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Leslie Etheridge
Director of Center for Safe and Secure Schools
Email: leetheridge@hcde-texas.org
Leslie Etheridge, a seasoned law enforcement veteran with 28 years of experience, leads HCDE’s Center for Safe and Secure Schools (CSSS). With a strong background in school safety and a genuine passion for children, she aims to lead CSSS towards growth and effective service delivery. Etheridge emphasizes the need for tailored solutions in school safety and aims to adapt programs and training to fit each unique school environment.
As director, Etheridge oversees various initiatives and programs focused on school safety and culture. Her extensive experience includes roles within the New York Police Department and Texas Southern University, where she conducted emergency training courses, created safety plans for large events, and worked on school safety programs.
Etheridge holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from John Jay College. She is an active community member and has organized afterschool programs, mentored girls, coordinated D.A.R.E programs, and facilitated a summer Youth Police Academy.
She is also a member of various organizations, including the National Organization of Black Law-Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA), Historically Black Colleges & Universities, Law-Enforcement Executives & Administrators (HBCU LEEA), Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), and the Star of Hope Grand Chapter-Order of The Eastern Star.
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Gil Gaona
Administrative Assistant
Email: ggaona@hcde-texas.org
Gil Gaona is the administrative assistant to Leslie Etheridge, the director of the Center for Safe and Secure Schools. He has worked with HCDE for the past two years as an administrative assistant, first with the Teaching and Learning Center and now with the CSSS. After 20 years of teaching Spanish and 18 years as a student council adviser, he moved home to take care of his mother. After twelve years of caregiving and accounting work with a transportation company, he returned to Houston.
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Jeremy Foster
Officer of School Safety and Security
Email: Jeremy.Foster@hcde-texas.org
Jeremy Foster has over 30 years of safety and security experience. Jeremy has a bachelor's degree in administration of justice from the University of Missouri. He has instructed police organizations, major corporations, CEOs, hospitals, and educational organizations in violence prevention, personal safety, and self-defense. His previous experience includes operating as the chief instructor for a nationally renowned violence prevention and personal safety program called Counter Attactics. He was also the safety and security emergency manager and active shooter response trainer for Alief ISD since 2013. Jeremy has over 20 years of varied educational experience, including working in special education with emotionally disturbed children. Jeremy truly believes in education and wants to do his part to make schools safe and secure for our students.
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Janice Owolabi
School Safety and Security Specialist
Email: jowolabi@hcde-texas.org
Janice Owolabi is a passionate educator who believes strong school culture, high academic expectations and a safe secure environment are the most important ingredients in providing children with a successful education. She currently serves as the School Safety and Security Specialist, providing an educator’s lens when dealing with emergency operations needs at the district and school level. She is a certified trainer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS). She provides training in Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) Development, Standard Response Protocol (SRP), and Standard Reunification Method (SRM). She is the lead school safety auditor and provides safety and security audit service solutions for several districts in the area. With over 15 years of experience in the education arena, Janice has served in many positions, from classroom teacher to school administration leadership team. Janice graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and is currently a member of the Red Cross Disaster Assistance Team for Harris County.
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Michelle Calhoun
Climate and Culture Specialist
Email: Mcalhoun@hcde-texas.org
Michelle Calhoun is a compassionate and dedicated educator who believes that high expectations, empathy, consistency, and understanding, are paramount in fostering student success. She currently serves as the Climate and Culture Specialist, providing a mental health perspective on topics such as restorative practices, social emotional learning, youth mental health, educator self-care, emotional intelligence, relationship building, and conflict resolution. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a certified professional school counselor. Additionally, she has been trained in Advanced Trauma for Children, Trauma-Focused CBT, Cognitive Behavior Interventions for Trauma in Schools, and restorative practices.
Michelle has over 18 years of experience in working with students of various ages, backgrounds and academic levels as a former school counselor, special education teacher, and in private practice. Michelle holds a B.A. in Political Science, an M.A. in Counseling, and is a current doctoral candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision. She is a proud HBCU alum (Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University, Southern University), and a member of several professional and service-orientated organizations including the American Counseling Association, Texas Counseling Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
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Dr. Tiffany Chaney
Climate and Culture Specialist
Email: tiffany.chaney@hcde-texas.org
As a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in Texas. Dr. Chaney holds a BS in Psychology from Sam Houston State university, a Master of Education in Counseling from University of Houston-Victoria and a Doctor of Education degree in Counseling from Texas Southern University.
As a sole proprietor and clinical mental health provider Dr. Chaney services the Greater Houston Metro. She provides residential, in person and virtual sessions. Her theoretical approach for families, groups, couples, adults, teens, and kids range from Play, Solution-Focused Brief, Cognitive Behavior, Narrative and Impact Therapies.
In her 29 years as a public-school educator, Dr. Chaney has served as a teacher, professional school counselor, Lead Counselor, ACT & SAT Site Coordinator, Campus Testing Coordinator, and Mental Health & SEL Coordinator. She has experience assisting family’s traverse, special education and 504 services, graduation requirements, athletes understand NCAA Divisions and NAIA eligibility, and English Language Learners acclimate to their new educational environment. She previously provided support to professional school counselors with guidance and training. Additionally, Dr. Chaney was a resource to employees and families in their journey to Mental Wellness. Dr. Chaney also provided support for master’s level school and clinical counseling students. As a supervisor, she met regularly with supervisees to review their work, help them prepare to serve a range of diverse clients, monitor client welfare, monitor student performance and professional development of future counselors.
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Robert Marquez
School Safety and Security Specialist
Email: robert.marquez@hcde-texas.org
Robert J. Marquez Jr. serves as the School Safety and Security Specialist for the Center of Safe and Secure School. He brings 26 years of extensive experience in safety, security, and emergency management across various sectors. His work includes significant contributions to physical and emergency planning in the military, the National Capital Region—particularly at the Pentagon Reservation—nuclear power plants, and numerous school districts. Certified in multiple disciplines that enhance safe learning environments, he has successfully fostered a behavior-based safety culture in schools. Marquez is renowned for his innovative strategies and commitment to his hazard program, which earned him and Goose Creek CISD the 2023 Emergency Management Association of Texas (EMAT) Award. He holds a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in Disaster Management, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Emergency and Disaster Management from American Military University.
