Start here

Starting in the middle

Hello, my name is Antonio. I am a middle-aged man, living in the middle of the United States, who is in the middle of a bit of a mid-life crisis, and I want to share some of myself with you.

That’s me

I have spent most of my adult life working way too hard, but I am now experimenting with refusing to work at all! As of 2023 I am a first-time dad, thank you, and I am endeavoring to be on a permanent saddadical, a dad sabbatical. However, letting go of the pull to constantly work has been really difficult due to a lifetime of conditioning--thanks school and work.  

I feel I have a lot to share. I have a lot of diverse life experiences, both successes and failures; that through thoughtful reflection, contextualization, and by connecting it what is going on in the world today, or what has happened in the past; may prove to be illuminating or helpful for you as you try to lead a meaningful life and positively impact the organizations or communities you care about.    

As for the saddadical in particular, I will share my parenting and education choices, leaning heavily on my experiences, training, and education in the fields of learning, education, and schooling. In addition to being the primary caregiver for my child, I share my efforts to try to supplement our household income through some entrepreneurial projects, or what some call small bets. 

I will also republish some of my past writing here. Please share your thoughts and let me know if there is anything in particularly you would like me to write about.

My short professional biography:

Most recently Antonio founded and operated Abrome, a private alternative school in Austin, TX. Prior to Abrome, he worked as a middle and high school teacher at a startup progressive school, and as an independent admission consultant to individuals applying to top colleges and MBA programs. Before he dedicated his career to education, Antonio spent time in private equity, investment banking, and the military. Outside of work, Antonio supports his local library through education related programming, founded the Peaceful Streets Project, served on the board of a child bereavement non-profit, volunteered at an orphanage in Bulgaria, volunteered for the West Point and Stanford admissions offices, coached high school football, and has personally mentored and tutored scores of children.

Antonio earned a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy, an M.B.A. from Stanford University, and an Ed.M. from Harvard University.

Some other quick facts about me:

• I was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and raised in the very small city of Pottsville, Pennsylvania (pop. 13,000) in the Anthracite Coal Region

• I was the first in my immediate family to graduate high school, and the first in my extended family to attend college

• The United States Military Academy was the only college I applied to because I was told that I couldn’t afford college without a full ride

• I played Sprint Football at West Point, which is college football with weight limits; I lost up to 20 pounds each week just to play a violent game

• I served as an Engineer officer in the US Army for five years as repayment for my “free” college education

• I graduated from Ranger, Airborne, and Air Assault school

• I was stationed in Germany and served tours in Kosovo and Iraq

• I received an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business after leaving the military

• I worked for a year in Financial Restructuring and Investment Banking in NYC after Stanford

• I operated a Search Fund for three years after banking but never acquired a company

• I moved to Austin, TX in 2010 to help children escape schooling

• I have helped too many folks (friends for free, others for a fee) with low grades or test scores gain admission into Harvard, Stanford, and other top colleges and MBA programs

• I taught seven classes as a teacher at a progressive middle and high school

• I have been falsely arrested six times for standing up to abusive cops (and fortunately never convicted)

• I co-founded and led the Peaceful Streets Project, one of the most active copwatch organizations in America between 2012 and 2019

• I received an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education 

• I founded and led Abrome, a radical alternative education community from 2016-2023

• I implemented a multilayered protection protocol which resulted in zero COVID transmission for the full three and a half years of the pandemic that Abrome was open