Starting in 2011, Texas Exes alumni magazine the Alcalde has annually recognized inspiring professors from The University of Texas at Austin—nominated by alumni—as the Texas 10. Since 2015, five College of Education faculty members have been named to the list.
In 2026, COE Prof. Debra Cantú was among those honored. Below, read the Alcalde’s profile of Cantú, who was recently selected as the next executive director for the UT pre-K through 12th grade school districts, which include UT Elementary School, the UT Charter School District and UT High School.
B.M., Music Education, ’92; M.Ed., Educational Administration, ’01; Ph.D., Policy and Planning in Educational Administration, ’13; Life Member
Associate professor of practice, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy; co-director, Texas Principal Leadership Academy
Years at UT: 11
Debra Cantú may have joined the UT faculty in 2015, but she first stepped foot on campus as a college freshman more than 35 years ago. She would go on to earn not only her bachelor’s degree, but also her master’s and doctorate at UT—the consummate Life Member of the Texas Exes. She did spend some time away from the Forty Acres, serving at every level of education, from classroom teacher to regional director of the UT Austin Principalship Program. I got my doctorate so that I could lead at the district level,
Cantú says, and I loved it so much that I wanted to develop other leaders.
Now she does just that, as the co-director of the Texas Principal Leadership Academy master’s program. What I love about being in the field of education is that we do touch every grade level,
Cantú says. We truly are impacting and influencing the development of every career in the world.
Her own profession has weathered its share of difficulty since the pandemic, such as student mental health and teacher burnout. Whenever she needs to ground herself, she’ll head to the South Mall, where the Tower has overseen many a core memory—from visiting with her parents and siblings after a national championship win to playing concerts as a Longhorn Band member, to turning in the final paperwork to complete her doctorate. When I see the Tower, I’m just filled with so many different emotions,
Cantú says. Such pride.
Photo credit: Matt Wright-Steel for the Alcalde
