Frank Garcia, who is superintendent of the Holland Public Schools, will present "Tú Eres el Futuro -- You Are the Future, Acknowledging and Accepting Our Responsibilities" during the Ninth Annual Cesar E. Chavez Celebration at Hope College on Wednesday, March 28, at 4 p.m. in the Maas Center auditorium.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
Garcia began his career as a bilingual and migrant instructor at Fennville Public Schools. He taught at West Ottawa's Sheldon Woods and Lakeshore elementary schools from 1983 to 1995.
He came to Holland Public Schools in 1995 as an assistant principal at East Middle School and was promoted to principal of West Middle School the following year. He took over as principal of Holland High School in 2001, and he began his superintendency with the Holland district in the fall of 2004.
The Michigan Hispanic Caucus recognized Garcia in 2003 as an outstanding Hispanic in Michigan. He also served as fellow during the Institute for the Development of Educational Activities' 2003 Summer Convention.
He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, teaching certification from Western Michigan University, and a master's degree in educational leadership from Michigan State University.
The series through which Garcia is speaking is named in honor of Cesar E. Chavez, who played a leading role in the 1960s in organizing the nation's migrant farm workers, and was the first head of the National Farm Workers Association, later the United Farm Workers. March 31, his birthday, is the official Cesar E. Chavez Day of Service and Learning, which is a holiday in multiple states, including Michigan, and dozens of cities and counties throughout the nation.
The presentation is sponsored by the college's Office of Multicultural Life and the La Raza Unida student organization.
The Maas Center is located at 264 Columbia Ave., on Columbia at 11th Street.