Round Rock educator Tina Steiner expands student support through experiential learning

Tina Steiner, a Round Rock educator and community advocate, is using hands-on learning, mentorship and doctoral research to support students in alternative education settings. Her work at a DAEP campus now includes garden-based instruction, campus wellness spaces and a push for earlier intervention for students who need more structured support.

Why it matters: - Tina Steiner’s approach shows how alternative education can move beyond discipline to academic support, social-emotional growth and practical skill-building. - Her work matters in Round Rock and beyond because it targets students who are facing academic, behavioral and personal challenges before those problems deepen. - Steiner’s research focus on student recidivism in DAEP settings could help shape earlier intervention models for students who may need support before high school.

What happened: - Tina Steiner, a fifth-generation Round Rock native and Round Rock schools graduate, was profiled by Influential Women for her work in education and community advocacy. - Steiner has spent 21 years at a disciplinary alternative education placement campus as a science teacher, social skills instructor and campus Teacher Master Gardener. - Steiner uses experiential learning, mentorship and research to support students who need a different kind of learning environment. - Steiner is pursuing an EdD in Organizational Leadership: K-12 and has completed multiple degrees and certifications tied to education, literacy, special education and research.

The details: - Steiner earned an Associate of Arts in General Studies in Liberal Arts from Austin Community College. - Steiner earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State University. - Steiner earned two master’s degrees from Grand Canyon University, including one in Reading with an emphasis on Secondary Education and one in Curriculum and Instruction. - Steiner holds TESOL certification, Social Behavioral Research for Students certification, Generalist 4-8 certification, Certified Special Education EC-12 credentials and Interdisciplinary Studies Grades 4-8 certification. - Steiner is a Central Texas and National Teacher Consultant through the National Writing Project. - Steiner’s campus garden work began after she saw the space had fallen into disrepair following COVID. - After completing the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Master Gardener certification, Steiner helped develop and maintain raised garden beds, fruit trees and pollinator gardens. - A nearly $24,000 Sprouts Healthy Communities Grant supported a campus farmer’s market, outdoor classroom spaces and student decompression areas. - Students participate in “Takeaway Fridays,” which pair planting activities with responsibility and engagement. - Steiner is preparing for Institutional Review Board submission for dissertation research on student recidivism in DAEP settings. - Steiner has seen strong demand for alternative education services, including significant waitlists at the high school level. - Steiner has also worked in administrative and legal roles with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, Austin Community College’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action division and a private intellectual property law firm. - Steiner is active with the Association of Texas Professional Educators, Round Rock UniverCity, the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce Leadership Round Rock program and the Citizens Police Academy. - Steiner has participated in several RRISD and Texas A&M programs, including the RRISD Instructional Materials Selection Committee, RRISD/CTWP Open Institute Cohort, RRISD ELA Leadership Cadre, RRISD Literacy Network I & II, RRISD NexGen Teacher Phase 3 program, the Texas State University CTWP Graduate Invitational Summer Institute and the RRISD Strategic Planning Committee.

Between the lines: - Steiner’s story is built around a familiar education theme: behavior often points to unmet needs, not fixed identity. - Her own childhood experience as an energetic student shaped a teaching style that treats restlessness as something to understand and channel, not simply suppress. - The garden program shows how a physical space can become a therapeutic and instructional tool at the same time. - Her focus on earlier intervention suggests a gap in current alternative education access, especially for students who may benefit from support before high school. - Steiner’s advice to younger educators centers on knowing their purpose, finding mentors and building a support network to avoid burnout.

What’s next: - Steiner plans to continue her doctoral research on DAEP student recidivism and earlier intervention models. - She will keep using experiential learning, campus gardening and student mentorship as part of her day-to-day work. - Steiner also expects to keep mentoring young educators and participating in community and school-based organizations.

The bottom line: - Tina Steiner’s work shows how alternative education can combine compassion, structure and hands-on learning to help students find a path forward.