DR. DARLENE BREAUX

Director, Research and Evaluation Institute at The Harris County Department of Education, Houston, TX

Dr. Darlene Breaux is an author and a visionary leader, driven by scientific research and the science behind learning. To support her goal of closing the achievement gap and ensuring that all students reach their academic potential, she has led school districts to the forefront in implementing a “hands-on” collaborative effort between general education and special education. She continuously seeks opportunities to advocate for all students by assisting organizations in identifying the barriers to providing quality education. Her passion for serving all students especially those under the special population’s umbrella has been Darlene’s motivating force to ensure equity among all.

With more than 20 years of progressive experience, Darlene has expertise in Special Education, Dyslexia, 504, Response to Intervention (RTI), Differentiated Instruction, Equity & Culture, and Restorative Discipline Practice. Her roles have included Teacher, District 504, Dyslexia & Intervention Coordinator, Campus Principal, and Director of Special Populations. She is currently Director of the Research and Evaluation Institute at Harris County Department of Education. In addition, Dr. Breaux’s recently published chapter What Do You Do When Silence is No Longer Golden was touted as an “Essential Read” by Psychology Today magazine.

Darlene also serves the Alief community as Vice President of the Alief ISD School Board and Chair of their Policy Committee. In these roles, she spearheaded the district’s response to an equity audit, which resulted in an Alief ISD Equity and Social Justice policy. She has also been a board member of her community’s YMCA, has an affiliation with the Kappa Delta Pi Educational Honor Society, and has been a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, a community service organization.

Recognized as a powerful motivational speaker, Darlene has engaged numerous audiences at a national level. Her genuine openness and ability to develop collaborative relationships with all stakeholders have been key to achieving improved student outcomes. Fellowships with three advocacy and policy institutes provided the opportunity to influence the legislative agenda and shape policymakers’ decisions. In the 85th legislative session, she supported SB 213 to establish Individual Graduation Committees (IGC), which would offer students an alternate pathway to graduation and college. Her efforts included phone calls, personal meetings, friendly amendments to the bill, and testifying in Austin before the Senate Committee on Education. For her tireless work, Darlene was asked by Senator Kel Seliger, author of the bill, to witness Governor Abbot signing SB 213 into law.

Of special note was Darlene’s appearance on Great Day Houston with Henry Winkler (the Fonz from Happy Days), where she shared her personal story of growing up dyslexic and advocating for better legislative policies for students with the condition. Additionally, she was featured in Texas School Business magazine as a “Thought Leader and Innovator in Education.”

Darlene’s academic credentials include a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a specialization in Conflict Management from Abilene Christian University, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston Clear Lake, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas Southern University.