Lily Cui currently works for Cherry Creek School District as a Research Analyst where she is responsible for the research and analysis of historical and current data in addition to designing and developing interactive data reports that provide schools and the district information for performance improvement and instructional support. Previously, Lily worked with innovation schools within Aurora Public Schools as the Manager of Innovation School Performance where she developed performance management tracking systems. She started her career in education teaching sixth grade mathematics as a Teach for America corps member in Jacksonville, FL. Lily is passionate about working with school districts and using data to help drive school improvement. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds a degree in Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience.
Debi Hunter Holen – Board Treasurer
Debi is a native Coloradan, who has called the city of Aurora home for nearly 40 years. Debi has recently retired from Aurora Public Schools where she served as the Assistant to the Chief of Equity and Engagement and most recently as the Community Engagement Advocate. In addition to serving as the treasurer for the Colorado Change Agents Board, she currently serves on the following: Aurora Sister Cities International, Board Member, she serves as a Board member for Aurora Sister Cities International, the Vice-Chair of Aurora Warms the Night, and the Secretary of United Veterans Coalition. Debi served on Aurora’s City Council as an At-Large Councilperson from 2011 to 2015. During the 2015 session, Debi served as Mayor Pro-Tem. Previously in her career, Debi served as the secretary for the Aurora Public Schools Foundation, president of the Nuñez Foundation, chair of scholarship committees for Aurora Public Schools Foundation, Nuñez Foundation and Colorado PTA. Debi has also been Aurora PTA Council president and a member of the Colorado PTA board, among other volunteer board positions.
John Lyons – Founder and Director
John is a proud Denver native who works as a grant writer and developer for Aurora Public Schools (APS). In addition to his role with APS, he has been teaching English composition, literature, and creative writing courses at the Community College of Aurora since 2005. He serves on the Board of New Legacy Charter School, a high school and early childhood education center dedicated to promoting educational pathways for pregnant and parenting teens and their children. John completed three degrees at the University of Colorado at Denver – a B.A. in English, an M.A. in English literature, and a Master of Public Administration from the School of Public Affairs. John completed two education policy fellowships with Education Pioneers, one with the Denver Mayor’s Office of Children’s Affairs and a second with Aurora Public Schools, and is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership focused on urban and diverse communities at the University of Colorado at Denver.
Farrah Martin – Board Member
Farrah has worked in the field of education for 15 years. A 2001 corps member of Teach For America, Farrah taught middle school math, science, and social studies in traditional public schools in New Orleans, Louisiana and Mississippi. After just a few years of classroom experience, her talents were noticed, and Farrah was asked to become a founding Master Teacher at the Harriet R. Tubman Charter School, one of nine charter schools in the Algiers Charter Schools Association in New Orleans, LA. Farrah has mentored hundreds of young people through her nonprofit organization, Beautiful Victory Inc., empowering them with conflict resolution, problem-solving, and self-esteem building strategies. In 2010, Farrah received national recognition from NBC Network, being nominated and selected as one of the top 50 educators in the country. This honor led to her becoming part of the inaugural cohort of America Achieves Fellowship for Principals and Teachers. It also led to her being invited to be an Urban Leaders/Education Policy Fellow for Senator Mike Johnston (Denver, CO). After relocating to Denver, Farrah became the Director of Education Policy and Practice at the Colorado League of Charter Schools. In 2012, she was selected to participate in the Get Smart Schools Fellowship, a leadership program designed for autonomous school developers. Most recently, Farrah was the Assistant Principal at the Omar D. Blair Charter School located in the Green Valley Ranch community of Denver. Farrah holds a Bachelors of Science in Biology/Pre-Medicine from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Masters of Public Health in Community Health Sciences (Maternal and Child Health concentration) from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, a Masters of Educational Supervision and Leadership from the University of Phoenix, educator licensure in two states, and certification in educator training from the Leadership and Learning Center.
Ruben Medina – Board Member
Ruben co-founded the Huerfano County Ambulance Service in his home town, Walsenburg, Colorado. Ruben has served as an EMT-I, firefighter and search and rescue responder. Ruben worked for the YMCA of Denver for 20 years in a variety of capacities including youth programs, wellness, fitness, early childhood development, daycare, front desk and youth sports. Most recently, Ruben worked for the city of Aurora as the Facility Manager of the Moorhead Recreation Center and also operated the Hoffman, Expo and Meadowood Recreation Centers as the Supervisor. Currently, Ruben works for the Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities as the Project Manager of the Northwest Aurora/ Montbello community engagement initiative. Ruben serves on the The Denver Foundation Board as a trustee, is Chair of the Education Committee, and has served on the Strengthening Neighborhood committee and Basic Human Needs committee. Ruben employs the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model to conduct engagement training for communities to help them utilize the power of the people to advocate for changes. He is a fellow of the ABCD Institute out of DePaul University in Chicago, and has facilitated training across the country and locally.
