ABOUT PASA

For more than 40 years, PASA has been the trusted partner Texas districts invite to the planning table. We go beyond numbers — delivering the context and strategies leaders need to make confident decisions.

By analyzing new development, neighborhood change, and shifting enrollment patterns, we provide clear projections and step-by-step plans for sustainable growth. Whether a district is expanding, stable, or declining, PASA helps leaders prepare for bond elections, use facilities wisely, and keep students rooted in their schools.

Our mission is simple: turning demographic data into smarter planning, stronger schools, and better outcomes for communities.

MEET OUR TEAM

Dr. Stacey Tepera

  • Dr. Stacey Tepera is a seasoned expert with Population and Survey Analysts (PASA), where she has been a pivotal figure since 1991. As the leader of PASA’s client services, Dr. Tepera oversees all stages of data collection and analysis, specializing in long-range facilities planning and attendance zone planning.

    Her role includes facilitating ongoing communication with district representatives and presenting research findings to school board members, administrators, and bond or boundary committees, working well under pressure and adhering to strict deadlines.

    With extensive knowledge and decades of experience in the field, Dr. Tepera has established trusted relationships with district administrators, ensuring continuity and expertise for PASA’s clients in an ever-evolving educational landscape. Her ability to bridge the gap between complex demographic scenarios and the practical realities of public education has earned her recognition as a thought leader in her field.

PRESIDENT

Education – Ph.D., B.S.

Kris Siegert Pool

  • Kris Pool joined PASA in 1994, and her extensive tenure at PASA provides the firm with a cornerstone of knowledge, structure, and consistency. Her principal responsibilities include attendance zone planning and long-range facilities analysis, modeling student projections data, and presenting data to clients and to the public.

    Statistical and computer skills, a strong interest in accuracy and completeness, and exceptional interpersonal skills have also allowed Ms. Pool to effectively conduct numerous research tasks and convey important research results to school board members, administrators, bond committees, attendance zone boundary committees, as well as members of the public.

    Since joining the firm, she has been able to exemplify PASA’s mission of understanding, supporting, and responding to the needs and intricacies of each individual client.

DIRECTOR OF PLANNING

Education – J.D., B.A.

Susan Cates

  • Susan Cates, CEcD, PCED is responsible for developing housing projections and forecasting population growth.

    Ms. Cates’s background in economic and community development and local governance allows her to approach projects through a contextual framework that analyzes inputs from elected officials, planning departments, home builders, land developers, real estate professionals, and others to provide comprehensive projections for a variety of planning purposes.

    Experience evaluating a community’s assets to target economic potential has developed Ms. Cates’s insight and understanding of the complexities associated with municipal planning and residential development. These skills contribute to PASA’s commitment to accurate data collection and cogent, relatable projections.

DEMOGRAPHER

Education – CEcD, PCED, BS

Caroline Couch

  • Caroline Couch plays a vital role in developing housing projections and forecasting population growth. Her extensive background in urban planning, combined with experience working for a leading real-estate development firm, allows her to approach projects with a comprehensive lens.

    Ms. Couch analyzes inputs from various stakeholders, including elected officials, planning departments, builders, and real estate professionals, to deliver thorough and accurate projections for diverse planning scenarios.

    Her expertise in evaluating urban environments and understanding real estate market dynamics enhances her ability to navigate the complexities of municipal planning and residential development. This foundation strengthens PASA’s commitment to precise data collection and actionable insights.

DEMOGRAPHER

Education – M.U.P., B.S.

Tiffanie Thomas-Rodgers

  • Tiffanie Thomas-Rodgers brings over two decades of experience as an educator and educational administrator to PASA. Her principal responsibilities include establishing quantitative and qualitative measures to identify areas for improvement and analyze business procedures to optimize daily operations.

    She reviews, analyzes, and evaluates business procedures to implement policies and procedures that enhance day-to-day operations. She collaborates with the President, Director of Planning, Director of GIS, external partners, and vendors to make strategic decisions that align with company goals. Additionally, she oversees the creation of reports and PowerPoint presentations that communicate the company’s findings and coordinates deliverables to clients.

    Her previous work as a district administrator, facilitating enrollment management, attendance zoning, and long-range planning, is invaluable to PASA’s mission of providing detailed, forward-looking district-specific data.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Education – M.Ed., B.S.

Travis Scott

  • Travis Scott’s principal responsibilities include the management of the firm’s geographic information system (GIS). Mr. Scott is trained in the field of urban and regional planning, with knowledge of statistical analysis and trend extrapolation.

    His strong technical and analytical skills in mapping housing and demographic data coupled with his training in state-of-the-art GIS techniques allow him to successfully provide outstanding mapping components and input into the demographic studies. His experience has greatly enhanced PASA’s ability to communicate relevant and timely data for our clients in a geospatial environment.

DIRECTOR OF GIS

Education – M.U.P., B.S.

Ben Strickland

  • Ben Strickland’s combined training in both urban/regional planning and geographic information systems (GIS) helps PASA provide useful maps of up-to-date spatial information. Strong attention to detail ensures efficient analysis of mapping elements and consistency in the mapping design structure.

    Knowledge of city planning procedures helps Mr. Strickland effectively produce useful spatial data that reflects accurate detail to help the rest of the PASA team produce the most accurate information for school districts. Through his expertise in spatial mapping, he creates practical and meaningful visualizations for clients to understand complicated spatial material at a glance.

GIS COORDINATOR

Education – B.S.

Jennifer Steen

  • Jennifer Steen manages the geocoding process by which PASA uses our geographic information systems (GIS) software and places every student precisely on a map based on his/her residence.  This highly accurate process is paramount to PASA’s ability to analyze and project student enrollment as well as partner with districts in creating logical and fiscally responsive long-range planning processes.

    Her principal responsibilities include maintaining and updating computer-generated maps, collecting and analyzing demographic data, and gathering information used to project future growth. Ms. Steen’s 11 years of experience as an educator allow her insight into the various needs and challenges faced by school districts.

GEOCODING COORDINATOR

Education – B.S., B.A.

Laura Lawless

  • Ms. Lawless recently joined the PASA team after spending 20 years in education administration, with the past 10 years as the Assistant Director of Boundaries, Projections, and Planning Services for a Houston-area school district. She brings a wealth of knowledge in educational data management and strategic planning, aligning her skills in enrollment forecasting, boundary management, and community engagement to effectively support PASA’s mission and objectives.

    As our Projections Coordinator, Ms. Lawless will continue to specialize in data extrapolation, aggregation, and analysis. Her extensive knowledge of special populations and elementary grade programming offers unique insight.

    Her principal responsibilities include preparing comprehensive enrollment data reports featuring summary tables and actionable insights for the PASA demographers. Her previous work facilitating attendance zoning and aligning feeder patterns will be highly beneficial to PASA’s mission.

PROJECTIONS COORDINATOR

Education – B.S.

Courtney Jackson

  • As a key member of PASA, Courtney serves as Operations Specialist, managing office workflows, event coordination, client relationships, and supporting the Director of Operations in refining Standard Operating Procedures.

    In addition, Courtney works closely with the President to manage communications, coordinate schedules, document key meetings, and ensure follow-up on deliverables. She also conducts research to support decision-making and contributes to strategic initiatives.

    She also collaborates with the Field Operations Coordinator on plat research, assists the Projections Coordinator with project planning and events, and supports client deliverables. She occasionally attends Board meetings, expanding her organizational insight and leadership exposure.

OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

Education – B.S.