Rosa Aguilar

Rosa Aguilar, MFA, serves as the Director of Clinical Teaching and Certification Programs at Wayland Baptist University, where she brings nearly three decades of experience in education to her role. Having dedicated her career to public education, Ms. Aguilar has taught and led at every level in K-12, including as a teacher, school principal, and district curriculum facilitator. A passionate advocate for bilingual education, she previously led a high-performing bilingual campus as a principal. Much of her career was spent in El Paso, Texas, where she served military families from Fort Bliss, one of the nation’s largest military bases. Ms. Aguilar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Mrs. Aguilar’s research and professional interests center on supporting future educators, particularly clinical teachers, in achieving excellence in the classroom. Her focus includes addressing teacher retention by providing quality education and community support, which she believes are crucial to strengthening the teaching profession.

At home, Mrs. Aguilar finds joy in her close-knit family. Her husband, an educator with a deep interest in school law, shares her commitment to education. Their son, Daniel, is completing a degree in Agricultural Production at Texas Tech University and hopes to pursue graduate studies in Agricultural Law to advocate for rural communities. Her family is also accompanied by their beloved Doberman, Billy, who, in his senior years, enjoys sunbathing and taking life at a leisurely pace.

Mrs. Aguilar’s Fine Arts background allows her to immerse herself in her personal art studio, where she explores painting, drawing, and printmaking. She is also passionate about travel, relishing the chance to experience new places and connect with people from diverse backgrounds. Creativity is a central thread in her life, extending into the kitchen, where she enjoys experimenting with recipes.

Wayland Baptist University’s faith-based environment holds special meaning for Mrs. Aguilar. She appreciates the close, supportive relationships between students, faculty, and staff, as well as the opportunity to openly share words of faith and hope with students. She finds joy in helping students navigate the challenges of college life, reminding them—and herself—that education is

a mission, not merely a job. This perspective, she feels, sets Wayland Baptist University apart, allowing its educators to lean on their faith to sustain them in their work.