Dora Leija (Alumna)

Dora Leija was raised in a bilingual household in Texas—a state where approximately 35 percent of residents speak a non-English language. So, it is perplexing to Leija, as a pre-K bilingual education teacher, that there are not more elementary bilingual education programs in San Antonio— the second largest city in the state.

She realized staying quite about her concern would not suffice. She is now taking action by bringing her concerns to the Texas Legislature. 

Years before marching up the steps of the Capitol in Austin, Leija was an undergraduate student at Texas A&M-San Antonio. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2013, followed by earning her Master of Arts degree in bilingual education.

“I knew that’s what I wanted,” says Leija.  “My career aspiration is to be a principal, and I knew I needed my master’s degree to do that.”

Leija’s favorite memory in graduate school was a weeklong trip to Magala, Spain as part of the University’s Spain Study Abroad program. In 2014, she took flight alongside fellow bilingual education students and Assistant Professor Nancy Garcia, Ed.D. to practice what she studied. During her stay, she listened to presentations by Spanish academia experts and co-taught in a pre-K classroom. There, gained more bilingual education experience, which turned out to be the experience of a lifetime.

“The students were so loving and affectionate. When they saw me, they would run up to me, and hug me and kiss me on both cheecks. It was a standard greeting there, and it made me feel so welcome.  It was unforgettable,” recalls Leija.

While at Texas A&M-San Antonio, the challenging courses and the encouraging professors made her graduate experience invaluable. When asked to select her favorite professor, she named more than five.

“They all went out of their way to show they cared. I wasn’t  just another number in a classroom. They got to know me and became family,” says Leija.  “We all still keep in touch.”

Leija also remains close with her former Bilingual Education Student Organization (B.E.S.O.) members. As a former treasurer, Leija was actively involved in fundraising, networking and campus events. B.E.S.O. made her feel that she belonged.

Upon graduation, Leija entered the workforce at the Carroll Early Child Education Center in the San Antonio Independent School District. Already in her fifth year, she focuses on teaching English to her Spanish-native students, and goes well beyond the required 45-minute language lesson each day in order to help her students progress.

Last year, Leija was inspired to reach higher and become an advocate for bilingual students and teachers statewide. So, jumped at the opportunity to apply to the Teach Plus Texas Policy fellowship. This highly-competitive program provides 30 Texas teachers with leadership opportunities to deepen their knowledge of education policy and gain a voice in decisions that affect their students and the teaching profession.

Leija was awarded the fellowship in 2017 and immediately hit the ground running. She and the fellows meet monthly to review current legislature that may affect teachers, and decide on a course of action.

“I want Legislators to know the importance of language. And I want to see more successful bilingual programs,” she says.

Leija points her advocacy and educational foundation to her alma mater. She recommends A&M-San Antonio to anyone interested in her passions — education, language and service. For her, all roads have led to A&M-San Antonio.