A native of Brownsville, Arias began her career in 1994 with Dallas ISD as a math and science teacher at Cowart Elementary School and Stockard Middle School. In 1999 she became Dean of Instruction at Stockard then principal at Rusk Middle School in 2002. In 2003 Arias accepted a position as a consultant for a private educational company. The following year, she became associate principal in Del Valle ISD at Del Valle High School in 2004, and returned to Dallas ISD as principal at Long Middle School in 2005. Arias served at Long for two years before accepting the assistant superintendent position in Cotulla in 2007.
Arias has earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education degrees from University of Texas at Austin (UT) and Superintendent Certification from University of Texas at Arlington. She plans to complete her Doctor of Education degree from UT in December.