Who we are
Lily Cui – Board Member
Lily Cui currently works for Cherry Creek School District as a Research Analyst where she is responsible for the research and analysis of historical and current data in addition to designing and developing interactive data reports that provide schools and the district information for performance improvement and instructional support. Previously, Lily worked with innovation schools within Aurora Public Schools as the Manager of Innovation School Performance where she developed performance management tracking systems. She started her career in education teaching sixth grade mathematics as a Teach for America corps member in Jacksonville, FL. Lily is passionate about working with school districts and using data to help drive school improvement. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds a degree in Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience.
Debi Hunter Holen – Board Treasurer
Debi is a native Coloradan, who has called the city of Aurora home for nearly 40 years. Debi has recently retired from Aurora Public Schools where she served as the Assistant to the Chief of Equity and Engagement and most recently as the Community Engagement Advocate. In addition to serving as the treasurer for the Colorado Change Agents Board, she currently serves on the following: Aurora Sister Cities International, Board Member, she serves as a Board member for Aurora Sister Cities International, the Vice-Chair of Aurora Warms the Night, and the Secretary of United Veterans Coalition. Debi served on Aurora’s City Council as an At-Large Councilperson from 2011 to 2015. During the 2015 session, Debi served as Mayor Pro-Tem. Previously in her career, Debi served as the secretary for the Aurora Public Schools Foundation, president of the Nuñez Foundation, chair of scholarship committees for Aurora Public Schools Foundation, Nuñez Foundation and Colorado PTA. Debi has also been Aurora PTA Council president and a member of the Colorado PTA board, among other volunteer board positions.
John Lyons – Founder and Director
John is a proud Denver native who works as a grant writer and developer for Aurora Public Schools (APS). In addition to his role with APS, he has been teaching English composition, literature, and creative writing courses at the Community College of Aurora since 2005. He serves on the Board of New Legacy Charter School, a high school and early childhood education center dedicated to promoting educational pathways for pregnant and parenting teens and their children. John completed three degrees at the University of Colorado at Denver – a B.A. in English, an M.A. in English literature, and a Master of Public Administration from the School of Public Affairs. John completed two education policy fellowships with Education Pioneers, one with the Denver Mayor’s Office of Children’s Affairs and a second with Aurora Public Schools, and is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership focused on urban and diverse communities at the University of Colorado at Denver.
Farrah Martin – Board Member
Farrah has worked in the field of education for 15 years. A 2001 corps member of Teach For America, Farrah taught middle school math, science, and social studies in traditional public schools in New Orleans, Louisiana and Mississippi. After just a few years of classroom experience, her talents were noticed, and Farrah was asked to become a founding Master Teacher at the Harriet R. Tubman Charter School, one of nine charter schools in the Algiers Charter Schools Association in New Orleans, LA. Farrah has mentored hundreds of young people through her nonprofit organization, Beautiful Victory Inc., empowering them with conflict resolution, problem-solving, and self-esteem building strategies. In 2010, Farrah received national recognition from NBC Network, being nominated and selected as one of the top 50 educators in the country. This honor led to her becoming part of the inaugural cohort of America Achieves Fellowship for Principals and Teachers. It also led to her being invited to be an Urban Leaders/Education Policy Fellow for Senator Mike Johnston (Denver, CO). After relocating to Denver, Farrah became the Director of Education Policy and Practice at the Colorado League of Charter Schools. In 2012, she was selected to participate in the Get Smart Schools Fellowship, a leadership program designed for autonomous school developers. Most recently, Farrah was the Assistant Principal at the Omar D. Blair Charter School located in the Green Valley Ranch community of Denver. Farrah holds a Bachelors of Science in Biology/Pre-Medicine from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Masters of Public Health in Community Health Sciences (Maternal and Child Health concentration) from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, a Masters of Educational Supervision and Leadership from the University of Phoenix, educator licensure in two states, and certification in educator training from the Leadership and Learning Center.
Ruben Medina – Board Member
Ruben co-founded the Huerfano County Ambulance Service in his home town, Walsenburg, Colorado. Ruben has served as an EMT-I, firefighter and search and rescue responder. Ruben worked for the YMCA of Denver for 20 years in a variety of capacities including youth programs, wellness, fitness, early childhood development, daycare, front desk and youth sports. Most recently, Ruben worked for the city of Aurora as the Facility Manager of the Moorhead Recreation Center and also operated the Hoffman, Expo and Meadowood Recreation Centers as the Supervisor. Currently, Ruben works for the Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities as the Project Manager of the Northwest Aurora/ Montbello community engagement initiative. Ruben serves on the The Denver Foundation Board as a trustee, is Chair of the Education Committee, and has served on the Strengthening Neighborhood committee and Basic Human Needs committee. Ruben employs the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model to conduct engagement training for communities to help them utilize the power of the people to advocate for changes. He is a fellow of the ABCD Institute out of DePaul University in Chicago, and has facilitated training across the country and locally.