Texas Educator Marco De La Rosa Named Member of National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s Prestigious 2026 Fellows Program

VON ORMY, TX (August 12, 2025) — NIET is proud to unveil the finalists for the 2026 NIET Fellows cohort, launching a dynamic one-year program to help selected educators deepen their knowledge of NIET’s systems of improvement to more effectively support the work taking place in their school and district. Among the distinguished fellows is Marco De La Rosa from Judith Resnick Middle School of Southwest Independent School District in Von Ormy, Texas. 

“I’m excited to invite Marco De La Rosa into our second cohort of the NIET Fellows Program,” said NIET CEO Dr. Joshua Barnett. “For 25 years, we have seen the work of effective educators, like those joining us in this fellows program, be the driver of success within schools, districts, and communities. We look forward to learning alongside Marco and this cohort by providing opportunities to elevate instructional practices and apply them within and beyond their classrooms.”

De La Rosa was one of just 11 selected out of a competitive pool of applicants from across the country. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Texas State University and his Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at Tyler.

“I’m honored to be joining educators nationwide to be a part of the NIET Fellows Program,” De La Rosa said. “Teacher leadership matters because teachers are the most influential and important stakeholders in education. It just takes one teacher to make a lasting and positive impact on a student’s life.”

De La Rosa began his career in 2016 at Uvalde High School, where he taught U.S. History, AP Government, and AP Economics. He later transitioned his career to the middle school setting in San Antonio, where he continued teaching at Dwight Middle School, assuming a leadership role as department chair. In July 2024, De La Rosa transitioned to the role of an instructional coach at Resnik Middle School.

“We are thrilled to see Marco recognized as a member of this year’s NIET Fellows Program. In his current role as an instructional coach, Marco continues to show his commitment to supporting students in their growth and a passion for collaborating with his fellow educators,” said Southwest Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Jeanette Ball. “We look forward to seeing how this program will further refine his instructional skills, positively impacting our students and staff."

The NIET Fellows Program was created with educator effectiveness in mind, bringing together teacher leaders from partner schools nationwide who demonstrate exceptional implementation of NIET's principles, emphasizing educator excellence and advancing student success. Throughout the year-long fellowship, fellows will participate in professional development activities designed to enhance their leadership capabilities, including an introductory boot camp and involvement with two signature NIET events throughout the year - the 2026 NIET National Conference and the 2026 NIET Summer Institute. Each fellow will regionally travel to shadow NIET’s Senior Specialists while maintaining their full-time employment status, including salary and benefits, with their respective districts, while being released to participate in program activities throughout the year.

The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) is a nonprofit based in Phoenix, Arizona, that serves states and districts nationwide. For 25 years, NIET has partnered with schools, districts, states, and universities to build educator excellence and give all students the opportunity for success. NIET’s initiatives, including the TAP System, teacher and leader development, school improvement, rubric and observation systems, and educator preparation, have impacted more than 350,000 educators and 3.5 million students across the U.S. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are proud to honor our partners’ success and share the results of intentional, sustained investments in educator effectiveness. Learn more in our anniversary report, Building Educator Excellence: 25 Years of Impact. 

Read more about the NIET Fellows Program and meet the other 2026 fellows on the NIET website.