For the first time in our history, YES Prep Public Schools is proud to be opening three new elementary schools in the 2024-2025 school year: YES Prep Hobby Elementary, YES Prep North Rankin Elementary and YES Prep Southwest Oaks Elementary.
In their first year, all three elementary schools will serve students in grades pre-K through second grade, adding a new grade level each year until the schools are fully grown out to serve fifth grade.
After a very competitive process, YES Prep is excited to introduce to you our new founding elementary principals for the 2024-2025 school year.
Ah-Tavia Maxey, YES Prep Hobby Elementary
Throughout her thirteen years as an educator, Ah-Tavia Maxey has led through a lens of compassion and equity. Before becoming principal-in-residence, she was an instructional coach and a Title I Interventionist. Although having had those amazing experiences, she has always been a teacher at heart. She started teaching at an Alternative School (SYS) for at-risk youth in Petersburg, VA where her love for building students’ confidence through education grew. Thereafter, she taught in Petersburg City Public Schools for six years at Walnut Hill Elementary.
Maxey is a native of Newark, NJ, where she completed her primary and secondary schooling. In 2008, she graduated from Virginia State University. In 2014, she earned a master’s degree in administration from Grand Canyon University. Maxey spent two years as a Principal-In-Residence from 2021-2023 with IDEA and KIPP Public Schools. During that time, she became proficient in effectively managing teachers and leaders by building relationships, producing results and developing their hidden talents.
Maxey’s goal is to build a culture of empowerment and development, starting with leaders and teachers, that transfers into the classroom where students feel safe, included and with a voice. She aims to ensure that all students have the opportunity to choose their path and be successful in life.
It is a privilege for Maxey to serve as YES Prep Hobby Elementary’s Founding Principal. She looks forward to being an integral member of the school community and collaborating with all key participants.
Stephanee Dorsey, YES Prep North Rankin Elementary
Stephanee Dorsey is a proud native of the beautiful state of Hawaii! She graduated from Southwestern Adventist University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and in 2012 from the University of Phoenix with her Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management. She also completed her Principal Certification with Lamar University.
Before joining the YES Prep family, Dorsey held various teaching and leadership positions with Uplift Education, including an elementary classroom teacher and a district math content teacher leader. While at Houston ISD, she served as a classroom teacher, math and science instructional specialist and assistant principal at Shadydale Elementary and Blackshear Elementary. Dorsey is beginning her 15th year in education.
Dorsey aims to create a culture where mediocrity is not an option! When she is not working, she enjoys family time, crafting, watching sports, eating and traveling!
Ibia Faucher, YES Prep Southwest Oaks Elementary
Prior to joining YES Prep, Ibia Faucher founded Journey Primary with KIPP Texas in 2019 as a first-grade teacher where she served as a dean of instruction and most recently as a principal-in-residence.
Before moving to Texas, Faucher taught a culturally diverse student population of first graders with the Dekalb County School District in Georgia for two years. Ibia’s passion for educating young minds started at an early age when she had a mock classroom of her own at home. Since then, she always knew she wanted to do two things in her career—be a principal and establish a school of her own. With a dedication to providing access for all learners, Faucher has aligned every aspect of her journey as an educator with these goals at heart. As a lifelong learner herself, she graduated from University of Texas-Tyler with her Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership in August 2022.
When she is not serving as a champion for learners, she enjoys spending time with family, traveling and crafting. Faucher is excited to live her childhood dream of opening her own school that provides a space for all learners to grow and thrive so their dreams can come true too!
The 2024-2025 student lottery application
The 2024-2025 student lottery application is now open until February 18, 2024. Interested families should create a SchoolMint account and create a profile for each of their school-aged children.
To learn more about the lottery application process, click here.