Lone Star College System leader named to national fellowship for educator-preparation professionals

HOUSTON, TX -- Rebecca Saiz, Ed.D., Lone Star College System executive director, Educator Preparation Program, has been named an Impact Academy fellow through national nonprofit organization Deans for Impact (DFI). Saiz joins a cohort of leaders chosen for their commitment to strengthening educator preparation and ensuring future teachers are prepared to meet the needs of all students.

“Being part of Deans for Impact means joining a community of leaders who are all working toward the same goal: preparing outstanding teachers,” Saiz said. “I hope to bring back practical strategies, new partnerships, and fresh perspectives that will strengthen our program and ultimately benefit the students and communities we serve.”

Saiz is one of 24 leaders in the fellowship's 11th cohort. This year's fellows represent public and private universities, community colleges, national programs, school districts and innovative teacher preparation pathways.

Saiz leads the Educator Preparation Program at LSCS, which offers pathways to teacher certification through a Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching, or through the Alternative Teacher Certification Program for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree.

Through the Impact Academy fellowship, DFI supports leaders prioritizing evidence-based instruction, navigating their teams through continuous change, deepening partnerships with schools and communities, and building accessible, high-quality pathways into teaching.

“Educator-preparation leaders are being asked to make important decisions in a moment of rapid change,” said Valerie Sakimura, CEO of DFI. “This cohort of leaders stands out for their willingness to engage in complexity with deep care for students, their learning and their futures. We’re excited to support these leaders as they meet the moment and help ensure every student is taught by well-prepared teachers.”

Fellows will participate in in-person and virtual monthly cohort-based learning, receive one-on-one coaching from veteran leaders and engage in peer consultancy focused on the field's most pressing challenges. Over the course of the year, they will workshop solutions to adaptive challenges: complex problems leaders face when change depends not only on technical or structural fixes, but on shifting mindsets, relationships and ways of working.

To learn more about this year’s Impact Academy cohort, visit DeansForImpact.org/Impact-Academy-Cohort11.