Debra Cantu

Ph.D. in Policy and Planning in Educational Administration, University of Texas at Austin, 2013

Ed.M. in M. Ed. - Masters in Educational Administration, University of Texas at Austin, 2001

B.M. in Bachelors of Music Education, University of Texas at Austin, 1992

Curriculum

Leads and develops curriculum content, scope and sequence, standards alignment and performance assessments for higher education and school district curriculum.

Certification

Leads policies, practices and designs systems required by Texas Education Agency for admissions, clinical experiences and certification for the program and department.

Leadership Development

Develops equity-centered PK-12 school leaders. Designs and coordinates learning objectives, knowledge development, and effective practices for graduate students to apply theory into practice in their internship based on the following learning outcomes:
*Develop Capacity for Teaching and Learning Excellence
*Advocate for and Ensuring Equitable Support Systems for All
*Foster School Culture that Values Inclusiveness, Diversity and Cultural Proficiency
*Build Executive Leaders to Promote Ethical Policies and Practices
*Partner Authentically and Equitably with Families and Communities

Advisory Board Member, UT High School District Advisory Board, UT High School District(2022)

Management Board Member, UT Elementary School Management Board, UT Elementary School(2022)

Project Coordinator, Carnegie Corporation of NY and Gates Foundation Grant Committee, College of Education, UT Austin(2021 - 2022)

Leadership Fellow, Leadership Team, College of Education, UT Austin(2021 - 2022)

Faculty Co-Chair, Executive Board, Hispanic Faculty and Staff Association, UT Austin(2021 - 2022)

Committee Member, University Resource Groups, Division of Diversity and Community Engagement(2021 - 2022)

Committee Member, Ethics Flag Committee, The School of Undergraduate Studies(2021 - 2023)

Co-Chair, Professional Schools and MA programs and Continuing Education, University of Texas at Austin(2020)

Faculty Co-Chair Elect, Executive Board, Hispanic Faculty and Staff Association, UT Austin(2020 - 2021)

Plenum Session Representative, PSR Committee, University Council for Education Administration(2020 - Present)

Project Manager, UT Early Career Fellowship Task Force, College of Education, UT Austin(2020 - Present)

Recorder, Executive Board, Hispanic Faculty and Staff Association, UT Austin(2019 - 2020)

Co-Director, Texas Principal Leadership Academy, College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy(2018 - Present)

2020-2021 TEA Principal Preparation Grant Partnership with Austin ISD
The one-year TEA grant provided Austin ISD and the Texas Principal Leadership Academy's partnership with an opportunity to build strong campus leaders and help support internal leadership pipelines through full-time, year-long principal residencies. Graduate students were placed in a principal resident and served an elementary and secondary school.

2021-2022 Carnegie Corporation of New York and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Grant Program Co-Lead for the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This one year grant provides the College of Education the opportunity to establish the Texas Education Curriculum Literacy Learning Community to clarify and advance the role and responsibility of educator preparation programs in ensuring teacher candidates have the skills and experiences needed to navigate, negotiate and implement high-quality instructional materials. The Texas Education Curriculum Literacy Learning Community will test a learning agenda for pursuing the outcome of the planning grant.

2021-2022 The Wallace Foundation Grant
Invited partner with a school district team to collaborate and design a comprehensive, aligned equity-centered pipeline that translates the district's vision into reality, provide mentoring and training for current principals and assistant principals, and engage in continuous improvement.

2022-2023 TEA Principal Preparation Grant Partnership with Austin ISD
The one-year TEA grant provided Austin ISD and the Texas Principal Leadership Academy's partnership with an opportunity to build strong campus leaders and help support internal leadership pipelines through full-time, year-long principal residencies. Graduate students were placed in a principal resident and served an elementary and secondary school.

2019-2020 TEA Principal Preparation Grant Partnership with Austin ISD
The one-year TEA grant provided Austin ISD and the Texas Principal Leadership Academy's partnership with an opportunity to build strong campus leaders and help support internal leadership pipelines through full-time, year-long principal residencies. Graduate students were placed in a principal resident and served an elementary and secondary school.

Dean's Distinguished Career Faculty Award, College of Education, UT Austin (2022)

Servant Leadership Award, Texas Principal Leadership Academy (2021)

Servant Leadership Award, Texas Principal Leadership Academy (2020)

Servant Leadership Award, Texas Principal Leadership Academy (2018)