A Passion for Education

Every path chosen begins with a "why." Alejandra Sandoval Garza's "why" began while working as a teacher with the Texas Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE) program at an elementary school during her undergraduate years. It was here, in the midst of mismatched school supplies, tiny desks, and restless kids, that Sandoval Garza M'28 discovered her dream career path.

"I fell in love with the idea of working in a school and with kids," she says. "Most importantly, it was also eye-opening to see the impact of economic disparity on the quality of education that these kids received, especially post-pandemic. During my time working there, it became very clear that many of these students needed one-on-one support and individualized instruction."

Empowered by her mission to fill the gaps, Sandoval Garza decided to pursue a master's in school psychology at Trinity University. This field combines psychology and education to support children's academic, social, behavioral, and emotional well-being. School psychology became the perfect mix of Sandoval Garza's academic background, having graduated from St. Edward's University with a bachelor's in psychology, and her passion for children's education.

Sandoval Garza became motivated to pursue her master's at Trinity after hearing about the quality of the professors, academics, and the opportunities available under Trinity's master's program in school psychology.

One of these unique opportunities is a three-week study abroad trip to Mexico called "Trinity in Querétaro." Led by Murchison Endowed Professor of Education Jorge Gonzalez, Ph.D., and Director of School Psychology Diana Kenny, the program is offered to master's-level students enrolled in the course "Multicultural Issues in School Psychology." This trip gives students hands-on experience in elementary and middle schools in Querétaro, a state in Central Mexico, to engage in professional practice with teachers, parents, and students.

Although it was only three weeks, Sandoval Garza remembers every detail of the trip abroad as if it were yesterday. A typical day for her in Querétaro consisted of visits alternating between public and private schools, returning to the familiar classroom environment that inspired her journey. After class visits, she had Spanish lessons at the Centro Intercultural de Querétaro (CIQ). Then, she had two-hour breaks to share a delicious meal with her host family, followed by a multiculturalism class at the CIQ. Her days ended with a debrief of observations from class visits, allowing her to brainstorm plans and recommendations for enhancing student support.

Throughout the trip, Sandoval Garza worked on two projects to be implemented schoolwide. These projects were her favorite aspect of the trip.

"It felt incredibly fulfilling and rewarding to know that the work we had done would actually be put to use," she says. "Although I have worked in schools before, it's never been within the school psychology context. Learning about what school psychologists do in a lecture or university course can only teach you so much. This truly was a unique experience, as I was able to apply the concepts and frameworks that I have been learning in a real school setting."

This experience also expanded Sandoval Garza's perspectives on how a student's economic, social, and cultural environment can impact them in educational contexts. "I feel (this insight) is especially valuable in Texas," Sandoval Garza says. "We will be working with students who have immigrated from different countries, so it's important for us to recognize the varying levels of quality instructional time they had in the past."

Outside of the classroom, Sandoval Garza had many opportunities for downtime and to appreciate Querétaro's beauty and culture. One memorable trip was to a village called Bernal. Her activities ranged from walking the historic, cobblestoned streets of the village to hiking expansive, sun-scorched mountains. She even enjoyed leisurely time at a winery, taking advantage of Bernal's proximity to the Querétaro wine and cheese route. Sandoval Garza also visited San Miguel de Allende, enjoying the baroque Spanish architecture, thriving arts scene, and cultural festivals of the bustling city.

As transformative as the hands-on academic and cultural immersion experiences were, Sandoval Garza feels that her biggest takeaway from this experience is the value of conversation.

"On a personal and professional level, my greatest insights were through getting to know people," she says. "Whether it was conversations with my host family during meals, sharing my insights with teachers, getting to know students, or small talk with Uber drivers, each and every person I got the chance to talk to was full of their own unique perspectives, experiences, and stories to tell."

These stories and conversations inspire Sandoval Garza as she progresses in her academic and professional career, adding fuel to the fire of her passion for school psychology.