Desiree Viramontes Le is a doctoral student in the Educational Policy & Leadership Program at The University of Texas at Austin. She was awarded the Graduate School Recruitment Fellowship to support her journey towards making policy into equitable practice for K-12 systems. During her master’s studies at UT Austin, Le conducted participatory action research for the community and school development of college and career exploration for pre-adolescent students in collaboration with the United Way and Department of Education Teach to Lead. During master’s work at Southern Methodist University and study in Cuernavaca, Mexico, she explored the path students take as Mexican immigrants into the United States public education system from rural and urban schools. While attending UT Austin, Le is the homeless and foster care coordinator for Round Rock ISD. Le has been a public school educator for over a decade serving in the capacity of IB coordinator, social studies instructional specialist, department chair, grade level chair, ESL teacher, social studies teacher and grant writing lead. She has had the opportunity to develop, create, implement, and sustain district-wide and campus-based programs for homeless and foster care students, teaching and learning, service learning and community involvement.