White House Author

Amelia Castañeda is the Alexandria Center Director for Higher Achievement, an organization dedicated to closing the opportunity gap for middle school youth. In this role, Amelia works closely with middle school students and their families, helping them navigate the educational system and providing much-needed support. In the Higher Achievement program, students participate in a rigorous year-round afterschool and summer academy program, which creates for them opportunities to succeed and raises their own expectations of themselves. It is Amelia’s mission that these students graduate the program college-bound and equipped with the necessary tools for success.