The Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts is proud to honor Dr. Tracey T. Flores with the 2026 Mercedes Bonner Leadership Award. This award recognizes a leader of a diverse background whose work has advanced multicultural awareness, strengthened our professional community, and expanded what equity-centered literacy leadership can look like in practice. Dr. Flores embodies the spirit of this award through a career defined by courage, advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to honoring voices that have too often been pushed to the margins.

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A nationally recognized scholar, educator, and community leader, Dr. Flores serves as an Associate Professor of Language and Literacy Studies at The University of Texas at Austin. Her research, teaching, and service center the lived experiences, literacies, and cultural knowledge of Latina girls, families, and multilingual communities. As the founder of Somos Escritoras, she has created transformative spaces where storytelling becomes a source of healing, agency, and joy. Her work bridges scholarship and practice, demonstrating how culturally sustaining pedagogies come alive in classrooms, communities, and relationships.

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While Dr. Flores has not yet held a formal role within TCTELA, her impact aligns powerfully with the organization’s mission and values. Through decades of scholarship, mentorship, and community engagement, she has elevated equity-focused literacy practices across Texas and beyond. Her leadership has influenced educators, inspired critical reflection, and affirmed the belief that literacy, when rooted in culture, language, and love, can change lives.

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Dr. Tracey Flores leads with heart, brilliance, and purpose. TCTELA is honored to recognize her enduring contributions with the Mercedes Bonner Leadership Award.