Debra Cantú, Ph.D., Executive Director, UT Public Schools
Dr. Debra Cantú is Executive Director of UT Public Schools, the system of three public school districts within The University of Texas at Austin’s College of Education: UT Elementary School, UT Charter School and UT High School. She stepped into the role in 2026, bringing 30 years of experience as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, chief academic officer and regional director.
Cantú joined the UT Austin faculty in 2015 and serves as an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy. As Co-Director of the Texas Principal Leadership Academy since 2018, she has built principal pipelines through partnerships with Austin ISD, Harlingen CISD and San Antonio ISD. She also chairs the Texas Program Improvement Network for principal preparation programs statewide and has spent 15 years as an executive coach for district and campus leaders.
Before becoming Executive Director, Cantú chaired the UT High School Advisory Board and served on the UT Elementary School Management Board. She received the 2026 Texas 10 award from the Texas Exes. A first-generation college graduate, she earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at The University of Texas at Austin.
Nicole Whetstone, Ph.D., Superintendent, UT Public Schools
Dr. Nicole Whetstone is Superintendent of UT Public Schools, leading all three public school districts within The University of Texas at Austin’s College of Education: UT Elementary School, UT Charter School and UT High School. She became superintendent of UT Elementary School and UT Charter School in 2022 and added UT High School in September 2026. She now leads UT Charter School’s 21 campuses across Texas and UT High School’s online programs.
An educator since 1999, Whetstone began her career teaching a behavior class at Travis High School in Austin ISD. She went on to teach at Akins High School and Texas NeuroRehab Center, serve as an assistant principal at Bedichek Middle School and spend seven years as a special education administrator in Austin ISD. She later returned to UT Charter School as director of special education and principal.
Her work centers on trauma-informed classrooms, culturally responsive behavior interventions and special education leadership. Whetstone holds a Ph.D. in Special Education and Teaching from The University of Texas at Austin and a certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Business School Online. She describes herself first and foremost as a teacher.
Autumn Leal-Shopp, Ed.D., UT Charter School System Assistant Superintendent
Dr. Autumn Leal-Shopp serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Operations and has been with the University of Texas at Austin since 2003.
Over the past 27 years, Dr. Leal-Shopp has served the Central Texas community as an educational consultant, School Psychologist, Special Education Director, Principal, and Educational Leader, beginning her career in Austin ISD as a school secretary in 1998. She leads district operations and business development with new school partnerships. Dr. Leal-Shopp is passionate about teacher recruitment/retention, coaching and developing campus principals, creating safe and supportive schools, and driving innovation for student success.
She empowers students to achieve high academic excellence through systematic support of the whole child using trauma/grief informed practices and the neurosequential model of education. Dr. Leal-Shopp received the University of Texas-University Charter School Staff of the Year Award and is a liaison with the Southwest Texas Fusion Center. She regularly collaborates with police departments, first responders, and the Department of Public Safety across the State of Texas and directs all aspects of school safety and security to ensure safe schools. The Commissioner of Education appointed her to serve on the Special Education Allotment Advisory Committee with Texas Education Agency.
Dr. Leal-Shopp earned a doctorate degree in Leadership in Educational Administration from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and a master’s degree in School Psychology from Texas State University.