John Spence

Director

John Spence co-founded Service Learning Texas (then known as the Texas Center for Service-Learning) in 1997, two years after he started working with the Learn and Serve America program while an education specialist at the Texas Education Agency. Under his leadership, SLT has successfully managed nine Learn and Serve grants, a Department of Education grant, and two State Farm driver safety grants that have involved nearly 700,000 K-12 students in service-learning projects across the state.

John was a founding board member of the National Service-Learning Partnership and the State Education Agency K-12 Service-Learning Network. He currently serves on the board of the Texas Association of Partners in Education. In 1999, he and SLT co-founder Andrea England co-authored Reflection: A Guide to Effective Service-Learning.

He holds an M.A. and Ph.D. candidacy in history from Indiana University, and a B.A. degree in history with high honors from Bates College. He is also a graduate of the Leadership Austin Essential Class of 2007, dedicated to encouraging innovative, collaborative solutions for regional challenges.

john@servicelearningtexas.org Download John's vcard (512) 420-0214 x 101

Susan Sneller

Education Consultant

Susan discovered service-learning in the 1980s, while teaching Texas public school students with special needs. She joined Service Learning Texas in 2002. In 2008, she received a Certificate of Excellent Practice in K-12 Service-Learning from the National Youth Leadership Council.

Susan provides one-on-one technical assistance to students, teachers, and community partners, conducts site visits, manages project activities, and presents at statewide service-learning trainings.

She holds an M.Ed. in bilingual special education and a B.S. in education, both from the University of Texas at Austin. Susan also earned an M.A. in Human Services–Conflict Resolution from St. Edward’s University and is a longtime volunteer at the Austin Dispute Resolution Center.

susan@servicelearningtexas.org Download Susan's vcard (512) 420-0214 x 103

Michael Blankenburg

Education Consultant

Michael Blankenburg joined Service Learning Texas in 2008, after nearly two decades of experience as a high school English teacher. He provides one-on-one technical assistance to students, teachers, and community partners, conducts site visits, manages project activities, and is a frequent presenter at statewide service-learning trainings.  He is also the founding editor of the SLT newsletter.

At Austin High School, where he was the student literary journal advisor, Michael designed and implemented the first AP Language and Composition curriculum. Voted PTSA Favorite Teacher for three consecutive years, he was also named the Austin Area Gifted and Talented Teacher of the Year in 2005.

He holds an M.A. in English education from Columbia University Teachers College and a B.S. in education from the University of Texas at Austin.

michael@servicelearningtexas.org Download Michael's vcard (512) 420-0214 x 102

Isela Diharce

Program Secretary

Isela Diharce joined Service Learning Texas in 2007, after serving as circulation information manager at Meximerica Media, Inc. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly two decades providing administrative support to the Eanes, Austin, and San Marcos school districts.

Fluent in both Spanish and English, Isela also works as a freelance translator. A data processing graduate of Durham Business College, Isela is pursuing an associate degree at Austin Community College.

isela@servicelearningtexas.org Download Isela's vcard (512) 420-0214 x 100