Kathleen (Kat) Deleon

Senior Specialist, Southwest

kdeleon@niet.org

Kathleen (Kat) Deleon has spent over half of her professional career in instructional leadership roles prior to joining NIET.

She knows firsthand the benefits of having strategic and intentional support as she started as a TAP career teacher in her first year of teaching. Through this system she received coaching that accelerated her growth and allowed her the opportunity to serve as a TAP Master Teacher. Kat was able to carry the expertise gained as a Master Teacher into her work as a campus administrator. As a campus leader she dedicated her time to strengthening instructional practices and supporting teacher growth in order to increase student achievement.

Kat holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and master’s degree in educational administration, both from Texas A&M San Antonio.

Why are you passionate about working at NIET?

I am passionate about working at NIET because of the alignment of the mission to ensure that all students have access to instruction from a high-quality educator and my passion for growing others. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to help build educator excellence through my work with leaders and teachers from multiple school districts. All students deserve the opportunity to receive a high-quality education, and that starts with the teachers who spend each day with them and the leaders who support them. The biggest reward for me as a leader is and has been to see the growth of others.

What was your favorite teacher in school and why?

My favorite teacher was my 5th grade teacher, Mr. Askew. I remember him as a patient and caring individual who always had a smile on his face. He encouraged me to come out of my shell, as I was a very shy child. He would always ask about the books I was reading. He made me feel safe and I looked forward to going to school each day. I remembered how I felt in his class and carried that forward in all my educational experiences.

What do you do in your free time?

In my free time what I enjoy doing the most is spending quality time with those I love. I also enjoy working out, listening to music, reading, and playing golf.