Raul C. Gonzalez, Ph.D. — Director
Dr. Gonzalez serves as director of both the Arizona Teachers Academy (ATA) and the Tucson Regional Educator Collaborative (TREC) at the University of Arizona.
Originally from the Texas/Mexico borderlands, Dr. Gonzalez has called Southern Arizona home since 2012, having immersed himself in the region’s educator community — serving first as a social studies teacher at Pueblo High School in Tucson, Arizona, and then moving on to support pre-service and in-service educators from his positions at the University of Arizona.
Dr. Gonzalez is an alumnus of Vanderbilt University, with a doctorate from Rice University and a master’s in education from the University of Arizona. He is an avid trail runner and climber who can often be found enjoying all the amazing wilderness Arizona has to offer.
Alicia Durbin, M.Ed. — Project Coordinator
Alicia Durbin has been in the early childhood education field for 20+ years — teaching, mentoring, and leading. Currently, Alicia works to promote teacher retention and professional development for all teachers, birth through 12th grade.
Prior to TREC, Alicia taught in a 4-year-old classroom for eight years and was the director at St. Mark’s Preschool and Kindergarten in Tucson, Arizona, for another eight. She is also a member of SAZAEYC, having served on its board for five years, with two as its president.
Alicia is a University of Arizona alumna and has a master’s degree in Education from NAU. She is mom to a middle school-aged son and an adult stepdaughter. She continues to learn both as an educator and parent on a daily basis from her own children and the teachers and volunteers she works with.
Erika Gay — Team Member
Erika Gay is a Senior at the University of Arizona, where she is majoring in Applied Humanities (Fashion Studies Emphasis) with a minor in Retailing and Consumer Sciences.
Born and raised in Chandler, Arizona, Erika is interested in the fashion styling and design industry and hopes to pursue a fashion career on the West Coast as a stylist.
Her interests in digital design have grown since working for TREC social media and marketing. Erika also loves to sew and read in her free time.
Leonie Prince — Team Member
Leonie Prince, originally from Montreal, is a Marketing major at the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management.
Focused on digital marketing strategies, she creates content aimed at teacher retention and professional development, reflecting her commitment to supporting educators at all levels.
Additionally, her love for sports has led her to work with the Tucson Roadrunners, where she contributes to fan engagement and game presentations, uniting her skills in community outreach and marketing across education and sports.
Leonie is also a passionate advocate for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) awareness, drawing from her own experiences to promote understanding.