Oziel "Ozzie" Ochoa was born and raised in Harlingen, where the values of hard work, family, faith, education, and service shaped who he is today. Growing up on a small family farm, he learned early that nothing comes without hard work and that families get through difficult times by looking out for one another.

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Those lessons have stayed with him throughout his life.

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Ozzie attended Harlingen High School South and went on to pursue higher education with a goal of serving the community that raised him. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas Pan American in 2008 and later earned a master's degree in education from Lamar University in 2011. Continuing his commitment to educational leadership, Ozzie completed his superintendent certification through the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2024.

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Rather than leaving South Texas in search of opportunity elsewhere, Ozzie built his career and his family right here in the Valley.

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For nearly two decades, he has served students through public education as a teacher, coach, principal, school administrator, and now Director of Special Education. At every stage of his career, Ozzie has worked directly with students, parents, teachers, and families and has seen both the enormous potential of Valley children and the challenges many families face.

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Those experiences are what inspired him to run for the Texas House of Representatives.