About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
At RAICES Educational Consulting Group, we are passionate about fostering student success through the empowerment and development of educational leaders. Our team is composed of seasoned professionals with a wealth of experience in instructional leadership, teacher development, and data-driven practices. Meet the dedicated leaders driving our mission forward:
Meet The Team
John Martinez M.Ed
Director of Instruction and Data
John Martinez is the Director of Instruction and Data Driven Practices at RAICES Educational Consulting Group. He also serves as the Senior Assistant Principal of Instruction and T-STEM Director for IDEA Public Schools in Brownsville, Texas. John leads instructional coaching for STEM content areas and develops professional development series for campus-wide implementation. Under his leadership, his campus has consistently earned “A” ratings from the Texas Education Agency.
John began his career as a Teacher for America Corp Member in Mercedes, Texas, where he excelled as an Algebra I Teacher and CX Debate Coach. His students achieved top scores in the district on the Algebra I EOC. He later joined IDEA Public Schools, teaching 8th grade Algebra I and 9th grade Biology, and was soon promoted to Assistant Principal.
John holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and a Principal as Instructional Leader Certification from the Texas SBEC. He specializes in instructional coaching, STEM programming, AP programming, new teacher induction, and data-driven practices.
Eduardo Varela Facio, M.P.H.
Director of Leadership Development
Eduardo Varela Facio, the Director of Leadership Development at RAICES Educational Consulting Group, is also a principal at one of the nation’s highest-performing public charter school districts. He coaches leaders to become high-performing school leaders and make instructional decisions that maximize student achievement.
Eduardo began his career teaching AP Environmental Science at IDEA Frontier College Prep, where his students achieved record-high scores. He has held leadership roles at IDEA Eastside College Prep and IDEA Riverview College Prep, transforming school cultures and achieving exemplary academic results. As a Founding College Prep Principal, he drives initiatives in teacher and leader development.
Eduardo has completed extensive training in coaching, leadership, and management, including the Rhodes Fellowship. He believes in providing a world-class education to all students and that school leaders play a crucial role in closing achievement gaps and preparing students for college.
Gisela Guerra, M.Ed.
Director of Instruction and Culture
With 23 years of experience in education, Gisela Guerra serves as the Director of Instruction and Culture at RAICES Educational Consulting Group. She focuses on creating instructional plans to enhance student success. Previously, Gisela served as Dean of Instruction at Brownsville Independent School District, where she coached a cohort of 61 teachers, significantly improving their performance.
Gisela has also worked as a Science and ELA curriculum writer, LPAC Chair, Bilingual Lead Teacher, and was named BISD Teacher of the Year in 2013. At IDEA Public Schools, she has been an Assistant Principal and instructional coach for the ELA, Special Education, and Direct Instruction departments. Her leadership has led her campus to attain consecutive “A” ratings from the TEA.
Gisela holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Walden University and a Principal Certification from the SBEC. She specializes in English Learner Instructional Support, ELA Curriculum and Instruction, and School Climate and Culture.