Director, Policy, Educate Texas
pgarza@cftexas.org
737-708-8155
Priscilla is the Director of Policy for Educate Texas, focusing on K-12 policy within our college and career readiness and effective teaching impact areas. Before CFT, Priscilla worked for two years as the deputy director at an organizing nonprofit called Stand for Children, Texas. Prior to that, she was the director of the strategic initiative at the Texas Education Agency, focusing on teacher preparation, development, evaluation, mentoring and selection. Priscilla started her career as a middle school teacher in Boston, New York and Austin. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Harvard University, a master’s of public administration from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, and she is enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Leadership Policy and Planning at the University of Texas, Austin. She has received a Graduate School Diversity Mentoring Fellowship and a Texas New Scholar Award for her UT Austin PhD program.
Community Leadership / Board ServiceWithin CFT, she serves as the Creating Fun Together Austin representative and on the CEO Advisory Council. Priscilla was selected into the Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long Graduate Fellowship.
Joined CFT2013
2013
Favorite Aspect of CFT"I am committed to the mission and the work we do to bring communities together to improve outcomes for students and communities." Favorite Quote“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore." — Cesar Chavez
"I am committed to the mission and the work we do to bring communities together to improve outcomes for students and communities."
Favorite Quote“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore."
“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore."
President & CEO
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial & Administrative Officer
Executive Director, Educate Texas
Chief Marketing Officer
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Chief Relationship Officer
Chief North Texas Giving Day Officer
Managing Director, Educate Texas
Program Assistant, RGV Focus
Director, North Texas Giving Day & Gift Processing/Constituent Records
Deputy Director, Programs, Educate Texas
Executive Assistant, Educate Texas
Marketing and Design Associate
Project Manager
Philanthropy Fellow
Business Engagement Officer
Executive Assistant to the President/CEO and CFO
Director of Charitable Giving, Collin County
Marketing & Communications Associate
Administrative Assistant, Facilities/IT
Marketing & Communications Associate, Educate Texas
Senior Director, Community Philanthropy
Associate, Philanthropy Advocates, Educate Texas
Facilities and Events Manager
Donor Relations Officer, Collin County
Coordinator
Deputy Development, Director
Deputy Director, Programs, Best in Class, Educate Texas
Staff Accountant
Deputy Director, Programs, Best In Class, Educate Texas
Associate, Programs, Educate Texas
Relationships Events Manager
Director, Learning & Insights
Director, CFT for Business
Director, Development, Educate Texas
Deputy Director, RGV FOCUS, Educate Texas
Chief Investment Officer
Senior Manager, Data Management and Analysis
Director, Philanthropy Advocates, Educate Texas
Project Assistant
Donor Relations Coordinator and Executive Assistant
Director, Programs, Educate Texas
Senior Director, Property and Facilities
Community Philanthropy Officer
Deputy Director for RGV FOCUS, Educate Texas
Managing Director, Finance and Administration, Educate Texas
North Texas Giving Day Coordinator
Director of Sponsorships and Nonprofit Relations
Investment Officer
Director of Programs, Texas Network of School Improvement
Employee Engagement Coordinator
Senior Officer, Donor Engagement
Senior Director of Administration and Corporate Secretary
Director of Charitable Gift Planning
Meeting and Events Coordinator
Associate, Best In Class, Educate Texas
Nonprofit Manager, North Texas Giving Day
Scholarships and Philanthropy Officer
Senior Director, Insights and Analytics, Educate Texas
Palacios Area Fund Coordinator
Associate, Policy and Advocacy, Educate Texas
Accounts Payable Administrator
Strategic Initiatives Officer
Senior Donor Engagement Specialist
Front Desk Coordinator
Senior Grants Administrator
Executive Assistant, Relationships
North Texas Giving Day Marketing and Communications Manager
Coordinator/Administrative Assistant
Senior Philanthropy Officer
Analyst, Finance, Educate Texas
Director of Community Engagement, North Texas Giving Day
Financial Planning Analyst
Senior Coordinator, Gift Processing and Constituent Records
Chief Information Officer
Program & Administrative Assistant, Philanthropy
Senior Director of Donor Relations and Services
Director of Marketing and Communications
Investments Administrator
Director, Finance, Educate Texas
Associate, Insights & Analytics, Educate Texas
Senior Accounts Payable Administrator
Human Resources Director
Deputy Director, Insights & Analytics, Educate Texas
Community Impact Specialist
Senior Director, Programs, Educate Texas
Associate, Programs, Best In Class, Educate Texas
Senior Director, RGV FOCUS
Director of Accounting
Director of Strategic Relationships
Donor Relations Officer
Senior Officer, Community Philanthropy
Human Resources Coordinator
Jr. Community Officer, Learning & Insights
Vice President, Finance
Senior Analyst, Philanthropy
Executive Assistant, Philanthropy
Executive Assistant, Finance
Director of Donor Engagement
Deputy Director, Insight & Analytics, Educate Texas
Associate, Educate Texas/CFT Programs
Program Assistant, Educate Texas
Deputy Director, College and Career Readiness, Educate Texas
Director of Programs, College and Career Readiness
Associate, Development, Educate Texas
Director, Texas College Access Network, Educate Texas
Human Resources Manager
North Texas Giving Day Data Analyst
Board Chair; Senior Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Vice Chair; Former Texas State Senator
President and CEO, CARCON Industries and Construction
President, Brennan Financial Services
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Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) works with families, companies and nonprofits to build thriving communities locally and across the state through a variety of charitable funds and strategic initiatives. The foundation professionally manages over 1,000 charitable funds and runs several key initiatives like Educate Texas, North Texas Giving Day and the W. W. Caruth, Jr. Fund. CFT has awarded more than $1.7 billion in grants since its founding in 1953.