Every Texas Student, Future Ready

Melissa Hutchison is a State Future-Readiness Director at Xello, a company specializing in college and career readiness software. Based in Texas, she supports partners across the U.S. with over 15 years of experience in public education, including roles as a High School Principal and Career & Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator.

A former campus principal with 15 years of experience in Texas public education, most recently in Denton ISD, Dr. Jesús Luján brings deep expertise in leadership, CCMR, and student success. He has also been published in educational research focused on bilingual leadership and student achievement in Texas schools. Now serving as a Key Account Manager with Xello, he partners with districts across Texas and beyond, providing on-the-ground support, strategic guidance, and practical solutions to help schools strengthen college, career, and military readiness outcomes.

Keva Varney is a Senior Education Consultant at Xello, an online program for future readiness, where she has worked since September 2022, previously serving as an Education Sales Consultant and Business Development Representative. Based in Texas, she acts as a representative for the company at educational conferences and events.

With nearly 20 years of experience in education, I have served both as a classroom teacher and as a school counselor, with eight years in teaching and the remainder in counseling. I have also taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels, contributing to the preparation of future educators and counselors. Throughout my career, I have been recognized through multiple nominations for Teacher and Counselor of the Year, ultimately earning Counselor of the Year honors.

As an experienced Customer Success Manager, Trainer, and teacher leader of over 9 years, I am dedicated to the creation and maintenance of relationships by fostering an environment where empathy and success are inextricably linked. In my career, I have led countless training sessions, presented at conferences, strategized with stakeholders, employed training strategies, assisted with different projects, worked to ensure deadlines were met and written and delivered content in meaningful ways for both adults and students in in-person and virtual models. Whether in a classroom or in a boardroom, I am passionate about making meaningful change in the lives of those I encounter.

I'm a former educator turned national CCR advocate on a mission to help schools connect every student to post-secondary success, regardless of background, ability, or ZIP code.

With 15 years of experience in Special Education and school leadership across large urban districts, I've always had one goal: to ensure students who are often overlooked are still seen, supported, and given the same shot at thriving after graduation.

My work as a Transition Specialist is where I fell in love with post-secondary planning, and where I saw firsthand how powerful the right tools can be in opening real-world doors for students. Today, I partner with districts across the country at Xello to support CTE programs, course planning, CCR strategy, and special populations including SPED and Emergent Bilingual.

But I'm not just repping software! I’m bringing humanity, equity, and creativity to the way we prepare students for what's next.

I’m a former Texas educator turned college, career, and future readiness advocate, on a mission to help every student build a clear and confident path after graduation.

With 16 years of experience in Texas schools, I’ve focused on supporting students’ academic growth while helping them prepare for what comes next. That work shaped my belief that every student deserves not just options, but the guidance and confidence to pursue them.

As a first-generation college student, this work is deeply personal to me. I know how powerful it is when students have the tools and support to connect their strengths to real opportunities and truly see what’s possible.

Today at Xello, I partner with K–12 districts to elevate their college, career, and future readiness efforts and outcomes, helping students discover their potential and take ownership of their future.

Strategic, relationship-driven Business Development Representative with 14+ years in K–12 educational leadership, partnering with districts to advance College & Career Readiness and CTE outcomes through consultative engagement.

With experience as a Principal and Director of Special Programs, I bring a practitioner’s perspective to EdTech—grounded in real district needs, stakeholder dynamics, and scalable, equitable solutions.

I work closely with school and district leaders to assess needs, shape readiness strategies, and evaluate tools that support career exploration, postsecondary planning, and pathway alignment. My approach centers on listening, asking the right questions, and building trust-based partnerships that drive measurable impact.

Eriq Bruce is a Business Development Representative at Xello. A proud U.S. army veteran and passionate about education, Eriq brings incredible dedication and discipline to everything he does and is committed to helping school districts create supportive, high-impact learning environments for all their students.