Anah Wiersema (Director of Program Strategy)

Tatiana (Anah) Wiersema has twenty years of public education experience in Wisconsin and Texas, ten in the classroom, and another decade as a school administrator. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin. 

The majority of her administrative career was at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders; a nationally-ranked 6-12 all-girls public school focused on college access and STEM programming for under-served students. She began as an assistant principal and eventually became the Academic Director there, leading the campus’ project-based learning, MakerEd, and SEL initiatives. Most recently, Anah led Magnolia Montessori For All as their principal, one of Texas’s first public Montessori schools.   

She is well-versed in many school models and passionate about innovative programs that increase student autonomy and offer hands-on, interdisciplinary learning.  Her experience as a student and an educator has made Anah an advocate for high-quality public schools and the power they have to change the lives of children and communities.  

Highlights

• As a new Principal, Anah facilitated safe, in-person learning for 100% of students despite ongoing Covid19 challenges 
• 100% of graduates during Anah’s nine years at Ann Richards were accepted into four-year universities. Over 60% were the first in their family to attend.
• Anah led a team that received 70 million dollars in bond funding to design and build a national model school for PBL education and college access for underserved communities.
• Anah led Research & Design for cutting edge programming, including a completely personalized Monday schedule for all students that allowed them to create their day based on their needs individually
• Anah has been a speaker on Project Based Learning and Maker Ed at many national conferences, including SXSWedu, National Coalition for Girls Schools, and Project Lead the Way