Paula Garcia is currently Senior Vice President - regional field executive at Teach For America and oversees a portfolio of 20 regions in the states of Texas, Tennessee, New York, New Jersey, Washington and D.C. Paula was the former executive director of Teach For America's Rio Grande Valley region and prior to joining TFA served as director of curriculum and instruction for the Raymondville Independent School District. Paula has over 20 years of educational leadership experience in the State of Texas and has served in the public and non for profit sectors. During her time at Educate Texas, she was responsible for establishing and developing early college structures in two of the largest school districts in the Rio Grande Valley: Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD and Brownsville ISD – increasing the number of students ready for college. Previously, Paula was also a founding principal of IDEA Academy Donna, of IDEA Public Schools. As a 1998 Teach For America Corps Member, Paula taught reading to bilingual students in third, fourth and fifth grade in the Mercedes Independent School District in Mercedes, Texas. Paula holds a B.A. and double masters in Spanish Literature and education from the University of Texas-RGV, as well as an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. With her husband, Luis, they have two sons, Lucas and Josiah, and live in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.