Music that Describes Kristine
Dr. Kristine Garza was nominated by her colleague, Donna Bzibziak.
Dr. Garza has served as principal for the last eight years at Wilson Elementary in McAllen Independent School District. During this time, she has displayed exemplary team building and improvement in student performance.
"I am impressed with Dr. Garza’s data-driven approach to innovation in instruction and creating success among all student populations and grade levels. She takes charge and is proactive in creating accomplishments for McAllen ISD," said Bzibziak. "Furthermore, Dr. Garza has exceeded in the challenges of her position. Her skills do not end with her campus leadership duties. She also projects a warm, cheerful attitude to her student, teachers and community. I have seen her resolve conflicts and handle other difficult situations with remarkable patience and admirable tact."
In her community, Dr. Garza always goes out of her way to help people in need by organizing various charitable programs such as, the Wilson Food Pantry, Vannie Cook Cancer Clinic Annual Pajama donation, and many more. Dr. Garza’s unwavering ambitions are further represented by the recent completion of her PhD in Leadership.
"She loves people, works hard, and always tries to lift the spirits of those around her. I believe these characteristics represent all that is good at our school and in our district," said Bzibziak.
Congratulations Dr. Garza!!! You are an inspiration to me and so many others. Thank you for always supporting me and everyone else on campus with your great leadership.
Life changer: Someone who brings meaning to our lives, who inspires, who sparks a fire that we carry with us for the rest of our days, a pillar of hope and even sacrifice... truer words could not be spoken to describe Dr Kristine Garza!
I have known Dr. Garza for many years on a personal level. During the time that I have known her, she has done many things for the community that involve her giving up to own time to give back. She is very involved as a school principal, but she also teaches her son to give back as well. She has taught him that life is not about always taking, it is also about giving. She encourages him to be a part of many school clubs that work towards helping others. Through her influence, he has grown to be a responsible, caring young adult. She has taken him to visit dogs at the local animal shelter, sing to children at a local hospital, volunteer time at the food bank...to name a few. She has been a positive influence in my life and continues to inspire me to do more.
As a police officer of MISD, I have been very impressed with Dr. Garza’s work at Wilson Elementary. It is great to see her staff enjoying their work environment and the children benefiting from her passion to teach them. Dr. Garza has done great things for our community, it is nice to see her efforts being recognized.
Congratulations to my mentor and friend, Dr. Kristine Garza!
If anyone is more deserving of the award, Life Changer of the Year, it would definitely be her!
She is a true example of what effective leadership looks like. She is true to herself as a leader, educator, and a person and models it to her staff and students. She carries herself with dignity and professionalism at all times.
Through her mentorship these past seven years, I have learned that leadership is a series of lessons that you provide to students, staff, and parents on how to approach matters big and small.
Her enthusiasm for learning is contagious and she demonstrates that to the students by giving lessons herself, by coaching and modeling for staff members, and of course, by her continuous improvement in obtaining her doctoral degree.
Her commitment in seeing that everyone at our school succeeds is inspiring! One of the most admirable qualities she has is her continuous self-reflection on making the right adjustments as needed. She is always prepared and organized. The different community projects, such as providing pajamas to Vannie Cook Cancer Center and establishing a food pantry for our community is evidence that she changes lives beyond our school.
Our students, staff, and parents are blessed to have Dr. Garza as our school principal. I am beyond blessed to call her my mentor and friend.
Congratulations Dr. Garza. It has been an inspiration to work with you this year. Thank you for welcoming us to your campus and making us feel at home. Your many accomplishment motivate us to become better educators.
Kristine Garza has committed herself to the students and staff at Wilson Elementary School. She is an inspiration to those that she knows and works with. Completing her doctorate degree as a single, working mom is truly a task. She worked hard to complete her studies and to complete her role as a single mother. She is deserving of this honor because she has inspired students to succeed and her staff members to be dedicated to their students.
