Patricia Rocha, Ph.D.

Patricia has 24 years of experience in education as a bilingual teacher, campus administrator, and district support specialist.

Education

Ph.D., School Improvement, Texas State University

M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Texas San Antonio

B.A., Spanish/Bilingual Elementary Education, St. Edward's University

Dr. Patricia Rocha

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.

Before joining Texas State University

After completing her principal certification, Dr. Rocha served as an assistant principal in Pflugerville ISD, a principal in Del Valle ISD, a Learning Support Services facilitator in Austin ISD, and the founding principal of Alma Brewer Strawn Elementary in Lockhart ISD.  Her work as a school leader has focused on supporting the development of teachers and staff, cultivating professional learning communities, increasing authentic parent involvement and community engagement as a mechanism for school improvement, and establishing the bilingual education program at Alma Brewer Strawn.  As a district level specialist in Austin ISD, she supported the Travis Vertical Team across Travis High School and its feeder elementary and middle schools.  This work involved implementing systemic interventions focused on enhancing student learning and achievement, conduct, and attendance.  She joins Texas State from Concordia University, where she served as a faculty member in the educator preparation programs.   

Dr. Rocha’s research interests include educational leadership preparation and development, Latinx educational leadership, and school equity and access for students of color.  Dr. Rocha has published in peer-reviewed journals including the Association of Mexican American Educators Journal and the Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership.  She has also presented her scholarship at peer-reviewed conferences including the American Educational Research Association, the University Council for Educational Administration, and the British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society.