Short Bio of Dr. María "Cuca" Robledo Montecel

Dr. María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel is executive director of the Intercultural Development Research Association, an independent, private non-profit organization dedicated to equity and excellence in education. A nationally-recognized expert on the prevention and recovery of dropouts, Dr. Robledo Montecel directed the first statewide study of dropouts in Texas. Under her leadership, IDRA’s innovative dropout prevention program, the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program, has made a visible difference in the lives of more than 375,000 children, families and educators. Dr. Robledo Montecel has authored and co-authored a number of publications focusing on effective bilingual education, school holding power, and parent leadership. Dr. Robledo Montecel holds a bachelor of social work degree from Our Lady of the Lake University and a master’s degree in educational evaluation from Antioch College. She earned a doctorate in research and evaluation from the Urban Education program at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. She has been named among the top 100 Hispanic influentials by Hispanic Business magazine.