I don't know if anyone on this earth, that deserves this honor, more than Dr. Kristine Garza. She has a heart of pure GOLD! She's a rare breed...a strong, loyal, leader who goes above & beyond for everyone. She is driven, dedicated & a true WARRIOR! God blessed us with Dr. Kay ??
Dr. Garza is an extraordinary leader! I have met many school leaders across the country in my role as CEO of SHAPE America, and truly, Dr. Garza stands out on so many levels. She understands the critical importance of fostering an active, healthy, inclusive learning environment for all children, and she demonstrates what that means each and every day through her leadership. In her own words, when Dr. Garza rewards kids, she rewards them with physical activity! She knows that an active brain is an active learner and by helping her kids associate movement with joy, reward and celebration, she is setting them up for a lifetime of good health and happiness. Well done, Dr. Garza! This nomination is so well deserved!!!!
I have known Dr. Garza somewhere between 14-15 years. We first met when I was a paraprofessional and she was the assistant principal at another school in McAllen. At work, Dr. Garza always challenged me to do more than the minimum and showed me how to challenge myself. She and the principal at the time had so much faith in me and led me to believe that I could do so much more, all the while encouraging me to continue my education. Our principal retired and quickly after that Dr. Garza was moved to Wilson. Even after they left I did not give up and with their encouragement and inspiring leadership I not only attained a Bachelor's degree but remembering the encouraging words she and our former principal placed in my mind, I continued and received my Master's degree in Education.
After Dr. Garza was moved, I found that the environment I was in was just not the best place for me. As I started to think about what I needed, the only thing I could think of was working with Dr. Garza again. Using what I learned from her (bravery), I took a chance and contacted her and before I knew it I had become a Wilson Warrior!
I have been at Wilson for the past 5 years and in this time Dr. Garza continues to teach me, challenge me and make me the best I can be. She is a stalwart leader, but in a loving and encouraging way, and only because she wants everyone to stay challenged and believe we can be everything she sees in us. She will not let us be less than we deserve, and she encourages us to give our students everything they deserve. One of the best things she does for us is to remind us that no matter what, family always comes first.
Watching her lead our school is much like she leads her little family. She is the mother of a special needs daughter and I have been lucky enough to watch her daughter grow into a beautiful young woman. Dr. Garza, knowing her daughter has challenges, does not let that be an excuse. She expects her daughter to be all she can be, no matter what, and her daughter is everything she can be because of this. Then there is her amazing son. He has become an extremely well-adjusted young man who had many 'reasons' not to excel. The son of a single mom, the brother of a special needs sister and so forth. But instead of leaning on excuses, he has taken the world by the horns and grown into a man she can be proud of who has nothing but success ahead of him. This does not "just happen", none of this could be possible if not for her leading them.
To be nominated as a Life Changer makes sense, because knowing her, working with her and becoming friends with her has definitely changed my life as well as the lives of just about anyone she meets.
My sister is an inspiration not only to me but too many around her! Her leadership goes beyond her campus! She is dedicated to helping and improving the quality of education to all her students. She goes above and beyond to inspire her students, parents and her staff and it shows! She is a single mom with a special needs child and manages to do it all!! Her success is beyond measure!
I am a one of Dr. Garza's fellow colleagues in McAllen ISD. I worked alongside her as the school counselor when she was an Assistant Principal. She always made it a point to work closely with students and parents. I can distinctly remember how her caring attitude towards students made all the difference in the world. When parents were feeling like they were at a loss, she took the time to speak to them and give them helpful ways to deal with their children. We are now at different schools, and she still continues to lift me up and inspire me to be the best I can be and I know that without a doubt she is changing lives each and every day.
