First initiative includes Equity in Education Summit on Feb. 9

Longtime education leader Brenda Arteaga is the new curriculum director for special populations in the Teaching and Learning Center, a division of Harris County Department of Education.

Arteaga is a 24-year veteran educator who most recently served as superintendent of schools and assistant superintendent for academics and operations at Southwest Schools in Houston. Before leading the state charter schools, she worked in the Houston Independent School District for 18 years where she was principal, assistant principal, dual language/Title III coordinator and middle school, elementary and early childhood teacher.

The Harris County resident earned her undergraduate degree from University of Houston Central with specialties in interdisciplinary studies and an emphasis in reading and Spanish.  She also holds certifications in bilingual/ESL and self-contained classrooms. She gained her master’s degree from St. Thomas University and a doctorate in professional leadership from University of Houston.

Special populations in education are groups of people with needs that require special consideration and attention in an educational setting. Special populations may refer to students with disabilities, or students who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The term also applies to students with limited English proficiency.

Arteaga’s goals at her new post at HCDE include providing high-quality, special populations professional learning opportunities for area educators. In addition, she is driven to establish a framework for professional development learning to impact special populations learners which will focus on equity, opportunity, transformation and innovation in the educational environment.

“One way we are embarking on this journey is through hosting our Equity in Education Summit on Feb. 9,” said Arteaga.

The summit will feature presenter Roger Cleveland, a national presenter at over 45 conferences which have promoted diversity, equity and inclusion. Register for the summit at www.hcde-texas.org/register (workshop number 11635).