Meet our incredible Board Members

Carrie Ro

Executive Director

Carrie Ro is the Founder and Executive Director of FIRE Foundation Dallas. After relocating to Dallas in 2017, Carrie discovered there were no Catholic schools equipped to welcome her son, Jonathan, who has Down syndrome, despite his successful experience in an inclusive Catholic school in California. Inspired by her family’s journey and the Catholic Church’s teaching on the dignity of every person, she founded FIRE Foundation Dallas to help ensure that students of all abilities can learn, belong, and flourish in Catholic schools. Carrie has more than a decade of experience in finance and organizational leadership and previously served as an Inclusion Specialist and educator. She is passionate about helping Catholic schools build cultures of belonging where every child is welcomed, valued, and encouraged to reach their God-given potential.

Celina Abeyta

Board President

Celina oversees operations and client experience for her family’s construction and architecture firm, bringing beauty, order, and heartfelt connection to every project. With a gift for understanding people, she creates spaces and relationships, where others feel seen and valued. A former speech & language pathologist, she has a deep passion for supporting individuals with learning differences, inspired in part by her son with Down syndrome. Her advocacy extends into nonprofit work that enriches the lives of children and families like hers. Celina’s love for Jesus, her family, and her Mexican heritage shape the way she leads, serves, and designs. At home, she finds joy in cooking and creating a warm, welcoming space for the people she loves.

Cathy Brandt

Board Vice President

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.

Kassandra Roe

Board Secretary

Kassandra Roe is a passionate advocate for the pro-life movement. She spent five years teaching in special education classes at a public school. She is currently teaching at Regina Caeli Academy and leaning into her new role as a mother to her son, who spent 10 weeks in the NICU when he first arrived. Kassandra has always been passionate about inclusion and inspiring independence, especially within the Catholic Church. She is an alumna of Texas A&M University and spent two years as the assistant director for the Down Syndrome Association of the Brazos Valley before moving to Dallas with her husband in 2023.

Matthew Vermillion

Board Treasurer

A CPA of 20 years and a Chartered Accountant, Matthew Vermillion brings deep expertise in corporate development, accounting, and financial management to his role as Board Treasurer. He serves as VP, Accounting and Finance for Wilks Brothers family office in Fort Worth. Matthew’s background encompasses key corporate and advisory roles with Copperbeck Energy Partners, Martin Midstream Partners and KPMG.
Matthew earned a B.S. in Business from Louisiana Tech University and an MBA from Mississippi State University. Driven by his faith and a passion for supporting children with unique learning needs, he works to ensure FIRE Foundation Dallas can sustainably empower Catholic schools to welcome and include all students. A parishioner at St. Thomas Aquinas, Matthew lives in East Dallas with his children, who attend Catholic schools.

Michael Faggella-Luby

Director

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.

Laura Herrera de Villarreal

Director

She was born and raised in Mexico. Received a bachelor’s degree in international business and later completed postgraduate studies (EMP-MBA) in Europe. Having emigrated to USA shortly afterwards for professional reasons, 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 she dedicate every day to make her life one special adventure. Her commitment is to make an impact on the lives of children with Down Syndrome by helping them reach their full potential and assure adulthood with independence and an active role in society. She’s always thankful for the lessons life teaches me and appreciate “all the things we can only see with our heart,” (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry).

Elizabeth Hall

Director

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.

Valeria Salas

Director

Valeria Salas is a devoted mother, student, and advocate whose life is rooted in compassion, resilience, and a deep belief in inclusion. As a stay-at-home mom to two wonderful children, an energetic 10-year-old daughter and a bright, loving 3-year-old son with Down syndrome, Valeria has built her life around caring for her family while continuing to pursue her own goals. Her children are her greatest motivation, and they inspire her to approach every day with patience, strength, and a commitment to creating a supportive and loving home.
Driven by her desire to help families like her own, Valeria is currently working toward a bachelor’s degree in social work. She hopes to use her education to advocate for individuals who may feel overlooked or misunderstood, and to provide resources, support, and encouragement to families navigating unique challenges. Her studies allow her to combine personal experience with professional training, strengthening her ability to uplift others with empathy and understanding.
Valeria is a passionate believer in the power of inclusion. She sees inclusion not just as a concept, but as a necessary foundation for a compassionate society. One where every child, regardless of ability, is given the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive alongside their peers. This belief guides her advocacy for her son, as she works toward having him attend the same Catholic school as his sister. For Valeria, this effort is about more than education; it is about ensuring that her son is welcomed, valued, and fully integrated into the same community that has shaped her daughter’s growth.
Whether she is supporting her children, studying to become a social worker, or advocating for educational equality, Valeria is committed to making a meaningful difference. Her journey reflects courage, hope, and a deep dedication to creating a more inclusive world. Not only for her son, but for all families who deserve to feel seen, supported, and included.

Andrew Gagie

Director

Born and raised in Michigan and a Texan at heart. Masters in Education and Human Development from The George Washington University. Upper School Dean of Students at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School.