How do I condense 30 years of service and passion for education into a single introduction? As a first-generation college student who completed my doctoral degree while simultaneously battling breast cancer, raising three children, and driving over three hours one-way to attend class, I understand that education is not simply what I do—it is fundamentally who I am.My educational journey began in the rural, low-income, bilingual communities of deep South Texas, where I experienced firsthand the challenges facing underserved student populations. Working 30+ hours per week to fund my education, commuting an hour and a half each way for my master's degree while working full-time and raising a toddler, I learned that persistence and passion are non-negotiable elements of educational success.
My career has spanned every level of education, from teaching elementary bilingual education to high school Spanish, and advancing through upper administration roles including Assistant Principal, Special Education Specialist, Director of Research Accountability and Planning, and Assistant Superintendent for Leadership and Learning. This comprehensive experience, culminating in my Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University-Commerce (2014), has provided me with deep insight into the critical role that valid, reliable assessment plays in educational decision-making.
My work in Research Accountability and Planning has shown me that assessment data is only valuable when it accurately reflects student learning and provides actionable insights for instruction. OnTarget's commitment to helping educators develop assessments that are free from bias, appropriately challenging, and aligned with learning objectives directly supports my lifelong mission of ensuring educational equity for all students—especially those from backgrounds similar to my own. The platform's emphasis on demographic analysis and bias detection resonates deeply with my experience serving bilingual and culturally diverse student populations. When assessments fail to account for cultural and linguistic diversity, we risk perpetuating the very inequities that education should work to eliminate.
OnTarget's data-driven approach to assessment improvement aligns perfectly with my belief that every student deserves fair, accurate, and meaningful evaluation of their learning. Together, we can ensure that locally developed assessments serve as bridges to success rather than barriers to achievement, particularly for first-generation college students and those from traditionally underserved communities who, like me, carry the dreams of entire families on their shoulders .In education, we are not just measuring learning—we are shaping futures. OnTarget helps us do both with precision, equity, and unwavering commitment to student success.
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