🌞🎧WakeUp to PowerUp with Dr. Nancy Vera!
PowerUp Hero of Education
Superpower: My Voice
LISTEN ONLINE AT:
www.wakeuptopowerup.org PowerUp Hero of Education
Name: Dr. Nancy Vera
Superpower: Her Voice
Dr. Nancy Vera had traveled throughout the nation for almost 10 years as an educator representative before finding her way back to Corpus Christi, Texas, where she dreams of one day establishing a peace and social justice center.
“I visited cities in Texas and almost every state in the country, and it was an exciting experience,” said Vera. “But I got tired of flying in airplanes and decided I could make a difference in a child’s life right here in my hometown.”
Vera, who received her degrees from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, including her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership, has helped many children in the city. Together, Vera and Gloria Hicks identified student needs and raised more than $60,000 for equipment, T-shirts, reading and math software, and motivational banners for Roy Miller High School in Corpus Christi. Vera later spearheaded the effort to name Gloria Hicks Elementary School after the philanthropist. As President of the Corpus Christi American Federation of Teachers, she has led efforts to provide resources for teachers, 75,000 free books to area children and thousands of dollars for student supplies.
Vera, who taught English Language Arts at Carroll High School, specializes in working with at-risk students who are in danger of dropping out and live in poverty. Throughout her teaching career, Vera has created many programs to assist her students in achieving academic success, such as the Cocoa Café, where students took part in study sessions and were provided with refreshments.
“I live a lifestyle that is about lifting people up,” said Vera. “I focus on helping the disenfranchised and the marginalized, and I work to promote social justice and peace.”
Vera was President of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council No. 4444 and, most recently, founded the LULAC Para Todos chapter in 2019. She pioneered “Operation Right Track” a public campaign to raise awareness about gang violence, drug, and alcohol abuse. Under Vera’s leadership, Operation Right Track accepted a $10,000 donation from the Scripps Howard Foundation to pilot a gang prevention program. Her LULAC Council also hosts a yearly “Celebration of Family” banquet to honor parents for their leadership role in raising their children. She also works for an end to domestic violence.
Dr. Vera serves as vice president of the South Texas Human Rights Center and co-chair of the CCPD Training Advisory Committee. She is also a member of the AFT Latin@ Task Force and chair of the Texas AFT Community Engagement Committee.
“My motto has always been to use my hardship and suffering in life as reasons to succeed and not as excuses to fail,” said Vera.
Find out more about Dr. Nancy Vera at
www.facebook.com/CorpusChristiAFTCongratulations on being our PowerUp Hero of Education
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