Meet Our Staff

Patricia Rocha, Ph.D.

Director

As director of the Office of Educator Preparation, Dr. Rocha works with departmental leaders across the University regarding educator certification requirements, assists in recruiting students from high-needs teaching fields into teacher education, and works with school district administrators to provide field experiences for students working toward initial teacher certification.

Leticia Botello

Coordinator

Working in close collaboration with director and staff to support the implementation of program expectations, and acts as a direct support for student teaching faculty. 

Monica Cruz

Data Analytic Analyst for Educator Preparation 

Provides analysis of quantitative data from internal and external data sources in support of business decisions and accreditation reporting.

Michelle Villalpando

Certification Officer

Primary role is to recommend candidates to the State Board for Educator Certification. Other duties include advising Stand-Alone Teacher Certification students, processing applications for Admittance to the Educator Preparation Program, TExES test approval, and preparing certification plans. 

Magdalena Ortiz

Certification Systems and Testing Specialist

Oversees educator testing and certification processes, manages licensure data systems, and monitors candidate progression to ensure TEA and SBEC compliance.

Mst Thahsina Aktar Asha

Office Manager 

Manages day-to-day operations for the Office of Educator Preparation, including purchasing, faculty and staff hiring, and other administrative functions.

 

Cynthia Guerra

Student Teacher Placement Specialist

Works with school districts throughout the state of Texas and university departments regarding student teacher placement.