Priscilla Aquino-Garza

Priscilla is the Senior Director of Programs for Educate Texas, focusing on teaching and leading efforts committed to building more skilled teachers and leaders who represent our African American, Latino, and children living in poverty. Previously, Priscilla served as the Director of Policy for Educate Texas for over 8 years, focusing on K-12 policy within our college and career readiness and effective teaching impact areas.

Before CFT, Priscilla worked for two years as the interim executive director and deputy director at an organizing nonprofit called Stand for Children, Texas. Prior to that, she was the director of the strategic initiative at the Texas Education Agency, focusing on teacher preparation, development, evaluation, mentoring and selection.

Priscilla started her career as a middle school teacher in Boston, New York and Austin.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Harvard University, a master’s of public administration from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, and her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership Policy and Planning from the University of Texas, Austin. Additionally, she has received a Graduate School Diversity Mentoring Fellowship and a Texas New Scholar Award for her UT Austin PhD program.