Guadalupe Garza
Rio Grande City,TX
Summary
Experienced educational leader with over 27 years of experience across elementary, middle, and high school levels. Drives academic success through data-driven strategies and transformative leadership. Demonstrates expertise in turning around underperforming campuses, securing substantial grant funding, and collaborating with state and regional agencies to implement district-wide improvements. Passionate about transparency, community engagement, and creating sustainable educational outcomes for all students.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
Rio Grande City Grulla ISD
01.2021 - Current
- Led Campus Transformation: Spearheaded the successful turnaround of Grulla Elementary from an Frated to an A-rated campus by driving the effective implementation of the Effective Schools Framework (ESF) and securing $500,000 in School Action Fund grants, which supported innovative Blended Learning initiatives
- Grant Management: Designed and wrote competitive grant applications, securing funding for Grulla Elementary and Grulla Middle School to integrate high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) in ELAR and Math, resulting in significant student achievement gains
- Strategic Leadership: Collaborated with campus administrators and instructional leaders across five campuses requiring improvement, partnering with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Region I to develop and execute targeted support plans aligned with Effective School Framework (ESF) priorities
- Innovative Program Design: Active participant in the Innovator Grant, Texas Strategic Leadership initiative, and MoonShot Grant to reimagine school scheduling, classroom routines, and student experiences, with Roque Guerra Elementary serving as the pilot campus for these innovative strategies
- Data-Driven Improvement Plans: Worked closely with the Director of Accountability to disaggregate and analyze performance data at multiple levels, guiding the creation of comprehensive action plans to address academic weaknesses, increase student engagement, and meet district performance targets
- Professional Development Leadership: Designed and delivered professional development for campus leadership and instructional staff, through TRANSCEND and Lead4Ward focusing on best practices for data use, effective instructional strategies, and continuous improvement aligned to district goals
- Monitoring & Compliance: Ensured fidelity to district, state, and federal standards, overseeing the consistent implementation of improvement strategies and monitoring progress through data analysis and school visits to support long-term academic success
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Engaged with district leadership to communicate progress and build partnerships that fostered a culture of continuous improvement, transparency, and shared accountability for student success
- Support for Underperforming Schools: Provided direct support to underperforming campuses, working alongside school leaders to set improvement goals, align resources, and implement effective interventions to rapidly increase student achievement
DIRECTOR FOR READING LANGUAGE ARTS & SOCIAL STUDIES
Rio Grande CISD
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Lead a team of educators, specialists, and administrators focused on student engagement and achievement through a rigorous academic program
- Responsible for directing and overseeing all aspects of the Reading Language Arts and Social Studies Curricula and programs
- Operate on a data-driven approach to student and curriculum assessment and decision-making
- Employ Master Teachers as curriculum design writers and collaboratively ensure instruction is aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), and the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR)
- Represent the school district in meetings and conferences related to curriculum and instruction, and assessment
- Conduct formal and informal observations and supervision of staff
- Counsel with principals and teachers on matters of district-wide concerns to help them improve their effectiveness
SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Rio Grande CISD
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Relieved district from TEA Non-Compliance Status (IEPs implemented as written)
- Led district to an inclusive setting
- Initiated an 18-plus program
- Implemented a learning centers approach in self-contained units
- Analyzed program use and effectiveness for monitoring student growth and improvement
- Communicate on a regular and timely basis through a variety of methods, schedule regular meetings, and conduct in-service for district administrators and special education staff members
- Facilitates the implementation of mediation and/or dispute resolution efforts as needed
- Served as a liaison and member of various district committees to provide communication and coordination for improved services to students
- Systematically and continuously monitored instructional and managerial processes to ensure that program activities were related to program outcomes and used findings for corrective action and improvement as well as for recognition of success
- Involved in daily operations of the department
- Participated in ARD meetings, staffing, and conferences with committee members to resolve student issues
- Delegated, monitored, and evaluated staff roles and responsibilities
PRINCIPAL
Rio Grande CISD
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Instructional leader who organized, controlled, and directed the overall activities for a High School with 1048 students, 96 faculty members, and 80 ancillary staff
- Designed daily schedule to include RTI at the secondary level
- Developed and ensured implementation of curriculum and instruction
- Evaluated instructional programs and teaching effectiveness (T-TESS/PDAS)
- Cultivated leadership in others
- Conducted various staff training on classroom behavior management, differentiated instruction, student engagement, team building, and instructional strategies
- Executed the Fundamental Five critical practices of highly effective instruction as a campus initiative