As the counselor at Wilson Elementary, I have worked with Dr. Garza for the past 9 years. At McAllen ISD, we offer an Emotional Intelligence Framework. Dr. Garza has an impressive and innovative approach when implementing district initiatives and always goes above and beyond what is expected by the district. She worked with our leadership team to develop a plan of action as to how we would implement a unique and progressive program with our students. She made this initiative a priority by allocating money from our budget to purchase an Emotional Intelligence library for each classroom teacher. Teachers engage in weekly lessons that focus on one area of the Emotional Intelligence Model every six weeks using children' literature. At the end of the six weeks, peers and teachers choose one student from every classroom who exemplifies these characteristics and is named the Emotional Intelligence Ambassador at our Friday assembly. Dr. Garza invites parents to the assembly and each child receives a district designed t-shirt to wear with pride. This one of many ways that she has worked to positively impact the children in our community. I am honored to highlight an applaud her tireless efforts.
Congratulations Dr. Garza! You are an amazing principal and leader! Thank you for all the support you have given me through my years at Wilson. I have learned a lot about being a teacher. I have really enjoyed working at Wilson, thank you for all the wonderful opportunities!
Little things can create soft, gentle, seemingly invisible ripples within the self.
The vulnerability that you’ve shared, as you wear your heart on your sleeve, is a ripple.
In immeasurable ways, you touch lives.
Thank you for being an inspiration.
Dr.Garza very proud of your many accomplishments. I have enjoyed my time working under you here at Wilson Elementary.
Congratulations Dr. Garza! Thank you for taking a chance on me as a brand new teacher! I have learned so much about being an educator thanks to your patience and guidance! Thank you for being an incredible leader to our Wilson Family.
Thank you Dr. Garza for receiving our Navarro family with open arms. You are a source of inspiration for all of us.
Dr. Garza, what an honor to be nominated for such an award!!!! I have known Dr. Garza for a few years now and every year I have worked under her, I have seen nothing but positive encouragement towards students to help them grow. She has the best intentions for her students and staff always. Dr. Garza exemplifies the qualities of a true leader. Not only does she care about the welfare of her students while they are at Wilson, but she also supports them after they leave Wilson. Good luck Dr. Garza!!!
Congratulations to my colleague Dr. Kristine Garza! She is such a model for all principals asking students to take action to help those in need!
Courage: Dr. Kristine Garza embodies it. It takes courage to become a great leader and requires a mindset that take risks, deals with conflict, and the ability to fearlessly lead. I have had the opportunity to work along side Kristine on several projects and presentations through our nine years together at Wilson Elementary in McAllen Texas. During this time, I can wholeheartedly say that through her courageous leadership she has helped build a positive workplace culture through trust and honest interactions with our Wilson family. Without a doubt, Dr Garza has charted a course and lead the way to help Wilson reach its desired destination leaving no one behind-students,teachers, parents, community. I would be remiss in not preemptively saying congratulations Kristine on such a prestigious nomination and award.
McAllen ISD is in partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation (AHG). The primary purpose of AHG is to promote healthy and wellness habits in children and adults. To win the AHG Silver Award for the promotion of wellness in a school and community is very difficult. To win the AHG Gold award it is almost impossible. It takes a special leader with vision, dedication and courage to win the AHG Gold award. I was not surprised when Dr. Garza contacted me and informed she wanted her school to achieve the Gold status. As we went forward, she met resistance with her staff because change is not always easy. With her leadership approach, her staff embraced new changes in wellness. Without a doubt, Dr. Garza is impacting the health of the Wilson community. What makes this accomplishment remarkable is that too often principals only focus on the mental side of student development and they forget about the total development (emotional, social and physical) of the child. Dr. Garza is the complete leader and without a doubt - a life changer in the field of education!
I am beyond excited for Dr Garza and her nomination for LifeChanger of the Year! She is an absolutely amazing woman. Her enthusiasm, love of education and compassion are out of this world. She is constantly surprising us with new and innovative ways of thinking and doing things. She is always ready to come into the classroom and help the children master their objectives, I have never heard her say that she can't help or is too busy. She really is a wonderful woman, Mom and leader.
