Bio

Born and raised in Texas, Dr. Renée Bocanegra earned a B.A., an M.Ed. in Community and Educational Leadership, and a Ph.D. in School Improvement. Her studies, both in Texas and abroad in Scotland, gave her a broad perspective on education. Before joining St. Michael’s, she owned and operated an early childhood–3rd grade school, gaining firsthand insight into how children learn and how schools serve families. With 30 years in private and public education and 6 years in higher education, she brings depth of experience to her role as Dean of Academics. Renée and her husband, Jody, share a blended family of seven children. She loves the outdoors—fishing, gardening, hiking, and camping—and is also a skilled archer, beekeeper, and “chicken whisperer.” Her earliest school memory is the library, where the smell of books and the promise of discovery sparked her love of learning. What she values most about St. Michael’s is its tight-knit community, where students, families, and faculty come together in faith and purpose.