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Daisy Tucker

UTRGV GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Phone:

956-520-6420

Email:

dlopez80@rocketmail.com/msdaisytuckerafcs@gmail.com

Areas of Scholarly Inquiry:

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  • Curriculum Studies & Curriculum Theory

  • Critical Race Theory (CRT) & Latino Critical Race Theory (LatCrit)

  • Chicana/Latina Educational Experiences

  • Race, Racism & Educational Inequity

  • Afro-Latino Experiences in Education

  • Emergent Bilingual & Multilingual Education

  • Bilingual Literacy & Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy

  • Immigrant & Transnational Education

  • Indigenous Knowledge & Educational Experiences

  • Critical Literacy & Counter-Storytelling

  • Educational Policy, Accountability & Institutional Practices

  • Teacher Education & Professional Learning

  • Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice in Education

  • Qualitative, Autoethnographic & Narrative Research

  • Borderlands & South Texas Education

Work Experience

Distinguished educator, published author, and Doctoral candidate recognized by the Texas Education Agency with Designation. Expert in Bilingual Education, Special Education, and English Language Arts with a proven record of driving exceptional student growth. Active leader in state-level policy, serving on TEA advisory committees to shape teacher evaluation (T-TESS) and instructional standards (IMRA with the State Board of Education).

State Designations & Certifications

  • Designation | Texas Education Agency

  • English Language Arts & Reading (7-12) Certification | Feb 2026

  • Special Education (K-12) Certification | Nov 2025

  • Professional Principal Preparation Program Completion | Sept 2024

  • Bilingual EC-6 Teacher Certification | Nov 2016

Education

  • Doctoral Program in C&I-Literacy | Expected May 2029 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

  • Master of Public Administration | Completed Dec 2015 University of Texas RGV

  • Bachelor of Arts in Sociology | Completed May 2012 University of Texas Pan American

Academic & State Leadership

  • T-TESS Stakeholder Advisory Committee | Texas Education Agency Sept 2025 – Present

  • Suitability Reviewer | SAFAL IMRA Project TEAM with SBOE April 2025 – Present

  • Pearson SCR & ECR Grader | Pearson / Texas Education Agency Spring 2023 – Present

  • Educator Committee Member for STAAR & TELPAS | Texas Education Agency June 2021 – Present

Teaching Experience

  • Bilingual Education Elementary Teacher | PSJA ISD, San Juan, Texas Sept 2023 – Present

  • Bilingual Education Elementary Teacher | Donna ISD, Donna, Texas Nov 2016 – Aug 2023

Publications & Presentations

  • Author: Let Love Lead (2022), Don’t Kill My Curandera (2018), Voices from the Past (2010).

  • Writing Facilitator (2016–Present): Led district-wide professional development for Weslaco, Donna, PSJA, La Joya, Brownsville, Progreso, and Harlingen ISDs.

  • Motivational Speaker: Daisy Lopez: America’s Favorite Chicana Storyteller.

Honors & Awards

  • Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching Award | May 2025

  • City of Weslaco Proclamation | June 2019 & 2024

Humanities Texas-Mrs. Daisy Tucker has just been commended by the 2025 Outstanding Humanities Teacher by Humanities Texas. This prestigious award recognizes her remarkable impact as a humanities educator in Texas. This year, Mrs. Tucker led her 5th-grade students at Drs. Reed and Mock Elementary through an inspiring service-learning project titled "Don’t Wait for a Miracle, Be the Miracle." Their efforts brought in generous donations for the San Juan Nursing Home, directly supporting the daily needs of local elders.As a dual-language teacher, instructional coach, and curriculum writer, Mrs. Tucker’s influence extends far beyond her classroom. She works with districts across the Rio Grande Valley, helping teachers develop effective strategies for improving reading comprehension among emergent bilingual students. Her passion for education is matched by her commitment to cultural preservation and community engagement.Mrs. Tucker is also a celebrated local author. Her books — Voices from the Past, Don’t Kill My Curandera, and Let Love Lead! — have been featured at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, and UTRGV. These culturally rich texts not only highlight Mexican-American traditions and storytelling but also incorporate comprehensive questions aligned with Texas state exam standards for grades 3–10. Her work has even reached educators as far as Australia, who are eager to integrate Chicano folklore into their own teaching.In addition, she serves on the Texas Education Agency’s Educators Committee and attends national education conferences every summer to advocate for the needs of students in San Juan and the greater Valley.

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© 2018 by Daisy Lopez

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