Dr. Viola M. Garcia joins Latino leaders in Nation’s Capital for 11th Annual National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Dr. Viola M. Garcia, President of the Aldine ISD Board of Trustees, joined the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, the nation’s preeminent Latino leadership organization, and nearly 65 Latino school board members, higher education trustees, and state legislators from across the country to discuss the state of Latino education and strategies to develop a robust Latino college completion agenda for the nation.

The event took place September 18-19, 2015, as part of the organization’s 11th Annual National Summit on the State of Latino Education in Washington, D.C. During the two-day convening, Dr. Garcia and Latino leaders from 15 states across the nation, participated in a series of informational panels, workshops and strategy sessions focused on furthering policymakers’ ability to analyze the role that different stakeholders have in strengthening and aligning the pathways between high schools, community colleges and four-year universities.

In order for the United States to compete in an ever growing global economy, advocates, researchers, major foundations, and policy leaders alike are collectively setting ambitious goals to develop a robust college completion agenda for the nation. The Institute provided Dr. Garcia and other participants with an opportunity to share best practices on higher education issues and develop strategic partnerships with elected officials at a national level to address the challenges and opportunities around attaining a robust Latino college completion agenda.

This year’s Institute speakers included U.S. Department of Education Deputy Under Secretary Jamienne Studley, Pew Research Center Director of Hispanic Research Dr. Mark Hugó Lopez, Excelencia in Education Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Policy Ms. Deborah Santiago, National Education Association Director of Teacher Quality Dr. Segun Eubanks, The Education Trust Vice President of Higher Education Policy and Practice Dr. Jóse Luis Santos and Sacramento State University President Dr. Robert Nelsen. Newly-elected NALEO President and City of Santa Ana Councilmember Michele Martinez and NALEO Educational Fund Executive Director Arturo Vargas were also in attendance.

The event was made possible through the generous support of Title Sponsors, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and State Farm.