The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is known for its outstanding educator preparation program (EPP). As the second-largest contributor to the teacher workforce in the University of Texas system, UTRGV is dedicated to developing leaders both in and out of the classroom. At the heart of this effort is Alma Rodriguez, EdD, dean of the College of Education and P-16 Integration, who has made data a key part of the school’s strategy for success.
A Vision for Data-Driven Improvement
Dr. Alma Rodriguez has been a champion of using data to drive improvement at UTRGV. Her involvement with the Ed-Fi Alliance and the Ed-Fi Data Standard comes from a strong belief in the power of data.
“UTRGV’s involvement with Ed-Fi Alliance was motivated by a firm belief in continuous improvement through data-informed decision-making,” says Dr. Rodriguez. “We wanted to ensure that faculty used this performance data to address questions that mattered the most to them.”
To make this happen, UTRGV has focused on making data collection and visualization straightforward. “We did not want faculty bogged down making sense of confusing ‘data dumps.’ By taking care of systematic data collection and visualization, our faculty’s time can be invested in using data for continuous improvement,” she explains.
Supporting Teacher Candidates with Data
Under Dr. Rodriguez’s leadership, UTRGV has built a strong system for tracking teacher candidate performance. The school uses a dashboard to monitor performance in state certification exams, which aligns with the Texas Education Agency’s formula for the Texas Accountability System for Educator Preparation (ASEP) pass rate.
“Using that dashboard, we can monitor student performance by attempt, such as how well they are testing, and stay informed about where we stand as an education preparation program (EPP),” Dr. Rodriguez says. This real-time tracking helps the program keep tabs on candidate progress and overall effectiveness.
By taking care of systematic data collection and visualization, our faculty’s time can be invested in using data for continuous improvement.
Dr. Alma Rodriguez, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Leveraging Insight to Impact Dashboards
The Insight to Impact dashboards, powered by the Ed-Fi Data Standard and developed by the Texas Education Agency, are essential to UTRGV’s data strategy. These dashboards help the school measure EPP student growth, employment, and retention rates.
“We use the Insight to Impact dashboards to determine EPP student growth, EPP employment and retention, and EPP initial employment,” Rodriguez explains. “We report these data points to the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for national accreditation purposes. We also share the employment and retention and initial employment data with our faculty during our annual data summit.”
Organizational Growth Through Data
Since adopting the education preparation data model, UTRGV has seen significant growth. The school has improved data protection and dissemination practices, and staff efficiency and productivity have increased.
“Our staff has improved efficiency and productivity in creating the necessary data sets for timely data availability,” Dr. Rodriguez notes. “In addition, our staff can customize dashboards, based on changing data needs, to answer relevant questions about candidate and EPP performance.”
Dr. Alma Rodriguez: A Catalyst for Excellence
Dr. Alma Rodriguez’s leadership has transformed UTRGV’s educator preparation program into a model of data-driven excellence. Her commitment to using data effectively supports teacher candidates in achieving certification and continually improves the program’s quality and impact.
By championing data-informed decision-making, Dr. Rodriguez ensures that UTRGV remains dedicated to producing educators who are ready to lead and inspire in today’s dynamic educational landscape. Her visionary approach sets a high standard for excellence and innovation, keeping UTRGV at the forefront of educator preparation.