MISSION, RGV - Paula Garcia, executive director of Teach For America in the Rio Grande Valley, has been tapped for the position of senior vice president–regional field executive.
In this position, Garcia, Ed. D., will work closely with executive directors for Teach For America regions in Texas, along with those in the Northeast, Mid–Atlantic, Appalachia, and Tennessee. She started in her new role on July 1.
Paula Garcia“After three years leading Teach For America’s efforts in the Rio Grande Valley, I’m humbled by the work we’ve done together and inspired to continue my own leadership journey,” Garcia said.
Teach For America works in partnership with communities to expand educational opportunity for children facing the challenges of poverty. Founded in 1990, the group recruits and develops a diverse corps of college graduates and professionals who pledge to teach in high-need schools for two years. They also pledge to become lifelong leaders in the effort to end educational inequity.
Some 6,900 corps members are teaching today in 53 urban and rural regions across the country. They join a Teach For America community that is 53,000 strong, working across every sector to ensure that all children have access to an excellent education. Teach For America is a member of the AmeriCorps national service network.
Garcia said her new role requires her to support and develop executive directors in 13 regions. Since the Rio Grande Valley is among those regions, Garcia will also head up the search for her successor and ultimately coach this individual in their new role.
She said the new role does not require her to relocate. “The Rio Grande Valley is my home, and I’ll continue to reside here with my family and remain an active member of the education community,” Garcia said.
Garcia joined Teach For America as a corps member in 1998 after graduating from The University of Texas–Pan American. She taught elementary school students in the Mercedes Independent School District before earning a doctorate in education from Texas A&M–Kingsville. She has worked for Educate Texas, as director of curriculum and instruction for Raymondville Independent School District, and was founding principal of IDEA Academy-Donna.
“Dr. Garcia has been an important force and advocate for improving educational opportunities for kids in the Valley for nearly 20 years,” said Teach For America-Rio Grande Valley board member and executive director of RGV FOCUS, Dr. Luzelma G. Canales. “We are incredibly proud and thankful for her contributions. We know she will utilize her experience in this region to bring meaningful change for Teach For America leaders and their students across the country.”
The organization has announced their search for the next executive director for the Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Garcia will continue to lead the region until a successor is found.
In other Teach for America news, the group recently launched its first 7-week Accelerate Fellowship. The program gives 37 undergrad students from across the country the opportunity to travel to three regions to engage with and learn more about "systemic issues" impacting education. The Fellows are in the Rio Grande Valley until Friday, Aug. 4, for the final leg of the program.
Fellows are given a challenge specific to the region, and over the course of two weeks, they work together to create a recommended solution. They have the opportunity to build context, insight, and understanding while sparking ideas through time they spend in schools, with community partners, and engaging in sessions with key community influencers. The challenge for RGV: How do we improve access to opportunities and resources available for undocumented K-12 students to make it to graduation and post-graduation?
The Fellows are working in partnership with school districts and community organizations across the Valley, such as San Benito CISD, IDEA Schools, Donna ISD, and the UTRGV B3 Institute. In addition, on Aug. 4, at the Cambria Hotel, Fellows will design and present a pitch around their experience in all three regions - Los Angeles, New Orleans, and the Rio Grande Valley.
Also on Aug. 4, Teach for America's national CEO, Elisa Villanueva Beard, will be flying in and giving a keynote address to the Fellows. Villanueva grew up in the Valley.
