council as an At-Large Representative. Korey volunteers with AIA Chicago locally and is a member of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. At a state level, she serves on the executive board for the AIA Illinois Emerging Professionals group. She is also an executive team member of the University of Colorado Denver Alumni Board. Korey has been elected to the American Institute of Architects National Board of Directors as an At-Large Director for the 2023-2025 term. In this role, she will support and promote the mission, vision, strategic plan, and policies of the AlA with 16 other members. She is an advocate for design, for equity in our profession, and for addressing issues of mental health. Her voice will add value to the AIA Board of Directors and in our profession for years to come. Korey has received numerous honors, including a 2018 AIA National Young Architects Award and a 2017 Building Design + Construction “40 Under 40” Award. She also won an AIA Colorado Leadership Award in 2016. Korey holds master’s degrees in Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning, which she earned in 2013 from the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver. She received a BS in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2011. Currently, Korey is pursuing her MBA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a focus on two areas: global challenges in business, and entrepreneurship and strategic innovation." Read Less