Governor Healey Announces Desirée Garcia as 2027 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year

 Governor Healey Announces Desirée Garcia as 2027 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year

Springfield kindergarten teacher recognized for helping students succeed through dual-language education

SPRINGFIELD — Governor Maura Healey today announced that Desirée Garcia, a kindergarten teacher at German Gerena Community School in Springfield, has been named the 2027 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, the state's highest honor for teachers.

Ms. Garcia, who teaches in the school's Spanish-English dual-language program, helps young students develop a love of learning, build confidence and celebrate their language and cultural background. She teaches with fellow kindergarten teacher Sol Ivette Santiago, giving students the opportunity to learn in both English and Spanish while developing foundational academic and language skills.

Governor Healey and First Lady Joanna Lydgate joined Education Secretary Steve Zrike, Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, along with local officials and school leaders and the German Gerena school community to surprise Ms. Garcia with the award during an assembly. She was selected from 347 nominations submitted from across Massachusetts.

“Great teachers can change a child's life, and Desirée Garcia is doing that every day in her kindergarten classroom," said Governor Maura Healey. "She's helping her students discover the joy of learning, build confidence in themselves and take pride in speaking two languages. That's an incredible gift to give a child at the very beginning of their education. We're so proud to recognize Desirée as our 2027 Teacher of the Year and celebrate the amazing teachers across Massachusetts who make a difference for their students every day."

"Desirée Garcia is a wonderful example of the dedication and passion that Massachusetts teachers bring to their classrooms," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "She knows that great teachers never stop learning, and she went back to school herself to strengthen her skills and find new ways to support her students. Her commitment to helping every child succeed, working closely with her colleagues and welcoming families into the classroom is what makes our educators so special. Congratulations to Desirée and the entire German Gerena school community."

The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Program annually recognizes an outstanding educator who demonstrates excellence in teaching, dedication to students and a commitment to strengthening their school community. As the 65th recipient of the award, Ms. Garcia will serve as an ambassador for the teaching profession over the coming year, participate in speaking engagements across Massachusetts and join Teachers of the Year from other states at events in California and Washington, D.C. She also becomes Massachusetts' candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award.

“Every student deserves to feel welcomed, valued and supported at school, and Ms. Garcia helps create that environment from the very first days of kindergarten,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “She recognizes the importance of her students’ home languages, welcomes families as partners and works alongside her colleagues to strengthen teaching and learning throughout her school. Her work is a powerful example of the difference one educator can make.”

 

“I couldn’t be happier to elevate Ms. Garcia and the important work she and her colleagues are doing,” Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Martinez said. “Ms. Garcia shows what is possible when we honor every child’s language as an asset. In her classroom, 5-year-olds are becoming readers, writers, and thinkers in two languages. We make our students stronger when we offer dual-language programs, and I hope to see many more of these in the future.” 

 
Ms. Garcia is in her eleventh year of teaching and fourth year teaching in a dual-language program. She is the third Massachusetts Teacher of the Year to come from Springfield Public Schools.

At German Gerena, Ms. Garcia facilitates the English portion of the school's dual-language kindergarten program, while her partner teacher, Ms. Santiago, facilitates instruction in Spanish. Together, they help students develop literacy and academic skills in both languages while fostering a classroom environment where children feel proud of their cultural backgrounds and identities.

“What an extraordinary moment of pride for Springfield Public Schools and the entire Springfield community,” said Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall. “Desirée Garcia represents the very best of our profession. Her dedication and belief in our students reflect the excellence we see in classrooms throughout our district every day. To have a Springfield educator earn the Commonwealth’s highest teaching honor for the third time speaks volumes about the talent in our schools and reinforces what I have always said: Springfield Public Schools has the best educators in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We could not be prouder of Desirée, and we are thrilled that she will represent the fabulous 413 and Massachusetts on the national stage.” 
 
Ms. Garcia has made professional learning and collaboration central to her work. She completed additional training in bilingual and dual-language education at the University of Massachusetts and serves on several school leadership and instructional teams, working with colleagues to strengthen teaching and learning throughout German Gerena.

 
“Bilingualism is a powerful asset, and I have seen students thrive when their language, culture and identity are honored in the classroom,” said Ms. Garcia. “I hope that being named Teacher of the Year will help lift this work up and inspire other school communities to pursue dual language classes.” 

The selection process for the 2027 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year began in early 2026 with nominations from administrators, teachers, students, families and community members. Seven semifinalists were selected following an initial review and invited to submit additional materials. Four finalists were then interviewed by a panel that included previous Massachusetts Teachers of the Year. The panel recommended Ms. Garcia to Commissioner Martinez, who made the final selection.

For the third consecutive year, Wellpoint, a health benefits company based in Woburn, is sponsoring the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year award. Wellpoint will provide a $10,000 grant to German Gerena Community School and $5,000 grants to each of the three finalists' schools.

The other finalists for the 2027 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year were:

• Michelle Boyle, a multilingual learner teacher and department head at Natick High School;
• Nettie Harrington Pangallo, a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher who is also the music teacher for grades 1-6, all at Warwick Community School, part of Warwick Public Schools; and
• Cody Michael Marx, a seventh-grade English language arts teacher at King Philip Middle School in Norfolk, part of King Philip Regional School District.
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“Wellpoint is proud to congratulate Desirée Garcia, the 2027 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, along with this year’s finalists and semifinalists for their dedication to students and communities across the Commonwealth,” said David Morales, general manager of Wellpoint. “As the program’s sole sponsor for the third consecutive year, we’re honored to recognize educators who inspire the next generation and remain committed to making health care simpler and more accessible for those who shape our communities.”

The semifinalists for this year’s award were:

• Mansur Buffins, an instructional coach at Orchard Gardens K-8, part of the Boston Public Schools; 
• Alexandra Caldwell, a pre-K special education teacher at Bournedale Elementary, part of the Bourne Public Schools; and
• Marielle Crisostamo, a seventh-grade math teacher at Cameron Middle School, part of the Framingham Public Schools.
  
  

About Desirée Garcia

Ms. Garcia has been an educator over a decade and this is her fourth year in a dual-language classroom. Ms. Garcia and Ms. Santiago have classrooms across the hall from each other, and they each teach 20 children at a time, Ms. Garcia facilitating her class mainly in English, and Ms. Santiago facilitating her class mainly in Spanish. In addition to Ms. Garcia’s work in the classroom, she is also a member of her school’s Instructional Leadership Team, math instruction team, and DIRE (Diversity, Inclusion, Representation, Equity) group. 

Ms. Garcia has given presentations on dual-language teaching and completed a teacher preparation program in bilingual and dual language education at the University of Massachusetts. She holds a master’s degree in early childhood education from American International College and a bachelor’s in early childhood education from Bay Path University. In 2024, she received a Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award. When she isn’t teaching or planning the next day’s lesson, Ms. Garcia may be found reading or vacationing. 
 

About Wellpoint 
Wellpoint is a health benefits company that has served Group Insurance Commission (GIC) members, retirees, and their families for more than 30 years. Wellpoint provides health benefits exclusively to people insured through the GIC, offering a variety of plan options that provide comprehensive medical benefits. Learn more at wellpointmass.com. 
  

 
To nominate a public school educator for the 2028 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year award, please email educatorrecognition@doe.mass.edu.