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Honoring and congratulating the Champion of the Week, Diana Garcia, the principal of Willard Elementary in Kensington, for being the recipient of the 2023 Lindback Award for Distinguished Principal Leadership.
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WHEREAS, For her noble work as Principal of Willard Elementary School, Diana Garcia has been honored with the 2023 Lindback Award for Distinguished Principal Leadership; and
WHEREAS, Garcia is the daughter of undocumented immigrants from the Dominican Republic. Garcia is a product of Philadelphia Public Schools herself, having attended Potter-Thomas Elementary, Stetson and Conwell middle schools, and Mastbaum High; and
WHEREAS, Her background and life experiences in North Philadelphia shape her leadership style at Willard Elementary where she has shown she can relate to students’ struggles growing up in an underserved neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Garcia began her teaching career out of the School District’s need for bilingual teachers. Since starting at Ferguson Elementary, she “hasn’t looked back”; and
WHEREAS, Garcia, like many principals in Philadelphia, has had to step up in frightening times, including leading the school through a shooting that damaged school property and a community cleanup that yielded used needles; and
WHEREAS, Principal Garcia has fostered a culture of involvement and dedication among her teachers and staff who, like her, go above and beyond for all Willard Elementary students. The result is that students, who see that support, learn more; and
WHEREAS, The key to Willard’s success is relationships, said Garcia, who explained that even on her worst day, a hug from a child makes the biggest difference: now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby congratulate and honor the Champion of the Week, Diana Garcia, the principal of Willard Elementary in Kensington, for being the recipient of the 2023 Lindback Award for Distinguished Principal Leadership.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an engrossed copy be presented to Principal Diana Garcia and Willard Elementary School, further evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
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