“My teaching philosophy is creating a classroom where everybody's welcome. It’s positive, and it's a safe environment. Students are collaborating as a group, as a team,” she shared. “They can express themselves as a thinker. They can write. They can read. They can have the opportunity to be themselves. They can start their school journey knowing that they will someday reach high school and move forward to college.”
Achievement First drew Garcia in because of its commitment to scholars and to helping lay the foundation for their futures. She says that her decision to come onboard was partly thanks to Regional Superintendent Kevin Lohela.
“He made me feel like it's a real community that helps and guides teachers and thinks about the students’ learning. And that's my goal as a teacher,” she said of meeting Lohela. “In my years of teaching, I learned that the most important thing is being a community. You spend the entire day in school so your students are your kids, and your teaching colleagues become your friends. So you need to be in that healthy community, positive community.”
All in all, Garcia is proud to be part of a school community that matches her values and that empowers her to share her wisdom with students. If she could share one thing with prospective AF teachers, it would be that AF cultivates community as much as it shapes young minds.
“AF is not just a school. It's a community that respects and accepts everyone and helps teachers get to their maximum potential by guiding them and setting goals for anything the students need,” she offers. “And they will add a little cherry on top of the ice cream to your experience as a teacher. They help you get all the tools you need to be a better teacher and get those students where they're supposed to be as a learner and as a human being.” 
