Carlos Garcia – Right Fit, Right Time for San Francisco’s Schools

The position of Superintendent is not held in high regard, following the corruption of the Bill Rojas era and the tumultuous days of Arlene Ackerman. And though he is not perfect, and has lots to prove, Garcia brings numerous attributes which appear to distinguish him from his predecessors and support San Francisco’s contemporary needs. No one should clam that Garcia will be perfect or immune to missteps—indeed, blind trust and adoration for past Superintendents has been one the District’s greatest pitfalls. But Garcia deserves to be welcomed with open arms, as his abilities and experiences fit well with our needs.

First, a brief biography. Garcia served as both a teacher and principal all around California, in such cities including San Francisco, Watsonville, Ontario, and La Puente. He was principal of Horace Mann Middle School from 1988 to 1991 and is largely credited for its later success. Garcia also served as Superintendent of Sanger Unified School District from 1994 to 1997, followed by a stint as Fresno’s Superintendent from 1997 to 2000. It was in 2000 that Carlos Garcia came to Clark County (Las Vegas area) in July 2000. Most recently—and clearly most controversially—Garcia has worked at education publisher McGraw-Hill (yes, ick.) But more on that later.

Read More