Brenda Le’s journey from student to faculty member at the School of Interdisciplinary Studies is a testament to the strength and flexibility of the Education program.
Le’s story began in high school, where she discovered her passion for teaching. “I put myself in an Elementary Teaching Internship to get rid of a PE credit,” she explains, “and then I ended up really liking teaching, so I chose that as my major.” Graduating in 2008, Le chose UTD for its proximity and renowned programs, ultimately pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (BAIS) with a concentration in Education, a precursor to the now-offered Bachelor’s in Education.
Reflecting on her time at UTD, Le recalls the impactful lessons she learned, particularly from Dr. Tonja Wissinger’s Women in Management class. “It was eye-opening how women view luck and skill. If women are good at something, they say oh, it’s because of luck. But if men are good at something, it’s because of skill,” she reminisces, emphasizing the insights gained about gender dynamics in the workplace.
Upon completing her degree, Le embarked on her teaching journey, starting with a stint at Lyles Middle School in Garland. Despite initial challenges, she found her footing, transitioning from student teacher to 8th-grade math instructor.
Driven by a desire to expand her impact, Le pursued higher education concurrently with her teaching career. Opting for an MBA from UTD’s Jindal School, she sought a versatile qualification while still unsure of her long-term trajectory. “I was in that transition phase—is this something I want to keep doing for my career? Is this something that I want to try for a bit or try something else? So that’s why I went with an MBA; I felt like it was very universal.” Juggling coursework with teaching responsibilities, Le navigated through challenges, including health issues, emerging triumphant with her MBA in hand.
Yet, Le’s thirst for knowledge persisted. “I decided to start my doctorate,” she said, “and unfortunately here they don’t have a doctorate in Education so I couldn’t choose UTD again or I would have.” She enrolled in Grand Canyon University’s online doctoral program, where her research focused on teacher retention and its correlation with middle school principal leadership, a topic close to her heart after witnessing high turnover rates in her own career.
While researching her dissertation, she found a strong correlation between quality leadership and increased teacher retention. “A lot of it comes down to, is the principal present? Are they around and available to teachers and providing that support? Another was teachers need to feel valued, and if you don’t feel like what you’re doing is being recognized or appreciated, or it’s making a difference, then you definitely don’t want to stay. You need a constant reminder of why you’re doing it and why it’s important and that you’re doing a good job.”
Le’s educational journey came full circle when she returned to UTD as part-time faculty teaching Math Concepts for Teachers. “It felt like coming home,” she says. “When I came in for the interview, it didn’t feel like an interview. It felt like a reunion, because there were people in the room like Dr. Wissinger, who I had as a professor a long time ago. Now, I’m applying to be one of the professors here. That’s so crazy.”
Today, as an instructional coach at Lakeview Centennial High School in Garland, Le is dedicated to supporting fellow educators. Her transition from classroom teacher to coach underscores her commitment to continuous growth and service, and her understanding of the difficult job teachers do. “I’m here to create things and make life easier for you,” she says of her relationships with the educators she supports as an instructional coach.
Asked about her advice to prospective students considering UTD’s education programs, Le highlights the university’s comprehensive preparation, particularly through the Teacher Development Center. “You’re not just thrown in,” she emphasizes, recounting her own journey from observation to student teaching under the guidance of experienced mentors. “You have a full semester where you’re in the classroom partnered with a mentor teacher; you’re not here on campus at all. Student teaching is your job. You’re actually doing it. Slowly your mentor teacher will let go of you and you become the teacher in the classroom, so near the end of it, you’re the teacher now.”
Le’s personal passions also include cosplay as the Yellow Power Ranger, an activity born from a childhood realization. “When I was a kid there was nobody on TV that looked like me; Trini [Kwan] was the only Asian person that was on TV, and I really latched on to that. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, she looks like me!’ I really liked that, and I liked the idea that she was out there being a superhero.”
A superhero in her own right, Brenda Le has dedicated her career to supporting educators, even as she educates a future generation of teachers at UT Dallas.
To start your own odyssey in Education, view our programs or contact the Teacher Development Center.