THE SAN JUAN ROTARY CLUB TO HONOR EDUCATOR DR. ANA MARÍA GARCÍA BLANCO WITH ITS FIRST CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD.
The award will be presented on March 14, 2023, at a dinner in her honor to be held at the AFDA.
Dr. Ana María García Blanco graduated from Harvard College and went on to obtain her Master and Doctorate degrees from the Harvard School of Education. She has devoted her educational career to the Puerto Rico public schools starting as a teacher in the Juan Ponce de Leon School in Guaynabo in the early 1990’s. She became a parent in 1994 and was “gradually drawn to the Montessori Model’s emphasis on peace education.” There are presently 56 schools in the public school system operating under the Montessori Model.
Upon receiving the American Montessori Society 2020 Living Legacy Award, it was highlighted that these schools “in the disadvantaged areas of Puerto Rico result in higher attendance and test scores, consistently lower dropouts, and infrequent incidences of violence, drug use and teenage pregnancy.” The schools transform the lives of the students and their families and communities.
According to San Juan Rotary Club’s president, Maria de los Angeles Rivera, “Ana María has demonstrated a long, consistent, and successful career as an educator developing respectful and educated students. Ana María, therefore, continues to make significant contribution in two of Rotary’s seven areas of priority – Education and Peace. This is our Club’s first Citizen of the Year Award and Ana María is clearly a deserving recipient.”
For further information please contact Maria de los Angeles Rivera at maria.rivera@pr.gt.com.