A purpose in life and a reason for learning, those are the core values at Vanguard Academy. The public charter school serves grades PreK-3 through 12 across three cities in Texas. The superintendent of schools, Dr. Narciso Garcia, joined the Get Schooled on Public Education Podcast to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Dr. Garcia discussed his passion for education and the ways his background and experiences as a leader of color impacts the students and communities they serve in an interview conducted by the National Alliance for Public Charter School’s senior manager of government relations, Marlon Greatrex.

Key Takeaways:

• Public charter schools across the country serve 1.3 million Hispanic and Latino students and their families.
• 40% of Hispanic parents in the U.S. strongly agree they want public school options for their children (see report).
• Charter Schools help families, including those from marginalized communities, gain access to a high quality public education