Michelle Sandoval Villegas

Michelle Sandoval Villegas ’09 was named Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2020.

From UTEP student to Teacher of the Year, Michelle has made her career exactly as she envisioned if for herself: teaching students and supporting her community in the neighborhood in which she grew up.

A 2005 graduate of Parkland High School, Michelle has returned to her old stomping grounds as the Student Activities Director, assisting with events and teaching leadership classes to Parkland High students.

Prior to joining the staff at Parkland High School, Michelle was an eighth grade math teacher at Parkland Middle School, where she received the Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year 2020 honor as well as the 2021 Teaching for Excellence Award from the National Endowment for the Arts. As a teacher and leader in her community, she is honored to support the children living close to her own childhood home.

And it all started right here at UTEP.

Because of the rigor of curriculum and the support she received from her peers and professors at UTEP, Michelle was able to accomplish her dreams and thrive in her career – and she is using her gifts to support future generations.