Gerardo Leal, Ed.D., JD Faculty in College of Education
Gerardo Leal brings over two decades of experience in public service, education leadership, and community-centered advocacy. He recently earned his Juris Doctor from Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico (2024) and has transitioned into the legal field with a focus on educational law and social justice, while drawing on his extensive background as a school principal and educational strategist in Houston, Texas.
From 2020 to 2022, Gerardo served as the Business Development and Community Relations lead at Lily Leal Law, where he built strategic partnerships, enhanced client engagement, and implemented growth-oriented practices. Most recently, he supported immigrant communities at Centro de la Mujer Dominicana in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he conducted client interviews, drafted VAWA applications, and assisted with legal research and training initiatives.
Gerardo’s foundational career was rooted in education, serving as a school principal at various campuses within the Houston Independent School District from 2010 to 2020. He championed instructional leadership, data-driven practices, and community involvement to raise academic outcomes. As Director of the Family Literacy Program and founder of an extracurricular running club, he has demonstrated a consistent commitment to holistic student development and family empowerment.
He holds an Ed.D. in Professional Leadership from the University of Houston (2015), a Master’s in School Administration from Lamar University (2010), and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of St. Thomas (2002). Gerardo is certified as a Principal EC–12 and as a Bilingual Generalist in Texas.
His work has been featured in professional learning series and national education conferences, and he has served on advisory boards including HISD’s Ad Hoc Advisory Committee for the Superintendent and the Association for Hispanic School Administrators.
With a unique blend of legal knowledge, leadership experience, and unwavering community commitment, Gerardo Leal stands at the intersection of advocacy, equity, and public service.