Dr. Margarita Tovar is the Chief Talent Officer of the Colorado Department of Education, overseeing educator preparation, educator development, educator effectiveness, licensing, enforcement, early childhood workforce development, and human resources teams.

Most recently, Dr. Tovar served as Chief Talent Officer in the Summit School District where she has led the transformation of this rural district’s human resources team and served as an integral member of the superintendent’s cabinet. She is living proof that education changes lives. Based on her experiences in different roles and districts, and through her first-hand experiences, she works with urgency and purpose to address educational barriers that deter students and communities from reaching their highest potential and aspirations.

She started her career as a teacher’s aide at Farias Early Childhood Center in the Houston Independent School District and has worked in several school and district-based roles, including as a bilingual teacher, dual language coordinator, instructional specialist, assistant principal, and principal. She also served as a school improvement liaison between the Corsicana Independent School District and the Texas Education Agency.

Dr. Tovar is a proud first-generation graduate of the Houston Community College where she earned an associate's degree, the University of Houston-Downtown where she earned her bachelor degree, and the Houston Baptist University where she earned her master’s degree. She also recently celebrated earning her doctoral degree from the University of Houston.