Paul Castro

Chief of the Center for Strategic District Support @ Region 4 ESC

About

Driven by a passion for student empowerment, Paul Castro has dedicated 30 years to building schools where academic success goes hand-in-hand with fostering students' sense of ownership over their learning journeys. From his success as a transformative principal in Houston ISD to launching the innovative A+UP Charter School, he consistently fosters vibrant learning communities. His leadership at KIPP Houston inspired school leaders nationwide. At A+UP, students are achieving academic success and developing the vital life skills needed to thrive long after graduation. Now at Region 4 ESC, Paul leads a dynamic and experienced team that serves the Greater Houston community. He works with superintendents and school boards to ensure that they have the support they need to drive student learning outcomes.

Country

United States

City

Houston

Industry

Education Management

Skill

Project Management, Board Training, Executive Management, Management, Employee Learning & Development, Leadership Development, SEL for Leaders and Leadership Teams, Educational Leadership, Curriculum Design, Curriculum Development, Staff Development, Teacher Training, Educational Technology, Teaching, K-12, Classroom, Classroom Management, Lesson Planning, Early Childhood Education, Education Reform

Experience

Chief of the Center for Strategic District Support

Region 4 ESC

2025-5 - Present · 1 yr 5 mos

Houston, Texas, United States

Lead a premier division focused on governance excellence, leadership development, and district improvement. Through cutting-edge training, strategic support, and leadership coaching, ensure that governance structures, and campus/district leadership teams are positioned to drive sustained student achievement, growth, and operational excellence.

Guest Panelist

Fox26 Houston

2023-11 - Present · 2 yrs 11 mos

Houston, Texas, United States

Monthly contributor to weekly news program on Fox 26 - Houston.

Superintendent

A+UP Charter School

2015-7 - 2025-5 · 9 yrs 11 mos

Houston, Texas, United States

Founding superintendent of innovative personalized learning micro-school charter district. • Secured one of only five Texas Generation 20 charters and the only one in Houston that cycle. • Pursued, solicited, and received over $1.5M of philanthropic and competitive grant funding to support the school launch • In Year 1 of the charter, achieved a balanced budget while also growing 7th and 8th-grade students more than 99% of campuses nationwide, according to NWEA/MAP. The Third Ward campus outperformed all other Houston-based KIPP, HISD, and Yes Prep campuses that served a similar demographic mix. • In Year 2 of the charter A+UP again achieved 97th and 99% percentile nationally for conditional growth on NWEA/MAP while operating on a budget surplus. • in 2021, financed a $900,000 construction buildout of the leased facility through grants, forgivable and low-interest loans • Raised $645,000 in grants for the expansion of A+UP High School in 2023-24 from City Seed Fund, NewSchools Venture Fund, and The Sarofim Foundation. • Consistently scored B on Texas A-F in Growth Domain, serving 82% low-SES students in the urban core of Houston

Director of School Performance

Texas A+ Challenge

2013-6 - 2015-7 · 2 yrs 2 mos

Greater Houston

• Developed a customized leadership learning curriculum for districts like Humble ISD and Spring Branch ISD. • Achieved successful outcomes by tailoring the program to meet the unique needs of each district.

Field Advisor

Rice University

2010-7 - 2014-8 · 4 yrs 2 mos

Houston, Texas, United States

REEP Field Advisor for program participants

Fisher Fellow Selection Committee

KIPP Foundation

2011-6 - 2013-8 · 2 yrs 3 mos

United States

• Selected for the KIPP Foundation Fisher Fellow Selection Committee to choose the next generation of KIPP school leaders. • Collaborated with leaders from across the KIPP national network to evaluate and select candidates. • Contributed to shaping the future of KIPP schools by identifying top talent for leadership roles.