ABOUT

Personalized Learning

Our Learning Coaches provide regular individualized coaching sessions to build relationships with and learn about their scholars, harnessing each scholar’s individual passions to make their learning engaging and relevant.

Our scholars’ personal strengths and experiences guide their development through customized learning paths, giving meaning and context to their learning.

Growth Focused

We leverage the power of technology to adapt to the scholar’s precise academic level, helping scholars make progress regardless of whether they enter at, above, or below grade level.

We encourage gifted scholars to pursue more advanced learning goals, keeping them engaged and challenged throughout the learning process. Scholars with learning challenges can work towards mastery at an adjusted pace, with extra coaching to get them up to grade level as quickly as possible.

Socially Embedded

Our campus is embedded within the communities they serve. Scholars learn in environments such as civic centers, museums, and educational institutions so their development occurs both in and out of the classroom.

Our scholars create learning communities by building relationships with their fellow scholars and coaches. Exploring while collaborating helps them connect with scholars developing at different competency rates.

Open-Walled

Learning is constant and happens anytime, anywhere. Our scholars are not confined to desks or traditional classroom structures; instead, they collaborate with other scholars to create the environment that best supports their style of learning.

Our Learning Coaches do not typically assign homework. Instead, they hold each scholar responsible for completing their personalized learning paths and projects to remain on track academically.

Families are invited to actively participate in their child’s learning experience to reinforce the lessons learned after the scholar leaves the classroom.

Learner Agency

We encourage scholars to embrace a growth mindset, believing in their own ability to grow. Scholars feel more confident when they have a sense of ownership in their learning environment.

Our scholars commit to being willing to learn, approaching each experience and challenge with a unique combination of ownership, self-control, persistence, integrity, curiosity, empowerment and social intelligence.

We regularly recognize and celebrate the members of our community who demonstrate these virtues.

TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention)

Our coaches form deep relationships with students that form the foundation of our work together. We aim to demonstrate warmth and acceptance, while also fostering a sense of deep accountability. If a scholar deviates from these norms or exhibits behavior that violates trust, it is that scholar’s responsibility to make amends with the learning community.

Our Learning Coaches hold scholars accountable not only for their behavior, but also for restoring balance to the learning community when their behavior choices disrupt it. We develop their sense of social responsibility by helping them understand that a community is only as strong as the people who comprise it, and that each scholar has a meaningful role to play.

Paul Castro, Superintendent
pcastro@aplusup.org

Paul Castro is the superintendent and founder of A+ Unlimited Potential Charter School. In his 26-year career, he has taught high school English, been the principal of four schools in Houston ISD and worked at KIPP Houston as ahead of schools. Three of his HISD schools earned Recognized status from the state. The fourth was a turnaround school that had failed for 5 years. Paul and his team were able to improve the academic achievement enough to get the school out of Improvement Required in one year. As a kid, Paul grew up moving around a lot and got swallowed up by the school system. As an educator, he committed that his schools would be places that cared about each kid and helped them be their best. A+UP is where Paul’s passion for blending personal development meets his drive to achieve academic growth for all kids. There, Paul and his team of dedicated educators are committed to the work of helping middle schoolers become their best selves and meet their personal unlimited potential. When he’s not hanging out with his three kids, Paul is a wannabe chef who makes great enchiladas and enviable gumbo.

Kap McWhorter, Principal
kmcwhorter@aplusup.org

With over 17 years of education experience as both teacher and administrator, Kap has been able to empower students to change their lives and achieve meaningful impact in their local and global communities.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication and Theology from Houston Baptist University (HBU). He proceeded to obtain his Master’s in Arts and Theological studies from HBU as well. His career began in ministry and includes work within small churches, local non-profit organizations, and humanitarian relief in Mozambique and Malawi, Africa. Shortly after his time in Africa, Kap began his teaching career as a speech teacher for Humble ISD and launched a new class called Social Action.  This course provided tools for students to become involved in making a difference in their communities and opportunities to serve abroad. After successfully launching the Social Action course, he became the Service-Learning Coordinator for 6 years, creating service opportunities for all students for the entire district.  For the past four years, he has had the privilege of being the Campus Principal at A+UP.  He loves how A+UP is like a family, working directly with students and parents.  When he’s not working, he is spending time with his own family.  He is  married to his college sweetheart, Wendy, and has  two sons, Knox and Max, and a daughter named Camille. Fun fact: Kap started a nonprofit organization called Finding Heroes.  The goal of this organization is to assist other school districts in launching social action courses.

Laura Schuhmann, Chief Academic Officer
lschuhmann@aplusup.org

Laura Schuhmann is a veteran educator joining the A+ UP team full time this year after several years of working with Coaches at A+ UP as a consultant. She has had a wide range of experiences in over 30 years in education, starting as a middle school reading teacher. She taught high school English and speech before becoming a school administrator. Laura has been an assistant principal at both middle school and high school. She has also been an Associate Principal, an Accountability Administrator, and a Middle School Principal (for 12 years). She has multiple years of experience working with teachers, leading innovative programs, and working to develop campus leadership. Her most recent roles include working with schools to improve their state accountability. The most impactful experience Laura has had in her career was participation in a summer leadership program for school administrators through the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. Laura is passionate about the power of education and believes every student can grow. She is honored to be able to help A+ UP achieve its goals. On a personal note, Laura is originally from New York. She is married and loves to travel, ski, hike, and cook.

Terrie Roberts, Business Operations Manager, Registrar, HR, Finance
troberts@aplusup.org

Terrie has worked across multiple industries giving her a broad experience base to call upon.  She has worked as a corporate travel agent, operations manager of a packing company, an event coordinator, and has even owned her own (Hawaiian themed) food truck, Mahalo Munchies.  Her customer service and business operation skills have been honed over the last 30 years.

Terrie is currently the business operations manager, finance manager and recruiter for A+UP.  She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school.

Mariah Ochoa, Data Specialist
mochoa@aplusup.org

Mariah Ochoa is the Data Specialist for A+UP. She describes herself as a data nerd with an intense passion for education. She recently completed her Master’s in Data Science & Statistics at the University of Houston. Mariah is ecstatic about utilizing her skills to enhance and personalize education here at A+ UP. In her free time, she enjoys coding, playing video games, or going to parks. Her dream is to set students up for success regardless of the obstacles before them. She says she is living the dream at A+UP.

Jennifer Bunch, Support – After School Programs
jbunch@aplusup.org

Kendall Benford-Ijeoma, Front Office