Staff
A Commitment to Students
The Focus Academy staff is committed to student growth and progress. Over time, we get to know each student individually – their likes and dislikes, motivators, triggers, and unique quirks and personality. We combine this knowledge with our experience and dedication and strive to help each student reach their full potential.
Connitha Tyrer
Principal and Executive Director
Connitha Tyrer joined Focus Academy in March 2012, after an exhaustive search for the right educational environment for her high-anxiety son—one that spanned three states and numerous schools. Her experiences with public education made it clear that traditional classrooms often fail to unlock the full potential of uniquely wired children. While some private schools delivered strong academics, they frequently fell short in addressing the critical social development needs of neurodiverse students. A visit to Focus Academy in March 2011 changed everything—she knew immediately that she had found the right place, not just for her son, but eventually for herself.
With over two decades of experience in manufacturing, Connitha had built a successful career as a Chief Financial Officer and Director of Operations, specializing in turning around underperforming facilities. In the fall of 2012, she began volunteering at Focus, applying her financial and operational expertise to help restructure the business model and successfully pursue nonprofit status. What began as a volunteer effort soon evolved into a new calling. She officially joined the Focus team as Director of Finance in May 2013.
Connitha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Accounting from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. Her rare combination of strategic leadership, financial acumen, and personal commitment to neurodiverse education continues to shape Focus Academy’s mission and success.
Katie Guthrie
Humanities Specialist
Ms. Guthrie graduated with honors from The University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in English, later completing additional coursework to become certified to teach secondary grades. Throughout her career, she has taught students ranging from toddlers to high schoolers, bringing a wealth of experience and dedication to every classroom.
As a devoted mother, Ms. Guthrie has been a passionate advocate for her son, who is diagnosed on the autism spectrum. When he was first diagnosed, professionals told her he would never speak in full sentences. Undeterred, she worked tirelessly to support his development. Today, he is an articulate young man attending community college. For the final two years of his high school education, Ms. Guthrie made the courageous decision to homeschool him to better prepare him for the “real world.”
In February 2018, recognizing a significant lack of social opportunities for teens with High Functioning Autism in the Montgomery County area, Ms. Guthrie founded a social skills group for teens on the spectrum, which now has 112 members.
Ms. Guthrie has worked at Focus for the past eight years because she deeply believes in the school’s mission. She considers it the best environment for children with developmental challenges and is proud to be part of a team making a meaningful difference in students’ lives.
Ms. Guthrie’s dedication to her family extends beyond her son. Her daughter has graduated from college and is now pursuing a master’s degree. She currently lives in Conroe, Texas, with her husband, son, stepdaughter, and a house full of beloved dogs.
Jennifer Rios
STEM Specialist
Jennifer Rios graduated Summa Cum Laude with honors from the University of Houston with a degree in Electrical Engineering. She spent the next 15 years working as a computer programmer for a major PC company writing the BIOS code that initializes hardware and performs security functions for commercial laptop computers. After her two sons entered elementary school, she made the decision to leave the corporate world and join the world of volunteering. The next decade would see active volunteer positions at all levels of the public school system in various roles. For the last six years, she has served the high school marching band program as the Governance Officer, as well as held Committee Chair positions of Spirit Sales and Webmaster.
After many years volunteering in the school system, Jennifer decided she wanted to return to the workforce but to a position with more meaning and impact that still allowed for utilizing her technology background. Focus Academy was the perfect fit! She joined Focus in September of 2024 where she is able to combine a love of learning with a love of helping others, and still gets to use her math and science skills! She continues to stay current and learn new technical skills including recently completing a Data Analysis Essentials program through the University of Texas and obtaining Microsoft certification in Power BI.
Miranda Kinnett
Office Manager
Miranda Kinnett is a graduate of Alvin High School, Class of 2011, and went on to attend Alvin Community College. Before joining Focus Academy, she worked as a teacher’s aide in a resource classroom at Alvin ISD, where she developed a strong foundation in supporting students with diverse learning needs.
Miranda became part of the Focus Academy team in 2014, initially serving as the Office Manager for both of the school’s campuses. Over the years, her role has grown to encompass a wide range of responsibilities. She now manages many of the logistical and operational details that keep the school running smoothly, including student records, curriculum enrollments, scheduling, and day-to-day administrative coordination.
Known for her calm efficiency and problem-solving mindset, Miranda is often the behind-the-scenes glue that keeps everything (and everyone) on track. Outside of work, she enjoys diving into a good book, going to concerts with her husband, Michael, and cherishing every moment with their beautiful baby boy.
