Explore. Conserve. Lead.

Founded in 2012, Sustainable Education Solutions (SES) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization seeking to improve the environmental literacy of North Texas families, particularly of it’s youngest scholars.  Having opened a community-based environmental education charter school, SES is also the sponsoring entity of Destination Wilderness Youth designed to expand their impact into other public schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

SES Core Values

1. Provide inquiry-based, experiential learning through STEM education.

2. Offer a relevant, community-based educational experience.

3. Believe sustainability, environmental stewardship, and service learning are fundamental.

4. Taking the charge to combat Nature Deficit Disorder and provide a way to reconnect children with the outdoors, their peers and families.

5. Create opportunities to access healthy-spaces where we nourish scholars mentally and physically, while learning, leading, and interacting positively with others.

Michael Hooten — Executive Director

Leading an environmental charter school as Superintendent/CEO, and now the COO and Chief Consultant at Dallas financial services firm, Michael is DWY’s Executive Director. He has worked in Dallas charter schools since 2003. His experience in education has brought him through years as a certified science teacher, instructional coach, leadership roles of Dean of Instruction and Secondary Director, then Director of Project Management at one of the largest charter networks in North Texas. During his instructional tenure, he led up to 60 teachers and staff in a TEA Exemplary Rated District, developed the programming for and was awarded an IB World School designation from the International Baccalaureate Organization, received the highest “model school” rating as a T-STEM school Director, was identified as having 2012’s #8 and 2013’s #5 Most Transformational Schools in America as determined by Newsweek, and facilitated a 19% average increase in AP scores in one just year – a district and network best. This was a result of his transformational leadership style, instructional knowledge, meticulous team development, and self-motivating scholar achievement strategies. As a professional educator, he has been a servant leader in Dallas urban communities developing and advocating for the at-risk, gifted, special populations and socioeconomically challenged scholars his entire career. It is here he finds his greatest joy and drive for systemic educational reform and learning equality for all people, collaborating with effective and passionate educators who want to share in this worthy mission. Michael is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, has two adopted sons and enjoys camping, hiking, and rock climbing.

Jennifer Hoag — Board President and Curriculum Director

For the past sixteen years, Ms. Hoag has been leading and teaching science in charter schools in Dallas serving low income, At-Risk students. She earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University of Texas at Dallas in Science Education while serving as the School Director of the Pegasus School of Liberal Arts and Sciences where she oversaw a campus of more than 400 students in grades 4-12 and a faculty of 35 teachers. During the eight years she was at Pegasus she developed a relationship with the Sierra Club to promote outdoor education activities through their Inner City Outings program. While on hikes and camping trips, students are taught the basics of environmental stewardship through this partnership that continues today. Since 2010, she has served as an Instructional Coach for A+ Academy, a charter school in southeast Dallas. Her commitment to STEM education is evidenced by the grant from the Jiv Daya Foundation Ms. Hoag received for a class set of Kindle Fires to implement across the curriculum for her 11th grade students at A+ Academy.

Carolyn Chancellor — Board Treasurer

Carolynne is a native Texan from Tyler. She graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Business Degree in Finance and Real Estate. After an internship during college with a real estate development firm, she continued with that firm, Elm Development Company, for the next 18 years. Elm originally invested in the West End area of Dallas that is now Victory Park, and was a major player in the redevelopment of Deep Ellum. Carolynne began her family with the birth of her daughter in 2000. That transition guided her to begin helping with a new Texas charter school, Pegasus School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. First as a volunteer, then a Board Member, she was appointed to Chief Financial Officer in 2002 and continued in that role until 2011. Further transitions have turned to something closer to the environment by growing grapes at her family property near Tyler and starting a vineyard in 2009 that now consists of 2 ½ acres of grapevines. With much guidance from the State of Texas agricultural extensions, and studies at Grayson County Community College Viticulture and Enology Program, she has turned her father’s cow pasture into a scenic and productive vineyard.

Jason Ciarochi — Board Director

Jason was raised in south Dallas and graduated from Duncanville High School in 1992 before attending Rice University and receiving his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.  While in high school, he traveled nationally to compete in debate tournaments, won the Texas state tournament, and continued his interest in debate by teaching summer debate camps at the Victory Briefs Institute.  He previously was involved in charitable functions as member of the Duncanville Rotary Club.  Since then, he formed a Texas Non-Profit and I.R.S. recognized 501(c)(3) organization named “It’s Just Baloney” that focuses on feeding and providing clothing and toiletries to the homeless population in Dallas.  He has expanded this network to include other groups that also provide services to the homeless, such as Feed-a-face foundation, S.O.U.L. Church (proving a weekly meal on Sundays), the homeless shelter Our Calling, and he also assists with Restoration Outreach of Dallas’ jail ministry.  Prior to being an attorney, he has had internships with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison in Washington, D.C., Justice Tim Taft of the Texas Court of Appeals, Chief Justice Nathan Hecht of the Supreme Court of Texas, the City of Dallas Attorney’s Office, and the trial and appellate division of the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.  Prior to forming Ciarochi Law Firm, PLLC, Mr. Ciarochi worked for a large law firm with offices in Dallas and Houston.  He has travelled to over thirty countries and is the proud father of an eight year old daughter who lives in Dallas.

OPEN — Board Vice President

VP Bio TBD.

Jennifer Boone — Board Secretary

Born and raised in Dallas, Jennifer has deep roots in the community. She attended Texas A&M University, graduating with a B.S. in Renewable Natural Resources. She worked for Chairman Pete Sessions as an Agriculture and Natural Resource Policy intern in Washington, DC before graduating and moving back to Dallas. She started her career as an Environmental Specialist for Oncor Electric Delivery in Lancaster, TX, where she handled their industrial and hazardous waste. She has since transitioned into the produce industry, working as a Regional Sustainability Coordinator. She supports local farmers in developing food safety plans, enhancing sustainable agricultural practices, and increasing the availability of fresh, healthy, locally grown food across the nation. Jennifer has long been passionate about educating people about the relationship between a healthy environment and healthy humans.

Gene Zhu — Board Director

Gene is a well-seasoned accounting and finance professional. He has been serving in various capacities in financial operation for non-profit organizations and public charter schools for the past 15 years. He has served senior roles in accounting and finance operations with public charter schools for 12 years and most recently served as Senior Director of Accounting and Finance for Uplift Education, a charter school network serving over 17,000 students on 19 campuses in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Gene started his school business office consulting firm in 2010 and currently serving more than 12 charter schools and ten non-for- profit organizations in Greater Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and Waco. Gene graduated from Dallas Baptist University with Master Degrees in Finance and Management Information System. He lives in Las Colinas in Irving, TX with his wife and four children.