IDRA is changing the landscape of Texas education advocacy by training advocates of color to influence state law and lead a powerful network of impacted communities.
(San Antonio • November 2, 2020) Today, IDRA begins its first Education Policy Fellows Program. Five fellows will gain real-world advocacy experience and training during the 2021 Texas legislative session, because we know state policymakers can make stronger education policy decisions by working with advocates of color who are connected to impacted communities.
“We are thrilled to introduce our inaugural class of IDRA Education Policy Fellows and we’re so proud of the caliber of the incredibly talented applicant pool,” said IDRA President & CEO Celina Moreno. “This legislative session will be particularly challenging because of the pandemic and economic downturn, so it is more critical than ever that voices of advocates and communities of color are centered.”
Students of color make up most of the Texas public school population – about 72% – and Texas grows more diverse each year. Yet, advocates of color often are not present in the rooms where decisions about the lives and opportunities for students of color are made.
IDRA’s ground-breaking program seeks to change that picture during the next legislative session. Our Education Policy Fellows will work with coalitions, students and families to craft a community-centered education policy agenda and join a network of advocates and policy influencers focused on improving racial equity in education policymaking spaces.
The IDRA Education Policy Fellows Program is generously supported by the Trellis Foundation and in partnership with the John Gardner Public Service Fellowship, facilitated by Stanford University’s Haas Center for Public Service.
IDRA Education Policy Fellows
Dr. Altheria Caldera
Dr. Altheria CalderaIDRA Policy Fellow – Preparation and Access to College
Dr. Altheria Caldera is a scholar, writer and equity activist whose other identities include dog-lover, nature-enthusiast and college football fan. The Alabama native began her professional career as a middle school English teacher. Altheria earned her Ph.D. in education studies from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.
As an IDRA Education Policy Fellow, she will identify and pursue advocacy opportunities to expand access to and ensure success in postsecondary education spaces, particularly for students of color.
Araceli García
Araceli GarcíaIDRA Policy Fellow – English Learners and Immigrant Student Education
Araceli Garcia grew up on the South Side of San Antonio and is the daughter and granddaughter of Mexican immigrants. She graduated from Stanford with a B.A. in Chicanx/Latinx studies and a minor in education. In addition to her studies, Araceli has worked alongside detained immigrants fighting for their right to seek asylum. She plans to pursue a law degree.
As an IDRA Policy Fellow, Araceli will identify and pursue advocacy opportunities that ensure equitable and excellent schools for English learners and immigrant students.
Thomas Marshall III
Thomas Marshall IIIIDRA Policy Fellow – Digital Communications and Community Engagement Advocacy
Thomas Marshall III is a native of Columbia, South Carolina and received a B.A. in English with a minor in youth development studies from Clemson University. His research interests include the recruitment and retention rate of Black males at predominantly white institutions. He is a student in the master of education (higher education) program at the University of Houston.
As an IDRA Education Policy Fellow, he will execute a strong digital communications and community engagement advocacy program for the Texas legislative session.
Christina Muñoz
Christina MuñozIDRA Policy Fellow – Equitable Response to COVID-19 in Schools
Christina Muñoz is a second-generation, Latina master’s student studying quantitative methods in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Christina believes that voices from students and other advocates of color are grossly under-represented in the policymaking space.
As an IDRA Education Policy Fellow, she will identify and pursue advocacy opportunities that address both the new and the existing systemic needs that schools, students and families have due to COVID-19.
Dr. Nino Rodríguez
Dr. Nino RodríguezIDRA Policy Fellow – Racial Justice and Stopping the School-to-Prison Pipeline
Dr. Nino Rodríguez received his Ph.D. in education policy, organization and leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Nino seeks to use his knowledge, skills and abilities to liberate Black males of maladaptive notions of what it means to be a Black man in the United States.
As an IDRA Education Policy Fellow, Nino will identify and pursue advocacy opportunities that address the harms of school discipline and policing, which disproportionately impact Black students, students with disabilities and LGBTQ students in Texas.
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