We’re proud to introduce the 8th Cohort of YES Prep Resident Principals! Through the Principal Pathway Residency Program, we continue building a strong pipeline of leaders ready to serve our schools and communities. This year’s highly competitive selection brought six outstanding educators, all current or former members of the YES Prep family, into full-time, paid residency roles where they’ll receive personalized coaching and development. Learn more about each of them below and join us in celebrating this new cohort!

 

Deja Laws is a proud Galveston, Texas, native and passionate educator who is stepping into the role of Resident Principal after 10 years of dedicated service at YES Prep West. She began her journey at West and has called it her second home ever since, deeply committed to the students, staff, and families who make the campus such a vibrant community. Deja holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Texas Southern University (2015) and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Prairie View A&M University (2018). Over the years, she has served in various roles, most recently as Director of Student Support, where she built systems of care and advocacy for students and families, navigating academic and personal challenges.

As a leader, Deja is known for her unwavering empathy, collaborative spirit, and ability to turn vision into action. She leads with both heart and strategy, coaching teams, building capacity, and ensuring that every student feels seen, safe, and supported. Her leadership is grounded in trust, equity, and the belief that students thrive when adults work in deep partnership on their behalf. When she’s not on campus, you can find her dancing, reading, assembling puzzles, watching great television, or diving into a cozy video game.

As she steps into the Resident Principal role, Deja is excited to continue growing as a leader and to serve the broader YES Prep community with the same passion, purpose, and deep belief in every student's potential.

 

 

Emily Vanderbilt is a native Texan who grew up with a dream of becoming an elementary teacher. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin in 2006, she joined Teach For America and began her career in education teaching 7th and 8th grade ELA and U.S. History in Philadelphia. After earning her Master’s in Urban Education from the University of Pennsylvania, Emily was eager to return to Texas and joined the Teach For America Houston staff where she coached and supported first and second year teachers across Houston in HISD, Alief, Aldine, KIPP and YES Prep.  Her work across these diverse districts fueled her passion for understanding what drives success in classrooms, leading Emily to join YES Prep North Central as a Dean of Instruction. 

After seven years at North Central as a Dean of Instruction and Director of Academics and celebrating the graduation of her original Vanderbilt homeroom, she joined the KIPP Texas Talent team to help design and implement a teacher evaluation system as part of the transition from KIPP Houston to KIPP Texas. Realizing a long-held dream, Emily taught Pre-K before ultimately becoming an Assistant Principal at KIPP Unity, where she has served for the past four years. Emily lives in west Houston with her husband Eric, their two daughters Ainsley and Linden and their golden retriever, Birdie.  Outside of work, Emily enjoys taking long walks with Birdie, camping with her family, reading and experimenting with new recipes.

 

 

Evelyn Gutierrez is a first-generation college graduate and the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. She earned her degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016. While her studies initially pointed her toward a different path, her experiences in college ignited a passion for education and a desire to serve communities like the one she grew up in. That same year, she joined Teach For America–Houston and began her teaching journey. Evelyn started her career as a 3rd grade English Language Arts teacher at KIPP Texas Public Schools. Over her four years at KIPP, she fell in love with the classroom, honed her instructional practice, and took on leadership responsibilities as a grade level chair and teacher mentor. With TFA-Houston, she continued to grow, serving as a bilingual content specialist, corps member advisor, and leadership coach. 

In 2018, Evelyn joined YES Prep Public Schools as a founding bilingual Kindergarten teacher at YES Prep Southeast Elementary. She further expanded her impact by serving as a grade level chair and leading school initiatives. Driven by a commitment to educational equity, she earned her master’s degree in Primary Education from Johns Hopkins University in 2021. Since 2022, Evelyn has proudly served as Assistant Principal at YES Prep East End Elementary, supporting students, staff, and families since the campus’s founding year. She is excited to continue her leadership journey with YES Prep. Outside of work, Evelyn is a proud dog mom, book lover, true crime junkie, and avid traveler.

 

 

Jamelle K. Smith was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, Illinois, where her educational journey was shaped by attending a magnet school that offered an alternative learning path. It was there that her passion for education first took root. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Bradley University and later obtained a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.

Jamelle began her career at George Henry Corliss High School in Chicago, where she taught students with disabilities. She also served as the Special Education Case Manager, advisor of the peer jury, after-school program coordinator, and track and field coach. As a member of the school’s Leadership Team and the School Improvement Plan for Advancing Academic Achievement Team, she represented the special education department with distinction.

In 2011, Jamelle joined KIPP Chicago as the Special Education Coordinator for two campuses. In 2015, she relocated to Houston, Texas, where she continued her impact in education through her work with YES Prep Public Schools. There, she held a variety of leadership roles, including Special Education Manager/Compliance Specialist, Dean of Instruction, Director of Academics, and Assistant Principal.

Outside of her professional work, Jamelle enjoys crafting, watching Hallmark movies, spending time with family and friends, and staying active with her sorority. Her career has been driven by a deep commitment to student success, equity, and building strong school communities.

 

 

Jeevan’s parents are both from Southern India. He is a member of Rhythm India, a Bollywood dance group in Houston, and, in his free time, enjoys traveling and spending time with his mom and sister, who recently moved to Houston.

 

 

 

 

Sheporah K. Johnson is a proud native of Texarkana, Texas, and a graduate of Texas Southern University. Though she earned her Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice with plans to serve through the justice system, her passion for creating lasting impact in children’s lives led her to education—a path where her purpose became clear.

In March 2017, Sheporah joined YES Prep Public Schools as a math intervention teacher with no prior classroom experience. Within three years, she became a transformational force on campus, earning recognition as Campus MVP, YES Prep Southside’s Giant of the Year, a TEA Teacher Incentive Allotment recipient, and a nominee for Texas Alternative Certification Association Intern of the Year.

 

Her leadership journey continued in 2020 when she was named Dean of Students. In this role, Sheporah championed equity-focused practices, elevating student voice and fostering accountability-driven environments. During this time, she also earned her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Lamar University, further equipping her to lead with both heart and strategy.

 

In 2022, she became Director of Student Support at YES Prep Southside, where her leadership sparked a cultural turnaround. Through data-driven coaching, social-emotional supports, and restorative practices, she led meaningful improvements in student behavior, engagement, and outcomes.

As of August 2024, Sheporah proudly serves as Director of Academics. In this role, she continues to drive student achievement and instructional excellence through strategic planning, intentional programming, and a relentless commitment to equity. Her work builds a culture where educators thrive, and every student is empowered to reach their full potential. Outside of her work in education, Sheporah enjoys traveling, trying new dining experiences, reading, and spending time with her family and friends