Continuing our commitment to bring YES Prep education to elementary students across the city, we’re proud to be bringing to families in the Brays Oaks and White Oak communities our next two elementary schools: YES Prep Brays Oaks Elementary (9060 Benning Dr.) and YES Prep White Oak Elementary (6343 Deihl Rd.). Both schools are set to open their doors in August 2025 to students in pre-Kindergarten through second grade, later adding grades 3-5 and feeding directly into YES Prep Brays Oaks and White Oak Secondary Schools for grades 6-12.
If you haven’t met them yet, we are proud to introduce you to our two new founding principals: Ashley Smith, YES Prep Brays Oaks Elementary, and Matthew McMahan, YES Prep White Oak Elementary.
Ashley Smith, YES Prep Brays Oaks Elementary
Ashley Smith joined YES Prep in 2021 as the Founding Assistant Principal of Southside Elementary. Last school year, she served as a Resident Principal at East End Elementary where she developed and honed her skills working alongside the school’s principal.
Smith, originally from Temple Hills, Maryland, is a published children’s author and dedicated educator with over a decade of experience working with diverse learners. She earned a bachelor's in psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a dual master's in early childhood and special education from The Catholic University of America. Her career began in 2011, and she has since taught pre-K through sixth grade in both general and special education settings. Ashley has held key roles, including Founding Teacher at KIPP Texas and leadership positions at Baton Rouge Bridge Academy and IDEA Public Schools.
From serving underserved communities in DC to leading initiatives in Louisiana and Texas, Smith's commitment to excellence knows no bounds. Her passion for cross-cultural education drives her to create transformative experiences for all learners.
If you would like to learn more about YES Prep Brays Oaks Elementary, please click here.
Matthew McMahan, YES Prep White Oak Elementary
Matthew McMahan served as the principal at YES Prep Southeast Elementary in the 23-24 school year, prior to accepting the founding principal role for White Oak Elementary. Leading up to his role as principal at Southeast, he served as resident principal the previous school year. He has also held roles within YES Prep as YES Prep Brays Oaks Secondary’s literacy specialist and director of campus operations.
McMahan and his family moved to Houston in 2017 after spending eight years in New York City. He earned a Bachelor of Music in musical theater from Oklahoma City University and performed with Disney, toured North America and appeared on Broadway. In 2015, McMahan joined Teach for America and taught first through third grade at Grant Avenue Elementary in the Bronx. He holds a master's in special education from Brooklyn College, trained at the RICE Glascock Institute and completed the Rice University Urban Leaders program. He is a certified principal in Texas, continuing what his mother, a retired school nurse, calls “worthy work.”
To learn more about YES Prep White Oak Elementary, we invite you to click here.
Join our family and be part of our founding schools
Smith and McMahan have been making their rounds in the communities they will serve to raise awareness of their new elementary schools. This school year they will dedicate time and attention to working diligently in the community, meeting families and hiring the founding staff for their respective schools.
YES Prep Brays Oaks Elementary and YES Prep White Oak Elementary will be opening in the 2025-2026 school year and, for the first year, will serve kids pre-kindergarten through second grade, and will continue to grow up until fifth grade.
Help us in congratulating our two new founding elementary school principals!
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Interested in teaching at one of our new elementary campuses or know someone who is an amazing educator, click here to learn all about joining the YES Prep family.