Tarsha Lunkin serves as the Director of Professional Development for DeSoto ISD, bringing 24 years of experience in education and a deep commitment to purposeful growth for educators and students alike.
Lunkin leads the development and implementation of professional learning experiences for teachers, campus leaders, instructional staff, and district administrators, designed to strengthen instruction, build leadership capacity, and support long-term district success. Her work focuses on ensuring that learning opportunities are intentional, aligned to district priorities, and centered on meaningful impact rather than activity alone.
Lunkin holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from the University of North Texas. Her educational background allows her to approach professional learning with a systems-focused mindset, connecting vision, strategy, and practice to ensure coherence across the district. She works collaboratively with departments, campuses, and district leaders to design learning experiences that support educators at every level.
The PRIDE value that most strongly guides Lunkin’s work is Purpose. She believes professional learning should always have clear intent and measurable outcomes that ultimately benefit students. Lunkinsees herself as a bridge builder—connecting people to purpose, vision to practice and systems to results. Through this lens, she supports the growth of educators and staff who shape learning experiences for students every day, knowing that their development directly impacts student success.
Supporting the whole child and the whole adult is central to Lunkin’s approach. She works to ensure that professional learning extends beyond content and pedagogy to include social-emotional learning, collaboration, well-being, and positive culture. By valuing educator's voice and growth alongside accountability, she helps create environments where adults feel supported and empowered to do their best work, which in turn strengthens outcomes for students.
One of the impacts Lunkin is most proud of is her ability to collaborate across departments to deliver professional learning that serves employees throughout the district. By aligning learning opportunities to DeSoto ISD’s key goals and initiatives, she has helped create greater coherence, build capacity in both educators and leaders, and ensure that professional development translates into meaningful classroom and leadership practices.
Lunkin is inspired by a deep family legacy in education. Her grandmother and three great-aunts collectively dedicated more than 150 years to the field, a legacy that continues to guide her work. She is also inspired daily by the educators and leaders she serves and their dedication to growth and excellence. As DeSoto ISD looks to the future, Lunkin remains focused on strengthening systems, investing in people and ensuring that every professional learning experience contributes to lasting success for the district and its students.