Dr. Tracy Ocasio, Member of the Economic Development and Education  Committee on Influential Women

Influential Woman · Education

Dr. Tracy Ocasio

Member of the Economic Development and Education Committee, Lancaster NAACP

Reading, PA 19609

39Years experience

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree GED Degree Elementary and Early Childhood Degree Degree Doctorate in Reading and Language Development Degree Doctorate in Leadership Degree Postdoc in the Art of Leadership Cert Doctorate in Reading and Language Development Cert Doctorate in Leadership Cert Postdoc in the Art of Leadership Cert Superintendent Certification Cert Principal Certification Cert Curriculum Leader Certification Member Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) since 2011 Member NAACP Lancaster County since 2008

Her Story

About Dr. Tracy

I did not graduate high school but got my GED and went to college after having my first child. I started as an ESL teacher by accident with an elementary and early childhood degree, then became a classroom teacher, reading specialist, assistant principal, principal, and eventually a superintendent in DC. I worked with Dr. Robert Marzano developing school and district leader models and worked across the country on teacher evaluation systems. In 2022 I revamped training at UGI utility, and now I develop academic components for an AI-embedded tutor at Neomine Learning to address students' gap skills.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Dr. Tracy

01What do you attribute your success to?

I believe God contributes to all my success. I've always had strong faith, and one of the messages my dad gave me as a teenager was a verse in the Bible that says we do all of our work as unto God, not as unto man.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

You can't turn down a job that hasn't been offered. The next opportunity might be an important one, and you don't say no until you fully explore it.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

Your first year in every job is hard regardless of what you know about it. There's always going to be a challenge, but that's important to work through. Remember it's your first year and show resilience.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

There's so much change and demand in education. While some federal changes have made public education a challenge, in any challenge there is an opportunity to redesign ourselves, be resilient, and redefine what great education looks like for an uncertain future.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Keeping family in mind and finding balance is really important. You only get one opportunity to go through each year with your family. Also, don't ignore your health or neglect yourself.

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