Monsignor Edward Pace High School principal Ana Garcia has been selected to receive the National Catholic Educational Association’s Catholic Secondary Schools Department Educational Excellence Award for 2015. Garcia is among seven recipients of the award nationwide and was selected out of all of the Catholic secondary school principals in the Southeastern United States to receive this award.
A Pace Class of 1980 alumna, Garcia has been closely tied to Pace and Catholic education for her entire educational career. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Learning Disabilities from Florida International University, she obtained a Master of Science in Special Education and a Certificate in Educational Leadership from St. Thomas University. She worked as an assistant principal at Pace for 5 years before becoming principal in 2004.
Since becoming principal, Garcia has implemented vast changes to the Pace curriculum. She spearheaded the move to digital classrooms with a 1:1 iPad curriculum and the school's Signature Academies for students who wish to focus on a specific learning track.
She counts the creation of Pace’s Spe Salvi program, designed to provide a high school experience to students who could otherwise not earn a high school diploma, and the Spartan Sword and Shield program for academically advanced, Ivy League bound students, as the school’s most significant contributions to Catholic education. For her work towards Catholic education and her profound commitment to the Catholic faith, she was the recipient of the Life in Christ Award presented by Archbishop Thomas Wenski in 2014.
“I am honored and humbled to be recognized for such a prestigious award,” said Garcia. “We are able to do such amazing things at Monsignor Pace because of the amazing team that I work with.”
Garcia will be presented the award at the NCEA 2015 Convention in Orlando on April 8.