Dr. Abigail Tarango’s proven capacity in the field of education started at the age of seventeen as a tutor for elementary students, kicking off her 25-year career in the field. From early childhood education (preschool teacher), public K-12 education (high school teacher), and across the pipeline (community colleges and 4-year institutions, faculty) Dr. Tarango’s passion for education is ceaseless.

Specific to her professional career, Dr. Tarango has demonstrated talent and expertise in education by working in early childhood, secondary and postsecondary instruction, and administration, most recently, in a Pk-12 administrative role. As a cabinet-level director at an urban school district in the Southwest Borderlands, her diverse background has expanded from education, as a practitioner and scholar, to intersections of the institution. From the academic side of the house (curriculum design, instructional, and assessment) to the operational side of the house (long-range facilities planning, transportation, and bond referendums, over 855M to-date) has provided a high high-level understanding. Additionally, as a proficient geospatial analyst, understanding demographics for equity and strategy surrounding brick and mortar, services, or other planning for educational institutions and their communities is an important part of her role at the district.

Dr. Tarango’s has demonstrated a history of working in organizational strategy, leadership development, program management (planning, development, and delivery), measurable outcomes and accountability, and systems and processes not only in the EE-12 but also in bridge programs (such as University of Texas at El Paso’s Trio -Upward Bound), land-grant university extension programs (Texas A&M AgriLife), non-profit (Marathon Kids), and other public service sectors.  Additionally, serving in these various capacities has allowed for community and public service has given her the opportunity to give back to the community that has raised her.

Dr. Tarango values grassroots activism for social justice specific to access and opportunity of education for all. As a scholar, Dr. Tarango is a phenomenologist with interest in three major themes: Women, Latina madres, and young men of color, and their educational aspirations, persistence, and attainment journeys.  Her personal story influences these foci. Through her investigating and strategizing how we better serve students within the context of the praxis of demographics, educational attainment, generational poverty, access and equity, resources and land management, and the policies of education drive her entire career.

Last, Dr. Tarango is proud to be serving in a binational and bicultural community, a mother to three teenagers, and an educada Xicana hija y mujer.