La Kesha Drinks, Interim Chief of Staff
La Kesha Drinks serves as the Interim Chief Of Staff.
Ms. Drinks has spent her career as an educator serving the Austin ISD community, beginning as a classroom teacher before serving as a campus administrator, Executive Director of School Leadership and Campus Support and most recently, as Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools. She is passionate about creating a culture of support and high expectations for all students. She has a track record of empowering marginalized student groups to achieve high academic excellence through systematic support of the whole child and partnerships with their families.
As a result of her effective leadership, Ms. Drinks received the Austin Independent School District's Darlene Westbrook Leadership Award and has been selected to participate as a panelist during the keynote address at the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) Midwinter Conference. In 2020 and 2024, Ms. Drinks was awarded the University of Texas at Austin’s Dr. Nolan Estes Leadership & Ascension Award. Ms. Drinks is an active volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Central Texas and was the founding troop leader for Troop 598, which was established to provide scouting opportunities to the girls attending Guerrero-Thompson Elementary. She was also a founding member of the Capital Area Alliance of Black School Educators and volunteers with various other organizations in her community
She earned a master's degree in education administration from Concordia University at Austin and a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is currently a doctoral student in the Cooperative Superintendency Program at the University of Texas at Austin.
Contact: lakesha.drinks@austinisd.org
Ali Ghilarducci, Chief of Communications and Community Engagement
Ali Ghilarducci leads Austin ISD’s Department of Communications and Community
Engagement, which includes AISD.TV, Community Engagement and Outreach, Community Events and Marketing, Family Support, Media Relations, Social Media, Translation and Interpretation, and Web Services.
Ms. Ghilarducci first joined the district in 2017, serving on and later leading the Community Engagement team as assistant director. She’s led various district engagement efforts, including the annual Austin ISD budget and the 2017 and 2022 Bond Programs.
Ms. Ghilarducci holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and international relations from Scripps College in Claremont, CA.
Ms. Ghilarducci’s work is guided by the belief that we make better decisions when they are made with and not for those who are affected, and that engaged families and communities create stronger schools and student outcomes. Her goal is to create a greater sense of belonging and connection to the district and our schools.
In her free time, she enjoys reading fiction, social dancing, existential conversations and loving on the neighborhood cat.
Contact: alison.ghilarducci@austinisd.org
Brandi Hosack, Chief of Talent Strategy
Brandi Hosack leads Talent Strategy, which encompasses Talent Strategy Systems and Employee Development & Sustainability. The Talent Strategy team supports the recruitment, development and retention of high-quality, equity-focused, diverse teachers and staff to meet the needs of all students. In addition, Talent Strategy develops programs and initiatives to ensure the well-being of each of Austin ISD's 11,000 employees.
Ms. Hosack brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this position. She has served as the Assistant Superintendent of Talent Strategy Systems and the Assistant Superintendent of Employee Development & Sustainability. She joined Austin ISD in 2004 and has also served as principal at McCallum High School and Akins High School. Ms. Hosack has a Master of Education degree in educational administration from The University of Texas and a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University.
Contact: brandi.hosack@austinisd.org | Follow: @WeAreAISD
Joshua Jeon, Special Assistant to the Superintendent
Joshua Jeon serves as the Special Assistant to the Superintendent. Before assuming this role, Jeon served 11 years in Austin ISD in the following roles: Executive Director of School Programs in Student Support Services; and, assistant principal, math department chair, and instructional coach at Eastside Early College High School.
Jeon began his teaching career in Chicago Public Schools after finishing a Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering and Masters in Teaching Secondary Math. While in Chicago, he also taught Quantitative Reasoning as an adjunct at DePaul University. Before teaching, he was a web and database programmer for Northwestern University.
Jeon is a proud father of two secondary students in Austin ISD.
Katrina Montgomery, Interim Chief Financial Officer
Katrina Montgomery brings over 30 years of accounting and finance expertise, over two decades of strategic leadership experience and a proven track record as a transformational, people-focused financial leader to Austin ISD. Montgomery excels at cultivating tight-knit, high-performing teams and creating opportunities in underserved communities for students to achieve success.
Montgomery received her B.S. in Accounting from Grambling State University and her MBA from University of Phoenix. She has served Austin ISD for three years as Assistant Superintendent of Finance. Before serving at Austin ISD, she was interim VP of Administration and Finance and Controller at Huston-Tillotson University.
Montgomery is the Vice-President of the Capital Area Texas Association of School Business Officials. She is a board member with the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce. She was also appointed as the Austin Chapter’s Issuer Ambassador for the 27th Annual Women in Public Finance Conference.
Outside of work, Mrs. Montgomery is fiercely committed to her family. She and her husband Michael have two children.
