JoAnna Cleaves

Technical Assistance Partner

JoAnna Duncan Cleaves is an education and social justice reform leader with over 15 years of experience advancing teacher preparation, district partnerships, and equitable staffing initiatives. Most recently, she served as a leader with Texas Tech University’s US PREP, leading statewide efforts to strengthen educator pipelines and support high-impact staffing models across 100+ districts. Her career also includes founding and leading a Breakthrough Houston inaugural site and serving as a school administrator for grades 6–12 at YES Prep Public Schools. A former classroom teacher and Teach For America alum, JoAnna brings deep expertise in instructional strategy, leadership development, and systems-level reform. She lives in Houston, Texas, and loves to travel, run, and spend time with family and friends.