Texas Educator Nadia Perusquia Named Member of National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s Prestigious 2027 Teacher Leader Fellows Program

Encinal, TX (July 21, 2026) — NIET is proud to announce the members of the 2027 NIET Teacher Leader 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 Nadia Perusquia from Encinal Elementary School of Cotulla Independent School District in Encinal, Texas.

“I am proud to welcome Nadia Perusquia into the 2027 NIET Teacher Leader Fellows cohort,” said NIET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett. “This fellowship reflects NIET’s commitment to build educator excellence and empower outstanding teacher leaders who are strengthening instruction and accelerating student success. We look forward to working alongside the 2027 fellows this year as they continue to grow their leadership and share their expertise with educators across the country.”

Perusquia was one of just 12 selected out of a competitive pool of applicants from across the country. She is a dedicated educator with 12 years of experience, all proudly spent serving the same campus community. She began her career as an elementary math and science teacher and later transitioned into an instructional coaching role. She believes every student deserves access to high-quality learning experiences that support reaching their full potential, and she is committed to achieving this by empowering and developing teachers.

“It’s a privilege to be selected for a program that invests in educator leadership,” Perusquia said. “As an educational leader, I hope to continue to grow teachers in ways that are meaningful and sustainable. I want their learning to transfer seamlessly into the classrooms, whether on this campus or beyond, so that all students feel supported in their education journey and experience measurable growth and achievement.”

The NIET Teacher Leader 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. 

“Ms. Perusquia's commitment to building teacher capacity and supporting student achievement in Cotulla Independent School District for more than a decade makes her an outstanding representative of Cotulla ISD,” said Cotulla Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Ramiro Nava. “We are proud to see her selected as a NIET Teacher Leader Fellow and look forward to all she will gain and share through this opportunity. NIET could not have chosen a better example of an exemplary educator.”

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 NIET events throughout the year, including the 2027 NIET National Conference and the 2027 NIET Summer Institute. Each fellow will travel regionally 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 national nonprofit based in Phoenix, Arizona, that serves states and districts nationwide. For more than 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. 

Read more about the NIET Teacher Leader Fellows Program and meet the other 2027 fellows on the NIET website.