Contact: katrina.montgomery@austinisd.org
Dr. Jacob Reach, Chief of Governmental Relations & Board Services
Dr. Jacob Reach was appointed by the superintendent to lead a new office to support trustees and the district. Dr. Reach has 15 years working as an education professional, most recently serving as the district’s chief of staff.
He began his career in Lubbock ISD at Alderson, a middle school identified as Title 1. While at Alderson, he started a chess program for students, who won the inaugural Lubbock ISD chess tournament that following year.
He also worked for the Texas Education Agency, where he oversaw the grant programs for the state. He has worked for AISD for 10 years in various leadership roles in finance, the school's office, and now leading our legal office, governmental services and board services.
When not working, he enjoys fly fishing, and will commonly visit fishing spots in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado. He and his wife have two girls, one who will attend Bear Creek Elementary this fall.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and sociology and a Master of Public Administration degree from Texas Tech University. He received his doctorate of education from Northeastern University in Boston.
Contact: jacob.reach@austinisd.org
Oscar Rodriguez, Chief Technology Officer
As chief technology officer for the Austin Independent School District, Oscar Rodriguez is driving a digital transformation across all information systems districtwide. Under his leadership, the district’s cybersecurity is being significantly enhanced and work efficiency is improving to benefit all staff, families and students.
Rodriguez has dedicated his whole career to education and brings more than fifteen years of experience to Austin ISD. He first joined the district in 2021, serving as the executive director of enterprise applications before taking on the role of CTO in 2022.
Prior to joining Austin ISD, Rodriguez worked with the Dallas Independent School District for nine years, serving in various capacities, including the role of director of business operations for the district’s transportation department.
Rodriguez has also spent time in the classroom. He began his career in education as a math teacher for Texan Can Academies. He is a first generation college graduate and believes in the impact education can have on students and their families.
Rodriguez is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree from Texas Christian University (TCU). He also holds an MBA in information systems and operations from TCU, an MS in global e-learning from Texas A&M University-Commerce and a BA in operations management from the University of Texas Arlington.
Contact: oscar.rodriguez@austinisd.org
Wayne Sneed, Chief of Police
Wayne Sneed serves as the district’s chief of police. He leads 76 full-time police officers, including 43 School Resource Officers (SROs), eight patrol officers and four detectives. There are two SROs assigned to every high school campus and one SRO assigned to every middle school campus. The department also employs 75 civilian staff, including dispatchers, office support staff, and unarmed security guard personnel.
Chief Sneed has been with the Austin ISD Police Department for the past 10 years, most recently leading the mental health and community engagement unit. He also teaches law enforcement at Texas State University. He has more than 40 years of experience, including as a former police officer in Austin and San Marcos.
Sneed also served as a Special Agent with the National Insurance Crime Bureau, and served as Director of Internal Affairs, Office of the Inspector General with Texas Health and Human Services.
Contact: wayne.sneed@austinisdpolice.org | Follow: @AISDPolice
Christine Steenport, Chief of Operations
Christine Steenport has been with AISD for 10 years. Previously, she has served as the Assistant Superintendent of Operations and as the Executive Director of Food Service & Warehouse Operations for AISD.
During her time at Austin ISD, she has strengthened the Operations teams of Austin ISD by reestablishing organizational structure within various departments. She’s aided organizations such as FEMA, Red Cross and the City of Austin in providing relief to Austin ISD students and families after emergencies and natural disasters such as water boil notices and coordinating refugee shelter sites from Hurricane Harvey and Winter Storm Uri.
As a mom of two daughters that are Austin ISD elementary students, Christine is able to merge her points of view as a staff member and a parent to provide creative ideas, community perspectives and dynamic team support into the business and operations of Austin ISD.
Christine holds a bachelor's degree in Nutrition/Dietetics and a minor in Business from Texas State University.
Contact: christine.steenport@austinisd.org
Kenneth M. Walker II, General Counsel
Kenneth M. Walker II leads Austin ISD’s legal function as its General Counsel. In this capacity, Walker is responsible for representing Austin ISD in state and federal courts, ensuring legal compliance and providing advice and counsel on myriad matters affecting Austin ISD’s core business—educating students.
Walker began his tenure at Austin ISD in September 2023, hailing from Memphis, Tennessee where he served as the General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer for Tennessee’s largest school district. Walker is dedicated to serving students and families and has used his legal training to ensure exceptional outcomes for students.
Walker received his Juris Doctor degree from Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law – the University of Memphis and his Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Memphis. Walker is licensed in multiple state and federal courts where he has achieved successful results on behalf of his clients.
Contact: kenneth.walker@austinisd.org