Dr. De Leon – 7/30/2011
Superintendent, San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity
De Leon grew up in one of America’s well known art grottos, Carmel, California. She learned to appreciate and participate in art in all its forms. Artists such as Ansel Adams and G. H. Rothe, writer, Beverly Cleary, actors, Doris Day, Clint Eastwood, Kim Novak, Betty White and Joan Fontaine as well as cartoonist Hank Ketcham were part of her small community of Carmel. Time spent going to local art galleries intensified her budding interest in the visual arts. Although, now she creates art for pleasure, attention of others has been drawn to it which has resulted in many showings of her work at such local places as the University of Texas at San Antonio Art Gallery and the San Antonio Art League and Museum.
Personal experience, gave Dr. De Leon a firsthand look into the importance of social awareness, the importance of giving back and the sensitivity of the needs of others. Her early working years were spent caring for elders at nursing homes and working at Christian Assistance Ministry as an intake specialist, counseling the homeless and providing necessities such as sack lunches, groceries and food for families in need. The importance of providing information to those in need also led her to develop a much needed brochure of listings and descriptions of services for those in need that is still utilized by City Public Service and other family service organizations to assist clients in obtaining necessary services.
Her zest for education and frustration by the status quo in her own traditional education lead her to extensively research progressive education models and study ways to reform the educational system so students would feel relevance in it and the excitement it brought them in their primary years. Dr. De Leon feels that a quote by Sir John Lubbock in 1894, “The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn” is still significant today. Her Bachelors’ degree in Sociology was inundated by her studies and research of educational environments and their importance as a significant social entity shaping the lives of children. Dr. De Leon continued her studies and received a Master’s degree in Education where she focused on the role of education in vocational readiness which culminated in her thesis “Tracking the Future of San Antonio Latinas: A Look at High School Career Proficiency Preparation “. Her Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership focused on educational administration and reform practices concluding with her dissertation “Student and Teacher Perspectives on Art Integrated Science Education in an Urban School in South Texas” which highlighted the significance of art integration in student achievement. Dr De Leon graduated with a 4.0 GPA in both her graduate degrees. However, with the feeling that as she says “I have the responsibly of providing the best environment for our students, I need to seek every opportunity to increase my knowledge to do so,” she continued her post-doctoral studies at Harvard University in Boston.
Dr. De Leon has been the superintendent of San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity District since 2003. During her tenure she has led the then small academically struggling school district to become one that in 2010 boasted standardized test passing rates at 94% of all tests and 97% of math tests passed, well above state average. “Our success is due to our dedicated faculty, staff and brilliant students.” she says, “We are a family here and all of us do all we can to provide a nurturing educational home for our students. They are all our children and they deserve the best.”
Title: Dr. De Leon
Date: 2011-07-30
Hosts,
Bjorn Dybdahl of Bjorn's
John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty
Scott Woolfolk of Documation
One Response to “Dr. De Leon – 7/30/2011”
Leave a Reply
Sponsors
Maxine Ptacek
31. Jul, 2011
I accidentally heard Dr. DeLeon’s interview and was amazed as to the things she has overcome and the way she was candid about rising above them, especially her mother ’s lack of concern. As an ex-college teacher, it raised my spirits greatly to know that intelligence and determination worked for her and can work for others. Thank you for having her on.