Key Staff

Adrian Vega ED.D

Adrian Vega ED.D

Executive Director

Dr. Adrian Vega is the Executive Director for the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin. Before becoming Executive Director, Dr. Vega served in various school districts across the state of Texas and Arizona for 20 years. Dr. Vega began his career in the Dallas Independent School District as a bilingual teacher, elementary school assistant principal, instructional coach, and professional developer. Dr. Vega also served as a middle school principal in the Tyler Independent School District, where he brought Project Based Learning and Project Lead the Way to Boulter Middle School. While serving in the Ector County ISD, Dr. Vega was the founding principal of New Tech Odessa High School, an all-academic, college-prep, project-based learning high school. After serving in ECISD, Dr. Vega became the Deputy Superintendent for the Tucson Unified School District in Tucson, Arizona. Returning to Texas, Dr. Vega served as the Superintendent of Schools of the San Benito CISD in San Benito, Texas. Dr. Vega has been married to Kathryn Vega since 1999. He and his wife are the proud parents of their son Avery, a current student at The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, and their daughter Della, a Senior at UTPB STEM Academy.

Sara Saleem

Sara Saleem

PBIZ Director

Pakistani Immigrant. Advocate. Educator. My greatest passion is empowering others and creating pathways for all community members to receive equitable access to opportunities. To this end, I have worked in education for over a decade as a teacher, department leader, and instructional coach. In addition to my primary job functions, I was recognized for my commitment to education by being awarded Midland High School PTA Teacher of the Year, Student-Choice Teacher of the Year for 5 years, and the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment.

My educational background includes a master’s degree in English Literature from the University of the Permian Basin and a postgraduate degree in Education Leadership from Lamar University. I spend my spare time enjoying time with my daughter, traveling, and building furniture.

I am extremely excited to embark on this new adventure as Director of PBIZ and work with the community to ensure all students have equitable access to opportunities that will not only propel them towards successful and sustaining futures but also bolster the local economies and communities.