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Martha Bujanda Joins Catch Up & Read as Director of Strategic Impact

We are thrilled to announce that Martha Bujanda has joined the Catch Up & Read team as the Director of Strategic Impact. A distinguished figure in the Texas education sector, Martha’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.

Growing up as both an immigrant and an English language learner, Martha has firsthand experience of the challenges many students face.

A product of the Texas public school system, she has been deeply committed to empowering students. Starting her career in Dallas ISD in 2006 as a bilingual teacher, Martha quickly rose to district leadership due to her unwavering commitment and innovative teaching methods under her leadership as principal.

Under her leadership, both Gooch Elementary and Marsh Middle School underwent radical transformations. She championed a data-driven culture, urged students to take ownership of their learning, and emphasized best instructional practices. The outcome? A staggering double-digit gain in state assessment results, transforming an "Improvement Required" rating to "Met Standard" with three distinctions in just a single year.

Martha's core belief is that every student, regardless of their background, deserves access to the opportunities that come with a top-tier education. Her educational credentials are commendable. She is an alumnus of the University of Dallas, where she earned both her B.A. and M.B.A., and she also holds an M.Ed. from Southern Methodist University.

Martha's 17-year-long association with Dallas ISD will further our deep partnership with the district. Join us in welcoming Martha Bujanda to Catch Up & Read. Her wealth of experience and passionate commitment to education promises a brighter future for our students. Welcome aboard, Martha!

SEND CAROL A WARM WELCOME

Announcing Carol Pierce Goglia as New President & CEO

Dear Friends:

Catch Up & Read (CAR) is thrilled to announce that local youth and education advocate, philanthropic leader and positive change agent, Carol Pierce Goglia has been named President & CEO, effective January 5, 2023.

“We believe Carol is the right person at the right time to oversee and expand CAR's outreach to equip the children in our community to read on grade level by the third grade. Based on our results, we are well positioned to meet growing demand to train teachers with science-based strategies that maximize reading growth for every child,” says Catherine LeBlanc, founder of Catch Up & Read.

Carol comes to Catch Up & Read from United to Learn where she served as President and Strategic Impact Advisor. While Carol was at United to Learn, the education nonprofit doubled its footprint expanding its partnerships from 27 to 50 Dallas ISD elementary schools.

“Given the reading crisis we’re facing as a nation, there is nothing more important than investing in our children and their teachers,” says Goglia. “I’m honored to join Catch Up & Read to advance their unique and proven model to grow more young readers who will create a bright future for themselves, their families and our region.”

Before her time at United to Learn, Carol oversaw all marketing and communications for Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) in Dallas, Texas. Among her responsibilities was leading marketing for CFT’s North Texas Giving Day. The nation’s (and world’s) largest community wide giving event grew tenfold during her tenure and has become a philanthropic movement that defines the generosity of our region. Carol and her team were recognized nationally and locally and was awarded PRNews Marketer of the Year, Dallas-Fort Worth American Marketing Association’s Marketer of the Year and CNM Connect’s Communicator of the Year. Before CFT, Carol worked for a decade in brand marketing at PepsiCo and Frito Lay. Carol holds an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin and a BA from Washington & Lee University. Carol and her husband, Mark, live in Dallas with their three children.

Please join us in welcoming Carol to Catch Up & Read. Her strong and long tenured involvement with our community are assets that we know will be valuable as she leads CAR to the next phase of its growth and in furtherance of our mission.

Bob Dransfield
Chairman of the Board