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Susana Garcia  Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 

Susana teaches courses on Morality, Decision Making, Christian Scriptures and Contemporary Themes in Liberation and chairs the Religious Studies Department at Notre Dame High School in San Jose.

Being a high school teacher is an adventure!
Being a high school teacher is an adventure!
As a college student in the Santa Clara University School of Business, Susana Garcia started pursuing the Silicon Valley dream of becoming a well-heeled business executive, but it didn't take long before she realized the classes were not a good fit. Switching her major to Sociology, Susana intended to eventually work in Human Resources. At the end of a college internship as a teacher's assistant, she had a revelation. On the last day of class she gave out stickers to all the children along with a pep talk to continue in their schoolwork. One little boy ran back to his desk, peeled a sticker off one of his papers and gave it to her as a present. Other kids started doing the same. "This little gesture made a huge impact on me. I realized I had made a difference in their lives. I could make a difference."

"The kids are fabulous!"
"The kids are fabulous!"
Another "aha" moment came a year after graduation while Susana was working at the SCU Admissions office. One day, out of the blue, it became clear to her that this job was not what she was supposed to be doing with her life. "I felt peaceful for about a minute and then I panicked. What do I do now?" The answer came and Susana went back to school to complete a master's degree in spirituality.

Hired by Notre Dame High School, San Jose, in 1999, Susana says after eight years of teaching, "Being a high school teacher is an adventure. I have the day planned out, but I never know what's really going to happen. It's exciting and suits me so well." She also reflects that after becoming a mother, she has a greater capacity for compassion and understanding. "I see my students and their struggles with new eyes. I try to be the teacher for them that I hope my children will have someday."

Susana candidly shares, "I've received offers from other schools, but I just can't leave NDSJ. It's home to me. The values and the mission are here. And the kids and my colleagues are fabulous!"

"I had the privilege of team teaching with Susi in her first year at NDSJ, and she was both a natural teacher and a natural fit for creating healthy relationships with young women. Susana’s creativity and commitment to education for justice are gifts to the NDSJ learning community."
- Sr. Maureen Hilliard

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Susana Garcia | 1 comments
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Michelle Villanueva c/o '01 writes: While attending Notre Dame I always looked forward to Ms. G's
classes, and working with her on Junior retreat is one of my
fondest memories of high school. What makes her unique is her
ability to connect with her students fostering an environment for
them to feel comfortable. She cares deeply about her students;
their educational and professional success, and personal growth.
She's had a positive impact giving me the confidence and
spiritual guidance I needed through high school and for the
journey that followed. It's been 7 years since I've graduated
from ND but Ms. G is still an influential figure and mentor in my
life.