KINGSVILLE (Nov. 9, 2026) — After receiving an honorary invitation from Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE), dedicated bilingual education advocate, Dr. Norma Guzmán inducted into the TABE Hall of Fame during a ceremony on October 17 at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on the Riverwalk.
The invitation for the induction highlights Guzman's continued leadership and dedication to education, and it has and will continue to inspire generations of future bilingual education advocates and educators.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be selected as one of the 2026 Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) Hall of Fame honorees,” Guzman said. This honor is especially meaningful coming from bilingual education leaders, educators, and community members whose work has helped shape our field. As I reflect on my journey, I recognize that this honor represents more than an individual accomplishment. It is a reflection of the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students I have had the privilege of teaching at Texas A&M-Kingsville and the community of educators in the Coastal Bend, South Texas, and beyond who have been part of my journey.”
TABE discusses the legacy Guzman is building in the education industry and how it has affected and will continue to affect students on multiple levels.
“Your legacy continues to shape the educational landscape, paving the way for innovative programs, inclusive policies and transformative learning experiences that affirm the identities, languages and cultures of all students,” the invitation stated.
With more than 17 years of experience in bilingual education here at Texas A&M University-Kingsville under her belt, Guzmán embodies the missions that are embedded in the TABE. Their missions include advocating for bilingual learning, serving and inspiring leadership in diverse communities, elevating highly effective multilingual education and more.
“Bilingual Education, as a program model, has been implemented in Texas since 1973, with Texas A&M-Kingsville playing a key role in preparing bilingual educators and leaders for South Texas and beyond,” Guzman said. “Texas has the highest percentage of Emergent Bilingual students in the nation, representing approximately 23% of the state's public school population.
Bilingual Education is important for students because it provides them an opportunity to build a strong foundation in their native language while simultaneously learning content area subject matter.”
Her roles here on campus started with becoming an Assistant Professor for Bilingual Education while holding the role of coordinator for the Undergraduate and Graduate programs in Bilingual Education. She now serves as a full professor for Bilingual Education and coordinator for the Bilingual Education doctoral program.
However, her experience in education is diverse and does not only align with bilingual education but also aligns with a psychology background. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Texas State University, and she later earned her Master of Arts in School Psychology from the University of Texas-Pan American. Guzmán then graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Doctorate in Culture, Literacy and Language.
Guzmán’s diverse experience in these different fields assisted her with her journey of inspiring those she encounters while serving an important role of highlighting the need for bilingual and multilingual education here at TAMUK.
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