SUCCESS IS


TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION TO THRIVE

Meet the CDEC/EDUC Team!

Education & Child Development Department

Washington Street Campus, Dutton Hall 102
2201 S Washington
Amarillo TX  79109
(806) 345-5585

Department Professor, Rochelle Fouts

Rochelle Fouts is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator in the Education Department and has been with Amarillo College since 2010, starting out as a mentor in the Higher Ed Grant  through the Children's Learning Institute at the University of Texas, Houston Health Science Center.  She started as a full-time faculty member in the CDEC/EDUC Department in 2011.  Rochelle took a brief stint off from AC to move to inner-city Detroit to work a martial arts ministry with her husband, Shawn, for almost 2 years then returning to Amarillo.  Before coming to Amarillo College, she worked in the Teacher Education Department as a curriculum consultant for The McGraw-Hill Companies, a Mathematics Curriculum Coordinator for Edison Schools, Inc, and was also a Kindergarten and 1st Grade Teacher both in Wichita, KS, and Dallas, TX.  Rochelle graduated from Friends University in Wichita, KS, with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1996 and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in 2001.  

Office Phone(806) 371-5206
Emailrlfouts@actx.edu

Department Instructor, Trena Rider

Trena Rider is an Instructor and Program Coordinator for Child Development/Early Childhood. She graduated from Texas Tech in 1998 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. In 2013, she received a Masters Degree in Education from West Texas A&M. Her educational experience includes work in early childhood labs, pre-school and elementary classrooms, middle school math and social studies, and coaching.   From 2010 to 2014, she ran the Intramural Sports Program, then the Mentoring Program at Amarillo College.  Trena is excited to share her experience and love of children with our students at AC.

Office Phone: (806) 371-5279
Email: tjrider21@actx.edu

Administrative Assistant

Nicole Acosta is an Administrative Assistant for the Education and Child Development programs. She was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota. After high school, she attended Inver Grove Community College and then transferred to Metropolitan State University. In 2004, she graduated with a B.S. in Business Management. She loves helping people and is excited to be at Amarillo College!

Office Phone: (806) 345-5585
Emailnacosta23@actx.edu

Advisor, Margarita Rocha

Margarita Rocha is an Academic Advisor for the Education and Child Development programs. She grew up in Stratford and graduated from West Texas A&M with her B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies Mathematic/ Science (Grades 4-8). While at WT, she was involved in the Hispanic Student Association and was on the Presidents Honor Roll. After graduation in 2014, she taught 8th grade science at Travis Middle School for 7 years. At Travis Middle School, Margarita was involved in the Site-Based Committee and was awarded Teacher of the Year for the campus for 2017-18 & 2018-19. While teaching, she obtained her Masters in Education Leadership through West Texas A&M in 2017. Now she is excited to have joined the Amarillo College Family!

You can find Margarita at the Washington Street Campus Advising Center in the Student Service Center room 120.

Office Phone: (806) 371-5184
Email: mrocha26@actx.edu

Click the Badger Check-In to Schedule an appointment with Margarita.