District Chief Academic Officer Dr. Faviola Cantú Named to Future Chiefs Leadership Program

Disponible en: Español

Aldine ISD’s Chief Academic Office, Dr. Faviola Cantú, is one of 10 individuals nationwide selected for the eighth cohort of the Chiefs for Change Future Chiefs leadership development program. According to the organization, Future Chiefs comprises a pipeline of talented, diverse, bold, and innovative leaders helping transform our nation’s schools and preparing to lead major school systems. As participants in the 18-month-long program, Future Chiefs will engage in collective learning on issues central to effective leadership and receive coaching and mentorship from members of the nationwide Chiefs for Change network.

“I am deeply honored to be selected for the Chiefs for Change Future Chiefs leadership development program. This opportunity to collaborate with and learn from some of the nation’s most innovative and dedicated education leaders is inspiring. I look forward to leveraging this experience to further our mission of providing high-quality education and ensuring that every student in our district has the opportunity to succeed.”

As Aldine ISD’s Chief Academic Officer since 2023, Cantú provides leadership in planning, developing, maintaining, and evaluating the district’s curriculum and instruction. With oversight over several departments, she will provide direct supervision to curriculum staff and guide instructional development. She oversees several departments/offices: Special Education, Multilingual, Teaching and Learning, Library Media Services, Professional Learning and Technology Integration, Technology Innovation and Initiatives, and Choice Schools.

Cantú has 20 years of experience in education. Before her current role, Cantú served as a School Assistant Superintendent (SAS) of Elementary Schools. As a SAS, she supported principals to ensure they reached students where they were while challenging them. Before joining Aldine ISD in June 2019, Cantú served as the Director of Multilingual Programs for Sheldon ISD, where she was responsible for implementing curriculum and developing and leading district initiatives, including a dual language program that begins in prekindergarten and extends to seventh grade. Cantú has also served as an assistant principal and principal.

This highly competitive program offers emerging leaders like Dr. Cantú the opportunity to engage in collaborative learning experiences, equipping them with the skills and tools necessary for impactful leadership. With the support and mentorship of tenured members from the Chiefs for Change network, the program is designed to prepare participants for leadership roles as superintendents in large districts or state education systems.

“We created the Future Chiefs program to cultivate a group of robust leaders ready to serve and boldly face the challenges affecting the current education landscape. As superintendents and stakeholders in education, we are responsible for supporting the next generation of leaders by sharing our learnings and experience,” said Chiefs for Change CEO Robert Runcie. “The participants in our latest Future Chiefs cohort will play a pivotal role in reshaping public education as systems move into this next phase of post-pandemic recovery. Our network will support their journey and stay committed to striving for education equity and excellence for all students.”

Participants of the Future Chiefs program receive training and benefits, including systems management, various virtual and in-person expert-led sessions, shadowing current chiefs, individualized coaching, media preparation and board relations, and access to intensive job search and placement support. The program combines support from cohort peers with highly customized mentorship from former superintendents who serve as chiefs in residence, current systems leaders, and other experts.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core to the Future Chiefs program: 80% of those in Cohort 8 are leaders of color, and 50% are women. The group is also politically and geographically diverse.

The Future Chiefs program has a proven track record of success. Of the 58 leaders who participated in the first seven cohorts, an impressive 55% have become superintendents or state chiefs. This statistic shows the program’s effectiveness in developing impactful educational leaders.

To learn more about the Future Chiefs program, visit the Chiefs for Change Leadership Development webpage.