Mr. Cruz currently serves as the Director of Student and Parent Services for Education is Freedom (EIF). In this role, he is responsible for maintaining communications and an effective working relationship with Dallas Independent School District, the 14^th largest school district in the country.  Additionally, Daniel serves as the organization’s liaison with community organizations, manages the volunteer mentoring program and directs a staff of 21 EIF Advisors.

Daniel began his work at EIF in 2006 and worked his way up in the organization, having been promoted twice during his tenure.  All of his work, while at EIF, has been focused on working directly with students and parents to assure that the students are prepared and have the opportunity to attend college.  In fact, part of Cruz’s success model comes as a result of his own unique story.  Daniel Cruz is a living example of what Education is Freedom hopes to accomplish; he is a first-generation American and the first in his family to graduate from college. 

A graduate of Baylor University with a B.S. in Biology, Daniel is currently a member of the Rotary Club and works with the Audio/Visual Team at his church. During college and throughout his professional career he has worked to help others succeed through volunteer and mentoring activities with the Hispanic Student Association, Alpha Phi Omega, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, among others. Fluent in Spanish as well as English, he relates well to students, parents and other stakeholders engaged in EIF programs.

Raymond first joined Education is Freedom in 2008 as a student intern from the University of Texas at Arlington, where was then pursuing graduate studies. After his internship period, he was hired by EIF as a Higher Education Advisor at North Dallas High School where he worked to strengthen the freshman class by motivating them to take an interest in their future careers. He is now the Lead Higher Education Advisor at Thomas Jefferson High School, where he empowers students to pursue a higher education. Prior to joining EIF, Raymond worked in corporate finance after earning a degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Dallas. However, Raymond discovered his passion for advocating  for adolescents during his volunteer experiences at Youth First Texas, which led to his entry into the field of social services. Raymond recently completed his master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Brian began his career at Education is Freedom in January of 2009 after a short stint working in corporate America. He received his undergraduate degree in marketing and MBA from Texas A&M University-Commerce. While working for the TRIO Programs/Student Support Services of A&M Commerce, he mentored and advised incoming college freshman on educational, social, and personal matters.   He has spent the last two years as a Higher Education Advisor at Lincoln High School in south Dallas, where he is deeply embedded into the fabric of the campus.   He is committed to helping create and sustain a college going culture within the campuses that EIF serves. Brian dedicates a significant amount of time to the community by serving as a mentor and sharing his thoughts and ideas about the importance of education.  Currently, Brian is pursuing a Ph.D. in educational leadership at The University of Texas at Arlington.

Wana Smith received her Bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Texas at Arlington and previously worked as a food scientist. Her background in research and development has provided her with strong project management and problem-solving skills essential to working in a school-based setting and fostering positive relationships with students. Through her involvement with her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she has served as a mentor for young ladies in the Arlington area.  In addition, she previously volunteered with the UTA-HOSTS program which provided support to college freshmen in their transition from high school. Wana is currently working on a Master’s degree in Urban Studies with an emphasis on education at UTA.

Oschuwa graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in curriculum/instruction from the University of Phoenix. Oschuwa has always had a passion for education and serving the youth, which makes her perfect for her current position as the Higher Education Advisor for Kimball High School. Prior to EIF, Oschuwa has worked for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas and Cedar Valley College. She remains a volunteer for various youth-oriented organizations, such as Girl Scouts, Girlfriends Ministries, and Collegiate Steps Program. Her motto that she lives by daily is “Each one reach one.”

Janet Gonzales recently joined Education is Freedom as the Higher Education Advisor for Moises E. Molina High School. Janet just completed her bachelor’s degree in Education last May 2011 but already has plans to go back to school and pursue a master’s degree. While in college, she became actively involved in numerous organizations which honed her leadership skills, including the Student Government Association and the G-Force Mentorship Program. In addition, she also has over four years of experience working with students as a mentor in college readiness and as a student assistant for the financial aid office at TWU. Evidently, her experience prepared her well for her current role as an HEA for Molina High School, where she hopes to continue to inspire students achieve their dreams of attending and graduating from college.