Meet Our Incredible Board Members
Dr. Michael Faggella-Luby
Michael Faggella-Luby, PhD is a lifelong Catholic educator and advocate for meaningful inclusion. A former Catholic school teacher and administrator, Michael has spent more than two decades partnering with Catholic schools across the country to strengthen instructional practices and build systems that honor the dignity and potential of every learner. He currently serves as a Professor of Special Education at Texas Christian University, where his teaching, research, and outreach focus on improving access, assessment, and high-quality instruction for students with disabilities. He is also the parent of a twice-exceptional child, an experience that continues to deepen his commitment to ensuring that families of all abilities find belonging in Catholic schools. Michael and his wife Kate are the proud parents of two children.
Carrie Ro
FIRE Foundation Dallas was founded in 2019 by Carrie Ro after her move to Dallas. In their previous Catholic school, her son Jonathan, who has Down syndrome, was welcomed and educated alongside his sisters and friends. He flourished both socially and academically, and his classmates benefited as well. This reflects more than 40 years of research showing that meaningful inclusion strengthens learning for students with and without disabilities.
When Carrie sought a similar inclusive Catholic school environment in Dallas, she was surprised to discover that such an option did not exist. Guided by her family’s personal experience and the Catholic Church’s commitment to pro-life values and social justice, she established the FIRE Foundation Dallas to help ensure other families would not face the same barriers. Although Jonathan has since graduated and entered the workforce, Carrie remains committed to expanding inclusive Catholic education throughout the Diocese of Dallas.
Carrie is married to Nicholas, and together they have three children, ages 22, 19, and 16. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree, she began her career in commercial finance. Backed by more than a decade of experience across institutional, commercial, and consumer finance, as well as hands on expertise in wholesaling investment securities, she brings seasoned financial leadership to the organization. Her background in financial analysis, budgeting, and overseeing day-to-day financial operations has shaped her reputation for thoughtful and trustworthy fiscal stewardship. She now brings that same level of integrity and care to advancing the mission and growth of the FIRE Foundation Dallas.
In addition to her finance career, Carrie spent two years teaching English Language Arts at a micro school in Dallas. Her classroom included students of varying ages and abilities, requiring her to apply Universal Design for Learning principles and at times modify curriculum to meet individual needs. Carrie also acted as an Inclusion Specialist during the time her son was included at his Catholic school, which included modifying curriculum and providing support to teachers. This experience deepened her understanding of the pressures educators face when serving diverse learners.
FIRE Foundation Dallas remains committed to supporting Catholic schools within the Diocese of Dallas that welcome and celebrate all learners, including God’s most precious and sometimes most forgotten ones: people with disabilities.
Cathy is a practicing attorney and mother of two adult daughters. She volunteers at a local church for their Night OWLS program. Night OWLS (Out With Loving Sitters) is a respite program for families throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area that is open to children with disabilities and their siblings. Through her volunteer work, Cathy became passionate about the issues surrounding inclusion of children with disabilities in parochial schools.
Elizabeth Hall
My husband, Nathan, and I have been married for 20 years and have three amazing children Grace, Mary Catherine, and Jude. Our three children attend a hybrid Catholic school allowing me to have the great honor of homeschooling them three days per week while they attend a beautiful and holy Catholic school the remaining two days per week. I have now homeschooled my children for nine years and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I graduated with a BS in Educational Psychology and Special Education from Texas A&M University in 2004. I have experience as a classroom Inclusion Teacher, Resource Teacher, Campus Behavior Specialist, and General Education classroom teacher. I have taught in public schools as well as Catholic schools and have also served families as an ARD Advocate in several local Independent School Districts.
I was introduced to the FIRE Foundation when my best friend and I were researching inclusive Catholic education options for her young daughter who has Down Syndrome. Unfortunately, she had many doors closed to her and I witnessed how this affected her heart and her faith. Eventually, we came across the FIRE Foundation and flew to Kansas City, MO to tour several schools and find out more about the programs. That very night we sat in her hotel room and we knew that she had to move there. I was so sad to see her move away from me, but what was happening in KS was amazing, inspiring and everything that her daughter deserved. She did move and her daughter is a FIRE student and I have had the privilege of touring her school, meeting the team that makes it happen, spending time with the community, and most importantly watching her daughter absolutely thrive! She shouldn’t have had to move out of state. We can ignite the FIRE here in Dallas, TX and make the same amazing opportunities and experience known to our own children. FIRE is a blessing to ALL children, those with a diagnosis and their typical peers.
I am passionate about my faith, Catholic education, and advocacy for all children and especially the marginalized. I believe as a Catholic it is my obligation to uphold the dignity of all humanity without exception and exclusion. We are the hands and feet and our schools and children are our greatest opportunity to affect the future of the Church and to spread the all-consuming, never ending, and unconditional love of Christ.
Laura Herrera de Villarreal
I was born and raised in Mexico. Received a bachelor’s degree in International Business and later completed postgraduate studies (EMP-MBA) in Europe. Emigrated to USA shortly afterwards for professional reasons and have come to love the country I now live in. On January 2012, the most amazing little girl came to shape and redirect our lives and since then I dedicate every day to make her life one special adventure. My commitment is to make an impact in the lives of children with Down Syndrome by helping them reach their full potential and assure an adulthood with independence and an active role in society. I am always thankful for the lessons life teaches me and appreciate “all the things we can only see with our heart,” (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry).