Dr. Debra Cantú is Executive Director of UT Public Schools, the system of three public school districts within The University of Texas at Austin's College of Education: UT Elementary School, UT Charter School and UT High School. She stepped into the role in 2026, bringing 30 years of experience as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, chief academic officer and regional director.
Cantú joined the UT Austin faculty in 2015 and serves as an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy. As Co-Director of the Texas Principal Leadership Academy since 2018, she has built principal pipelines through partnerships with Austin ISD, Harlingen CISD and San Antonio ISD. She also chairs the Texas Program Improvement Network for principal preparation programs statewide and has spent 15 years as an executive coach for district and campus leaders.
Before becoming Executive Director, Cantú chaired the UT High School Advisory Board and served on the UT Elementary School Management Board. She received the 2026 Texas 10 award from the Texas Exes. A first-generation college graduate, she earned her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees at The University of Texas at Austin.