Sarah De La Garza

Sarah De La Garza serves as an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership in the Educational Psychology, Leadership, & Counseling Department at Texas Tech University's College of Education. She joined the university in 2024 after extensive experience in public, charter, and Catholic schools along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Education Background:

• Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy, The University of Texas at Austin (2022)
• M.Ed. in School Leadership, Trinity University (2015)
• B.A. in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity with Departmental Honors, Stanford University (2012)

Dr. De La Garza's research centers on teacher and leadership preparation with emphasis on bilingual education, dual language leadership, and program evaluation. Her work specifically addresses the success of emergent bilingual and Latino students through equity-driven frameworks. She has presented at major conferences including the American Educational Research Association and the National Association of Bilingual Education.

Her publications reveal a strong focus on dismantling systemic barriers in education, with recent work examining race-evasiveness in teacher development, equity-driven dual language leadership, and transnational educational collaborations between Mexican and U.S. educators. Her research consistently bridges theory and practice in bilingual education contexts.

Scientific Recognition:

• Barbara L. Jackson Scholar with the University Council of Educational Administration (2020-2022)
• 2022 Texas Association of Bilingual Education Dissertation of the Year Award for 'A Snapshot of Texas Bilingual Preparation Programs'

Dr. De La Garza brings extensive practical experience to her academic work, having served as a secondary social studies teacher, K-12 Instructional Coach, Assistant Director of Bilingual/ESL Programs, Director of College and Career Readiness, and Assistant Director of the 1882 Dual Language Community Lab Schools Partnership at UTSA. She is now preparing future educational leaders with a focus on equity-driven leadership practices.