Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Trendell.
Hi Maggie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a lifelong educator in Houston ISD and have proudly served in nearly every role across the system elementary teacher, middle school teacher, school-based administrator, district administrator, and high school college and career counselor. The one consistent thread through every chapter of my career is my deep love for serving students.
In March of 2021, after 15 years in public education, I felt a strong pull to move away from constant Teams meetings and Zoom “bubbles” and return to working directly with kids in real, human ways. That’s when I found Mission Squash (our name at the time) which was in need of a College Access Director. In 2023, we rebranded to Mission Success to break the misconception that we are only an after-school athletic program, when in reality we are a comprehensive youth empowerment and development organization.
At that point in my career, I knew I needed a new challenge. Moving into the nonprofit sector allowed me to support students in a deeper and more flexible way than I ever could in a traditional classroom, administrative, or counseling role. What makes Mission Success truly special is the long-term, consistent support we provide to students from 6th through 12th grade and post-secondary persistence. We do not have academic requirements to enter our program, which allows us to serve a wide range of students, and that diversity is one of our greatest strengths. Watching our students grow into confident, productive young adults in the Houston community has been a true blessing.
Being entrusted to lead this work has exceeded every expectation I had. It has stretched me, shaped me, and helped me become the leader this organization needs. Most importantly, it has deepened my impact in the Houston community and reaffirmed why I chose a life of service through education.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t believe any road in life is truly smooth, but the bumps, turns, and even the misadventures are what make life meaningful. I would not be where I am today without those moments of challenge. Each one pushed me to grow, stretched my thinking, and taught me more than I ever imagined I was capable of learning.
Throughout that journey, I have grounded my leadership and our programming in three core pillars: that kids are healthy, safe, and happy. Those three values guide every decision we make. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that more academics, SAT/ACT prep, and added responsibilities don’t always make students happy in the moment, and yes, we get some grumbling along the way. But the opportunities those efforts unlock for their future far outweigh the temporary discomfort. Watching students access doors they once thought were closed is the reward that makes every challenge worth it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Never in my life did I imagine that I would be leading a program where students are learning and competing in squash, a sport I knew absolutely nothing about when I started. Today, we are part of the Squash Education Alliance (SEA), the national governing body for urban squash programs serving need-based students across the country who would not otherwise have access to this sport or these academic opportunities. There are currently 21 programs nationwide, and among those leaders, I am the only one whose background includes teaching and school and district-level administration in a public school system.
That experience gives me a unique voice and perspective in this space. Of course, I want our students to succeed on the court, but what matters most to me happens off the court. The access and academic opportunities we help create are truly life-changing: national and international travel, overnight and wilderness camps, pre-college programs, boarding school placements, college applications, and scholarships that make all of it possible.
As an educator, being able to now educate and support the whole child, academically, socially, emotionally, physically, and through real-world access is beyond what I ever dreamed was possible. That is what I am most proud of, and it is what continues to drive my work every day.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I would not be where I am today without the women who have helped shape me into the person and leader I have become. Women supporting women has been one of the most powerful forces in my life, and it is something I now feel deeply responsible to pass forward to those coming behind me.
For me, mentorship has never been a formal process it has happened naturally by gravitating toward women whose careers I admire and whose opinions I trust. The best mentors I’ve had became trusted friends: people I could turn to when I didn’t know what to do, where to go next, or how to navigate a difficult decision.
To me, a mentor is someone who walks alongside you, someone who has already been down the road, knows the pitfalls, and can help you see what’s ahead more clearly. At the same time I think I also have mentors that have been alongside me at the same points so having a balance of those ahead of you and besides you in the work is vitally important. Those relationships are the ones I cherish most in my professional life, and they continue to guide me every day.
Pricing:
- How much it cost to run a nonprofit and provide equitable pay
Contact Info:
- Website: https://missionsuccesshouston.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missionsuccesshouston
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missionsuccesshouston
Image Credits
A Thousand Summers -camp experience for students
