Denise Collier

With a teacher’s servant heart and a vision for equitable access to high-quality learning for all students, Denise Collier has served public schools and students in Texas and across the nation for over 30 years. At the national level, Denise served as a member of the Council of the Great City School’s standards review committee and as a member of the Department of Education’s No Child Left Behind technical advisory panel. At the state level, she coordinated the development of a field guide for a New Vision for Public Education in Texas for the Texas Association of School Administrators. At the local level, she led teaching and learning systems in several Texas school districts, most recently as Chief Academic Officer of the Dallas public schools. Denise’s work as a teacher, teacher coach, curriculum and instruction expert, and district-level leader has always been rooted in the firm belief that, as Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”

As a beneficiary of public schooling, Denise grasps the personal, familial, and community advancements made possible through access to high-quality education. In her current work as a fellow with the IFL at the University of Pittsburgh, Denise supports equity-centered, college-ready literacy efforts in Dallas public schools to ensure that many more learners reap the benefits of a high-quality education. With the next generation of learners in mind, Denise is an adjunct professor in doctoral programs at Texas State University and Baylor University supporting the learning and development of future school district superintendents and senior-level leaders.

A native of Texas, Denise received a bachelor’s degree in Education from Angelo State University, a master’s degree in Reading Education from East Texas State University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin