Bernadette Vargas Rodriguez is a Professor of Education at Dallas College, Brookhaven Campus, where she has served as a full-time faculty since 2008. With over two decades of experience in early childhood and educator preparation, she has taught a wide range of courses, including Learning Framework,  Introduction to the Teaching Profession, and Family, School, and Community. She also served as Department Chair for the Associate of Arts in Teaching program from 2018 to 2020 and Visions of Excellence Faculty Champion for recruitment and onboarding new faculty.

Bernadette began her career as a bilingual kindergarten teacher, where she cultivated inclusive classrooms for bilingual students. Her teaching philosophy centers on equity, access, and nurturing the potential of all learners, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. She has presented regionally on topics such as brain development in young children and strategies for working with children with special needs. A published co-author on the recruitment and retention of minority teachers, she remains committed to fostering diverse pathways into the teaching profession. Beyond the classroom, Bernadette actively contributes to community professional organizations such as the American Business Women’s Association, where she helps to recruit & support women entrepreneurs. Her work reflects a deep passion for empowering future educators and creating inclusive environments across educational & community systems.