Dr. Shannon Garcia, approved yesterday to succeed Reggie Brunson as principal of El Rincon Elementary, has spent the last year and a half overseeing a San Diego County school that has taken a leading role in
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) education.
Dr. Garcia has been principal of Bobier Elementary in the Vista Unified School District. Under her direction, the school established a Genius Engineering Lab in partnership with Qualcomm, launched Family Technology, secured a federal grant to provide hands-on science learning for elementary students at Cal State San Marcos, and trained its entire staff by Google-certified trainers from the 1:1 Institute.
“I’m beyond thrilled to be joining the team as Lead Learner and principal at El Rincon,” Dr. Garcia said.
A mathematics graduate from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, “I am a STEM advocate,” she says. At El Rincon, she promises to support the innovative, whole-child, STEM-infused education for our kids.
“I can’t wait to meet our educators, students, and families. We will do great work together.”
Dr. Garcia has spent the past five years with the Vista School District. She began as the assistant principal at Rancho Buena Vista High School and worked with stakeholders there to launch a number of initiatives, including the Natural High Program, Project AWARE, and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics partnership with Cal State San Marcos.
At Rancho Buena Vista, Dr. Garcia was honored by the city of Vista, the PTA, the Natural High Organization, and the Mano y Mano organization for her prevention efforts and for her part in launching the school’s first Spanish parent-education series.
Before Vista, Dr. Garcia worked as a teacher in the San Dieguito Union High School District. She taught advanced placement and intervention mathematics and launched the mentor program at Canyon Crest Academy, teaming at-risk students with over 50 volunteer staff members to help the students reach high school graduation success.
“Dr. Shannon brings a lot of wonderful talents to El Rincon,” said Supt. Dave LaRose.
A STEM graduate, herself, Dr. Garcia is an avid traveler. She has visited 30 countries, and throughout her 20s, she lived abroad.
As a result, she believes in a whole-child, internationally-minded, STEM-infused education. Dr. Garcia earned her bachelor’s in mathematics from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, here master’s in education from Cal State San Marcos and her doctorate in education from Brandman University.
Dr. Garcia lives in Los Angeles with her two children. They enjoy spending time together, traveling, and reading.
Does anyone know why today, Dr. Shannon Garcia suddenly left as principal in the middle of the school year?
I don’t think that will ever be publicly answered but it’s the thing everybody wants to know. Nobody got answers last summer either.