Amy Gonzales, Ed.D.
Dr. Amy Gonzales is a passionate and accomplished education leader with over 21 years of experience in public education. She currently serves as Program Administrator for the THRIVE initiative at the University of Texas at Austin’s College of Education, where she supports campus leaders, mentors, and early-career teachers in creating safe, welcoming environments that promote teacher growth and retention. Throughout her career, Dr. Gonzales has focused on developing self-sustaining mentorship systems and cultivating leadership at both the campus and district levels.
Before joining THRIVE, Dr. Gonzales served as Academic Dean at Crockett Early College High School and spent six years as principal of Nan Clayton Elementary, following three years as assistant principal. Prior to her administrative roles, she taught kindergarten, first, and fourth grades for nine years, where she led initiatives in team leadership, mentorship, and family engagement. Her extensive experience in both classroom and administrative settings has shaped her human-centered approach to leadership, grounded in the philosophy of “lift as you climb.”
Dr. Gonzales is the co-author of The Principal All Communities Deserve and is currently working on her second book, Leading and Learning Through a Crisis: A Social Media Memoir, which chronicles her experience leading during the pandemic. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, her master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin, and her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from UT Austin’s Cooperative Superintendency Program. A first-generation college graduate, she balances her professional achievements with family life, supported by her husband and four children, and is committed to being a role model and advocate for educators and students alike.
• The University of Texas at Austin - EdD
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to leading with humanity at the center, particularly during the pandemic. Supporting my staff, students, and families through such a challenging time taught me the value of empathy, courage, and clear communication. That experience inspired my upcoming memoir, Leading and Learning Through a Crisis: A Social Media Memoir (releasing June 1 on Amazon), which chronicles my pandemic updates alongside reflections from my team, and it continues to shape how I lead with care and empower others.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to build a strong network of peers—like-minded colleagues who can support you, challenge you, and offer honest feedback when you need it. It’s important to have at least one trusted colleague you can confide in without judgment, someone who can offer guidance or just listen when you need to process a situation. The profession can feel isolating at times, and we’re often our own harshest critics, so having a circle of women who genuinely want to see you succeed is invaluable. I’ve been fortunate to maintain such connections with my principal cohort for over ten years—we still celebrate each other’s successes, share advice, and lift each other up, and that support has made all the difference in my career.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in our field right now are teacher shortages, rising turnover, and the high number of uncertified teachers in Texas. At the same time, there’s a tremendous opportunity to co-develop campus and district systems that build self-sustaining mentorship and retention models for early-career teachers, helping them thrive and stay in the profession long-term.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me in both my work and personal life are human-centered leadership, developing and empowering others, leading with care and courage, and embracing the principle of “lifting as you climb.”