John D. Gatica M.ED.
Phone: (806) 420 3797 Email: jgatica@informativesolutions.org
Founder / Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives
John D. Gatica served the Texas public school system for thirty years as a teacher, coach, and school administrator. During his tenure in the public schools, John was recognized as the National Coca-Cola Educator of Distinction, an award given annually to one educator in the country. John was also recognized by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals as an outstanding principal in 2007. In 2008, John was selected to attend the prestigious Oxford Round Table at Oxford University. In 2010, Raise Your Hand Texas selected him to attend a Leadership Summer Institute at Harvard University.
John left public education in 2015 to launch Informative Solutions L.L.C. a consulting firm that provides educational services to school systems across the country. Today, John has integrated his understanding of contemporary issues in public education in order to link such understanding to the educational needs of all students with an emphasis on capable students that have historically been underrepresented in colleges and universities.
John is the founder of LEAD (Let Education Achieve Dreams) a College, Career, and Life Skills readiness system dedicated to serving students in rural communities. The System is designed to create a college-going culture within its partnership schools while implementing a system of student accountability. He has lived firsthand the motto of the LEAD program, “From Cradle to College,” and strives to nurture students into reaching and exceeding their dreams.
LaChandra Fitzgerald Ph.D
Executive Vice-President
Dr. LaChandra Fitzgerald is a 20 year educator and serves as the Executive Vice President of Informative Solutions, LLC. Dr. Fitzgerald’s passion and love for education and people drives her to live a life of service. Dr. Fitzgerald comes with a vast background of teaching, coaching, curriculum writing and instructional design but the most important role she has played has been the role of a classroom teacher.
“My students taught me more than I could have ever taught them,” Dr. Fitzgerald shared with our team. “They taught me all the things I needed to know to become not just a better teacher but a better person. It wasn’t my plan, but it was the plan for my life, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Jose Flores
Chief Financial Officer
Jose joined Informative Solutions, LLC. in 2020 as the Chief Financial Officer. Jose was/is a tax professional for a tax firm and a mathematics teacher from Texas. Jose believes that every student has the capacity to learn and to aspire to do anything. He is currently AFSP certified and working on becoming an EA. While teaching Jose was able to complete many training sessions over college and career readiness and he is ready to share the skills and knowledge he has attained with any and everyone. He holds a BS in applied mathematics from Texas State University – San Marcos. Knowledge is power, never forget that. Jose Flores
Norma Ramirez
Regional Director for Partnership Development
Norma Michelle Ramirez received her Bachelor of Science in Allied Health from Texas A&M University in College Station, May 2020. She grew up in a small South Texas border town that offered the rich continuity of her culture and language. Her grandparents allowed her to appreciate the disparities in age, health conditions, and accessible healthcare and to realize that the power of faith is as much a healing grace as is medicine and accessible treatment. Norma hopes to leave a legacy of selfless service with those whom poverty is an obstacle to the care they need. Her volunteer opportunities have been mostly in physical therapy settings with athletes and autistic children. In the fall of 2021, Ms. Ramirez will forge aspects of science, therapy, and humanistic values into graduate studies as she pursues her Doctor of Physical Therapy. Serving the underserved with heart, mind, and soul will be the ultimate fulfillment of her career goals.
Angela Contreras
Regional Director for Partnership Development
Angela Contreras is a recent graduate of Texas Tech University and currently holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies. She is also currently working on her Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies. Angela is a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Reserves and is dedicated to serving those around her. Growing up in a small South Texas town, Angela knows what it is like to have big dreams and how important community support is to achieve those dreams; this is why she believes in the mission of LEAD. In her spare time, Angela enjoys writing poetry, reading self-developmental books, discovering new music and eating frozen yogurt.
Mark Cavazos
Vice-President of Information Technology
Mark Cavazos is a native West Texan and a graduate from Texas Tech University. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems. He is an I.T. Professional for a software firm. Mark joined Informative Solutions, LLC in October 2020 as Vice-President of Information Technology. He not only brings a wealth of technical knowledge to our team but also 10 years of experience working with a local nonprofit that serves at risk youth in his community. He’s worked with over 500 students and has seen first-hand the disparities they face. Mark believes that today’s education system doesn’t account for what is happening in our student’s homes and the kind of environment they are living in. Many students are falling behind because of challenges they are facing outside of their schools. Mark believes it is time for a new approach and that is LEAD.