The Culver City Unified School District Board of Education has announced that it has selected Dr. Shannon Garcia to serve as Principal of El Rncon Elementary School. The Board voted unanimously to approve her Garcia’s hiring at its August 3 meeting.

Since 2014, Garcia has been principal of Bobier Elementary School in the Vista Unified School District, where she has overseen a school that has taken a leading role in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) education. Under her direction, the school established a Genius Engineering Lab in partnership with Qualcomm, launched Family Technology, secured a federal grant to provide hands-on science learning for elementary students at California State University – San Marcos (CSUSM), and trained its entire staff by Google-certified trainers from the 1:1 Institute.

“I’m beyond thrilled to be joining the team as Lead Learner and Principal at El Rincon in Culver City!” she said. “A mathematics graduate from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, I am a STEM advocate and am excited and proud to serve the El Rincon Elementary community where I will continue to support the innovative, whole-child, STEM-infused education for our kids. I can’t wait to meet our educators, students, and families and look forward to meeting each and every one of you. We will do great work together!”

Garcia spent five years with the Vista Unified School District, where she began as the assistant principal at Rancho Buena Vista High School and worked with stakeholders to launch a number of new initiatives, including the Natural High Program, Project AWARE, and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) partnership with CSUSM.

At Rancho Buena Vista, she was honored by the city of Vista, the PTA, the Natural High Organization, and the Mano y Mano organization for her prevention efforts and for her part in launching the school’s first Spanish parent-education series. Prior to her years in Vista, Garcia worked as a teacher in the San Dieguito Union High School District, where she taught advanced placement and intervention mathematics and launched the mentor program at Canyon Crest Academy, teaming at-risk students with over 50 volunteer staff members to help the students reach high school graduation success.

“Dr. Shannon brings a lot of wonderful talents to El Rincon, and I am excited that her STEM focus and her personal belief in focusing on the whole child will now benefit Culver City’s children,” said CCUSD Superintendent David LaRose. “I’m proud to welcome Dr. Shannon to the CCUSD family, and I know the students, teachers and staff at El Rincon are getting a great new leader.”

A STEM graduate, herself, Garcia is also an avid traveler who has visited more than 30 countries and spent her 20s abroad. As a result, she believes in a whole-child, internationally-minded, STEM-infused education. Garcia earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo; her master’s degree in education from CSUSM; and her doctorate of education in organizational leadership from Brandman University.

Garcia lives in Los Angeles with her two beautiful children. They enjoy spending time together, traveling, and reading.