- Directed development of Master Schedule
- Managed budget and personnel
- Led in the continuous improvement of both academic and extra-curricular activities
- Initiated and expanded a rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) Program
- Coordinated and attended campus functions
- Interpreted policy, procedures, and data
- (AEIS, PBMAS)
- Implemented Data Share Sessions and Professional Learning Communities
- Emphasized and nurtured two-way communication between the school and community
- Possessed strong organizational, communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills
DEAN OF INSTRUCTION
Rio Grande CISD
01.2015 - 12.2015
- Developed Master Schedule
- Implemented Professional Learning Communities
- Assisted in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the curriculum and instruction
- Organized STAAR/EOC and TAKS student assessments
- Interpreted, reported data, and made instructional data-driven decisions
- Presented and trained staff on testing accountability
DEAN OF INSTRUCTION
Rio Grande CISD
01.2011 - 01.2015
- Developed Master Schedule
- Headed Professional Learning Communities
- Assisted in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the curriculum and instruction
- Organized STAAR/EOC and TAKS student assessments
- Interpreted, reported data, and made instructional data-driven decisions
- Presented and trained staff on testing accountability
DEAN OF INSTRUCTION
Rio Grande CISD
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Developed Master Schedule
- Headed Professional Learning Communities
- Assisted in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the curriculum and instruction
- Organized STAAR/EOC and TAKS student assessments
- Interpreted, reported data, and made instructional data-driven decisions
- Presented and trained staff on testing accountability
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Rio Grande CISD
01.2004 - 01.2010
- Assisted in planning, controlling, and directing the overall activities of an Elementary school with 496 students, 35 faculty members, and 49 ancillary staff
- Assisted in the overall 504 Discovery Behavioral Unit Operations/student discipline
- Assisted in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the curriculum and instruction
- Coordinated Student Assessment and Evaluation, Gifted and Talented, UIL, and Summer School
- Monitored and assessed teacher performance to make improvements or take corrective action
- Conferred with parents, testing specialists, and professionals to develop IEPs
- Headed the ARD, 504, SBDM, LPAC, Dyslexia, Gifted and Talented, and School Safety Committees
ADULT EDUCATION, ESL CIVICS INSTRUCTOR
Rio Grande City CISD
01.2005 - 01.2007
- Provided ESL/Civics instruction to a minimum of one class with different levels
- Administered regular pre and post-assessments and provided regular student progress reports
- Collected data from classes for reporting on grant deliverables
- Developed in-language tools and study guides to facilitate the acquisition of English and successful passage of the U.S
- Civics exam
- Worked with the Civics Coordinator and other ESL/Civics instructors to continue the development of the ESL/Civics course curriculum and materials
ELEMENTARY SELF-CONTAINED TEACHER
Roma ISD
01.1998 - 01.2004
- Appointed by principal as Lead Teacher
- Modified curriculum for Special Education, Gifted & Talented, Dyslexia, and ELL's to promote a positive classroom experience
- Administered and participated in training for Student Assessment and Evaluation (TAKS, TAKS ACCOM., TAKS-M, TAKS -ALT, TELPAS, APRENDA, STANDFORD, TPRI, TEJAS LEE)
- Implemented the Dual Language/Breakthrough to Literacy Program
- Planned using a wide variety of teaching and motivational aides to engage students in active learning
- Incorporated learning modality principles into classroom and individual instruction
Education
Gifted and Talented
University of Texas-Pan Am.
Edinburg, TXM.Ed. - Educational Administration/Principal
University of Texas-Pan Am.
Edinburg, TX01.2001
B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies/Early Childhood
University of Texas-Pan Am.
Edinburg, TX01.1999
Skills
- Relationship building and management
- Organizational effectiveness
- Key decision making
- Educational leadership
- Program implementation
Certification
- Superintendent Certificate, EC-12, Texas
- Principal, EC-12, Texas
- Elementary Self-Contained Classroom Teacher, K-6, Texas
- Generic Special Education, Pre-K-12, Texas
- Bilingual/ESL- Spanish, Pre-K-12, Texas
Affiliations
- Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education, 01/01/17 - Present
- National Association of Secondary School Principals, 01/01/15 - Present
Professionalreferences
References available upon request
Presentations
- Fundamental Five - The FORMULA for Quality Instruction, Garza, G., 08/01/16, Grulla High School, Rio Grande City ISD
- Dual-Language in the Classroom, Garza, G., 05/01/02, Bilingual Conference, South Padre Island, TX
Timeline
DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
Rio Grande City Grulla ISD
01.2021 - Current
DIRECTOR FOR READING LANGUAGE ARTS & SOCIAL STUDIES
Rio Grande CISD
01.2019 - 01.2021
SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Rio Grande CISD
01.2017 - 01.2019
PRINCIPAL
Rio Grande CISD
01.2015 - 01.2017
DEAN OF INSTRUCTION
Rio Grande CISD
01.2015 - 12.2015
DEAN OF INSTRUCTION
Rio Grande CISD
01.2011 - 01.2015
DEAN OF INSTRUCTION
Rio Grande CISD
01.2010 - 01.2011
ADULT EDUCATION, ESL CIVICS INSTRUCTOR
Rio Grande City CISD
01.2005 - 01.2007
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Rio Grande CISD
01.2004 - 01.2010
ELEMENTARY SELF-CONTAINED TEACHER
Roma ISD
01.1998 - 01.2004
M.Ed. - Educational Administration/Principal
University of Texas-Pan Am.
B.S. - Interdisciplinary Studies/Early Childhood
University of Texas-Pan Am.
- Superintendent Certificate, EC-12, Texas
- Principal, EC-12, Texas
- Elementary Self-Contained Classroom Teacher, K-6, Texas
- Generic Special Education, Pre-K-12, Texas
- Bilingual/ESL- Spanish, Pre-K-12, Texas
Gifted and Talented
University of Texas-Pan Am.
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