Debra Cantú serves as an Associate Professor of Practice and Co-Director of the Texas Principal Leadership Academy at the University of Texas in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy. She collaborates with district partners to recruit and develop well- prepared, diverse instructional leaders by building sustainable leadership pipelines and growing quality aspiring principals. Dr. Cantú serves as an advisor for graduate students and supports authentic experiences, which provides an optimal blend of theory and practice.
Dr. Cantú is the recipient of the UT Principal Program Servant Leadership Award in 2018, 2020 and 2021, given to a faculty member who demonstrates exemplary service and committed leadership to the principal program. In 2022, she earned the Deans Distinguished Career Faculty Award.
Prior to joining the UT College of Education faculty, Dr. Cantú supervised principals and identified critical areas regarding leadership development that is addressed in the UTAPP program. She is a former teacher, assistant principal, principal, Director of Middle Schools, Director of PK-8 and Chief Academic Officer. She served as a Regional Director for Agile Mind, Inc. in collaboration with the Dana Center and supported multiple school districts beyond Texas and supported leadership development in other states in collaboration with the team. She valued this experience to engage in national practices regarding school governance, hiring practices, school finance, leadership development, aspiring principal programs, curriculum and instruction and assessment (Common Core and Texas accountability) and outside resource agency partnerships.
Dr. Cantú is a first generation college graduate and attended the University of Texas at Austin with the opportunity to earn her Bachelors, Masters in Educational Administration and Ph. D. in Policy and Planning. Her interests include leadership implications, social justice, American race policy, English Language Learners, leadership development and instructional improvement systems that contribute to eradicating inequities. She joined the UT Austin faculty in 2015 and lives in Lago Vista, Texas with her husband Robert Henning.
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)
Year | Semester | Course |
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2023 | Spring | ELP 384D: Admin Of Individual School |
2022 | Fall | ELP 384T: Sch Imprv: Instr Ldrshp/Dev |
2022 | Fall | ELP 384D: Admin Of Individual School |
2022 | Summer | ELP f384E: Public School Leadership |
2021 | Fall | ELP 384D: Admin Of Individual School |
2021 | Fall | ELP 183N: Graduate Internship |
2021 | Summer | ELP s684P: Principalship-Wb |
2021 | Summer | ELP f384E: Public School Leadership-Wb |
2021 | Spring | ELP 183N: Graduate Internship |
2021 | Spring | ELP 384D: Admin Of Individual School |
2020 | Fall | ELP 384D: Admin Of Individual School |
2020 | Fall | ELP 183N: Graduate Internship |
2020 | Summer | ELP s684P: Principalship -Wb |
2020 | Summer | ELP f384E: Public School Leadership -Wb |
2020 | Spring | ELP 384D: Admin Of Individual School |
2019 | Fall | ELP 384T: Sch Imprv: Instr Ldrshp/Dev |
2019 | Fall | ELP 384D: Admin Of Individual School |
2019 | Fall | ELP 183N: Graduate Internship |
2019 | Summer | ELP f394K: Foundatns Biling Educ/Sla |
2019 | Summer | ELP s684P: Principalship |
2019 | Summer | ELP f384E: Public School Leadership |
2019 | Spring | ELP 384D: Admin Of Individual School |
2019 | Spring | ELP 183N: Graduate Internship |
2018 | Fall | ELP 384D: Admin Of Individual School |
2018 | Fall | ELP 183N: Graduate Internship |
2018 | Summer | EDA s683: 15-Principalship |
2018 | Summer | EDA f682H: 1-Public School Administration |
2018 | Spring | EDA 385C: Sch Improv: Instr Ldrshp & Dev |
2018 | Spring | EDA 382T: Admin Of Indiv Sch: Elem & Sec |
2017 | Fall | EDA 382T: Admin Of Indiv Sch: Elem & Sec |
2017 | Summer | EDA s683: 15-Principalship |
2017 | Summer | EDA f682H: 1-Public School Administration |
2017 | Spring | EDA 385C: Sch Improv: Instr Ldrshp & Dev |
2017 | Spring | EDA 382T: Admin Of Indiv Sch: Elem & Sec |
2016 | Fall | EDA 382T: Admin Of Indiv Sch: Elem & Sec |
2016 | Summer | EDA s683: 15-Principalship |
2016 | Summer | EDA f682H: 1-Public School Administration |
2016 | Spring | EDA 385C: Sch Improv: Instr Ldrshp & Dev |
2016 | Spring | EDA 382T: Admin Of Indiv Sch: Elem & Sec |
2015 | Fall | EDA 382T: Admin Of Indiv Sch: Elem & Sec |