Marcos Garcia - 2021-22 Teacher of the Year

Marcos Garcia - 2021-22 Teacher of the Year
Posted on 10/07/2021

     Marcos Garcia, a veteran educator of 20+ years is Mountain View School District’s 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year. Garcia currently teaches seventh and eighth grade video production and graphic design elective classes at Parkview School.

     Well known for providing outstanding instruction that motivates and engages students each day, Garcia is an extraordinary educator whose dedication, passion and hard work positively impacts his students, colleagues and the community. 

       “Mr. Garcia changes the entire school culture!” said Ryan Smith, Parkview’s Dean of Instruction.  “He is always available for students in the classroom and through the Students Run LA (SRLA) program.  Last year, during distance learning he was invaluable in providing technology assistance for other teachers.  He is a constant advocate for students and is working to create a partnership with the high schools in his video production class.”  

     Prior to joining the Parkview team this school year, Garcia provided exceptional instruction and inspiration to seventh and eighth graders at Kranz Intermediate School and Madrid Middle School.  For the past 12 years he served as an SRLA coach, helping middle schoolers train for and complete the Los Angeles Marathon.  Sharing his expertise in radio, TV and film with students, he created a school-wide news cast at Madrid and was involved in the afterschool girls’ softball club and seventh grade interventions at Kranz.   During his tenure he has also served the District in many capacities including being a Schoology Lead Teacher, a Technology Teacher Lead, and an instructor for the Afterschool Journalism Program. 

     Garcia understands that every student is different and has a different path to make it to his classroom.

    “Each student has something to offer and it is my responsibility to create an educational environment that will stimulate their growth not only academically but personally as well. I will act as a guide and provide them with the best teaching practices that fit their needs. In doing so, I hope to put them in the best possible position to be successful moving forward,” he said.

      According to David Herrera, former Kranz Intermediate School principal, Garcia’s passion is motivating and engages students in academics and in expanding their capacity for learning the digital arts and running marathons. 

      “A former SRLA Kranz student shared that Mr. Garcia taught her that only she can determine the limits in her life and to be the very best,” said Herrera.  “Through his digital and graphic arts classes students are able to expand their creativity and technology skills, and when you see the projects that students have designed under his tutelage, you see creativity, excitement and passion,” said Herrera.

     Garcia was recently honored with fellow teachers of the year from school districts throughout LA County at the 40th Annual Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year Awards Luncheon.  Joining in the celebration to proudly recognize Garcia were MVSD Superintendent, Dr. Lillian Maldonado French, Assistant Superintendents Raymond Andry and Dr. John Lovato, and Mountain View Teachers Association President, Leticia Urias.

      “During this time of extraordinary challenges to our school communities. It is especially important that we pay tribute to our outstanding teachers who, over the past year and a half of this pandemic, have been bringing care, compassion and ingenuity to both their virtual and in-person classrooms,” said Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo, MSW, Ed.D. “I am truly impressed by their innovative practices and the partnerships they have created to keep students learning and thriving,” she concluded.  

      MVSD is proud to have such an outstanding teacher representing the District as Teacher of the Year and is thankful that Marcos Garcia is part of the Mountain View Team.  

     “Mr. Garcia is an exceptional educator with a tireless work ethic and undeniable passion for teaching and providing the best for his students,” said Dr. French.  “He is very deserving of the Teacher of the Year honor and we are extremely fortunate to have him as part of our Mountain View team.”

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