Career / Education / Recognitions

EDUCATION

Texas State University, Ph.D. in School Improvement

Texas A&M Tarleton State, Ed. M. in Administration

St. Edward’s University, BA in Education, certification in Bilingual Education

 

CERTIFICATIONS

Certification in Mid-Level Management
State of Texas.  Grades PK-6

Certification in Elementary Bilingual Education
State of Texas. Grades PK

Lifetime Certification in English as a Second Language Instruction
State of Texas.  Grades PK-6

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

 
●  DISTRICT & CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION            

Principal, Anita Uphaus Early Childhood Center
July 2018- December 2021

Lead an early childhood center that is committed to developing everyone as a life-long learner and leader.

Use a collaborative approach to teaching, planning and problem-solving that includes staff, families and community members .

 

Assistant Director of Elementary Multilingual Education – Austin Independent School District
August 2015- 2018

Provide support to schools to ensure that all students acquire English proficiency and academic success while accessing languages as a resource.

Design systems to support all school personnel to improve teaching and learning and provide supplemental resources to support the implementation of high quality, research-based instructional practices.

 

Supervisor of Parent Programs – Austin Independent School District
June 2007 – July 2015

Promote, facilitate and develop parent and family engagement in all Austin schools: build capacity for leadership, work with community partners to engage with AISD families, children and staff members.

Support and coordinate the work and professional development of 70+ Parent Support Specialists, 6 Family Resource Centers and provide guidance to District staff working with families.

 

Principal, J.J. ‘Jake’ Pickle Elementary School – Austin ISD

Principal, T.A. Brown Elementary School – Austin ISD

Assistant Principal, Pecan Springs Elementary School – Austin ISD

   

●  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Coordinator of the Center for Teaching and Learning – ESC Region
June 2006 – June 2007

Supervise content area teams: literacy, social studies, science, math, bilingual, gifted and talented, early childhood and dyslexia to provide training and services for 59 Central TX. school districts.

 

●  COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

Education and Community Organizer – Austin Interfaith
July 2003 – August 2005

Train leaders and facilitate community development from 30 congregations and synagogues and 17 public schools   through a $250,000.00 Ford Foundation Grant.

 

●  TEACHING                

Teacher – Zavala Elementary School – Austin ISD
September 1990 – May 1996

 

 

MEMBERSHIPS / VOLUNTEERISM / HONORS  

                American Education and Research Association

                Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

                Austin Association of Bilingual Education

                National Association for the Education of Young Children

                Texas Association for the Education of Young Children

                National Association of Bilingual Education

                Texas Association of Bilingual Education

                Austin Retired Teachers Association

                Board Member, AVANCE National

                Advisory Board Member, United Way Early Childhood Collaborative

                Principal of the Year Nominee

                Barbara Jackson Scholar Fellow Award

 

PRESENTATIONS          

  • Adelante Conference, The Urgency in Early Childhood Education, Austin
  • Parent Voices in Their Children’s Dual Language Journey, Dissertation Proposal Presentation NEAC, San Antonio,
  • The Dual Language Journey in an Urban Central TX School District, Education Service Center, ESC13, Austin
  •  Language Stories that Matter in Bilingual Classrooms, Texas Associate of Bilingual Education Conference, McAllen
  • Value in Bilingual Collective Communities; Austin ISD Schools, Kellogg Convening, Michigan
  • Immigrant Families: Meeting the Challenges of Today’s Barriers in Schools, University of Texas
  • Latino Legacy Weekend

 

Video/Television

  • Featured in KLRU “Organizing in Schools and Congregations, Saul Alkinsky’s Legacy”
  • Featured in PBS “Parent Engagement in Schools”

 

Publications
Practices and work highlighted in:

  • Teaching the New Basic Skills, by Frank Levy and Dick Murnane, Harvard University Press
  • Community Organizing for Urban School Reform, by Dennis Shirley, University of Texas Press

 

PERSONAL

Native Spanish speaker, born in Uruguay, first-generation high school graduate, wife, mother