A Trinity University graduate, Mark Larson is Chief Executive Officer (Superintendent) of the KIPP Aspire Academy, which he founded in June 2003.  Mark developed the vision, established the culture, and is currently providing leadership for teachers, parents and students so that every student who attends KIPP will go to college.  He was responsible for securing a charter from the Texas Education Agency, securing a facility, recruiting students and teachers, fundraising for enrichment activities ($1.1 million over three years), and developing a board of directors.  The school is now in its third year, and with expanding community support, it will continue to grow with our pioneer 5th grade class through twelfth grade.

Mark was selected from 450 applicants for a Fisher Fellowship, which is a program designed to train high performing teachers to start schools in urban areas across the United States.  The KIPP Leadership Program included a six-week summer course at the Haas School of Business at Berkeley, a semester visiting high performing middle and high schools across the country, and a semester on the ground in San Antonio developing the KIPP Aspire Academy.

Marks greater goal for KIPP San Antonio is to be a catalyst for excellence and reform in public education in San Antonio to ensure that every student, regardless of their personal circumstances, is offered the opportunity to receive a great education.