Dr Kristine Garza is truly an inspiration to me. Everything she has done to be where she is today is remarkable. Since the day I met her, I’ve always looked up to her. She has taught me how to be motivated no matter what and to always follow my dreams no matter the setbacks I may encounter. Without her, I wouldn’t have challenged myself to the challenging classes I am taking in my junior year. Not only is she an inspirational leader, she is an amazing mom to two children that have grown to be great kids due to her outstanding attributes that she followed down to her children. I could not name a single person more deserving of this reward than Kristine..
I feel blessed to be working under the direction of Dr.Garza. She took a chance on me when I finished graduate school and helped my dream of becoming a Librarian come true. Not only did she hire me, but every year she pushes me to grow in my profession. I am grateful she helped change my life and she welcomed me with open arms. Three years later I am still here enjoying my job with my Wilson family. Thanks Dr.Garza for your kindness!
Congratulations Dr. K. Garza! It is a great honor for Wilson Elementary to have our Principal be nominated for this award. Dr. K. Garza is a very well rounded person who is passionate about education and curriculum. She is always researching to see how she can help teachers and students to make our school better. Dr.K. Garza has been a Lifechanger to many of our Staff members, students, parents and community. Dr. K. Garza is a great leader, mother and friend with a very caring heart.
I have worked with Ms. Garza for the past 5 years and I am happy to know she was nominated for this award. She is always trying to look for ways to better our campus for the sake of our children. Education is very important to her but she also knows how important it is for students to come to a campus where they will be welcomed and feel safe. She has a huge heart and is caring towards everyone. Good Luck and congratulations.
Congratulations!!! Wishing you and your community much success.
I’ve known Kristine since the 4th grade. She and I were new students at a new school. We became fast friends. I can say this, for sure, she was my life changer that year!
God Bless and Good Luck Kristine! ??
I went to Wilson Elementary many years ago - I am honored to have a Principal to recognized! Congrats
I have known Dr. Kristine Garza since we were in elementary. She has always been humble and very sincere. She has a huge heart and has always been so caring towards everyone. She is someone who knows how to balance her career along with being a great parent. She is an inspiration to many of her friends. Her dedication and compassion for others is deserving of this award.
Dr. Garza deserves this award more than anyone! Without a doubt. She’s helped me grow tremendously as a student and as a person. Without her I wouldn’t be successful in my academic career as I am today.
I met Kristine about two years ago and in that time alone, she has amazed me with the abilities she possesses. She is a well rounded individual that knows exactly what is right for the school she runs. She is excellent at being a principal. Not only is she a great leader, but she is a great mom who shows great compassion towards her children no matter what. This makes her an amazing recipient for this award.
Kristine,Dr Kristine Garza, is my best friend.. I met her about 7 years ago and since then we have become more like family. I am so proud of her always working hard with her studies, being a principal and being a great mom to Ethan and Karina and to top it off being the greatest friend to me and my family. My kids loves her, sometimes we go weeks without hanging out but when we plan and hang out it is always a blast. Kristine is truly a wonderful human being with the most caring heart and I wish nothing but the best for you!
She has been a true inspiration in my teaching career. I have always loved teaching Reading and working with children but like most teachers we hit bumps in the road in helping our students reach their true potential. Dr. Garza has guided me through these bumps and shown me countless ways to improve my teaching, enrich my lessons and truly become a better educator and create those lasting relationships with my students. She inspires me daily to work hard, never give up, especially during the most frustrating times and to keep pushing forward to become the teacher I truly aspire to be.
Dr. Garza or Kristine as I’ve called her that since we were 13 years old, is nothing short of amazing. I know Kristine has a lot of close friends, but I think I know her at a deeper level than most of her friends and maybe better than some of her own family. We pretty much grew up together. Both our parents had bad marriages that pretty much left us to figure things out on our own. We graduated high school without any guidance from anyone, went to college to try to “make it”. Unfortunately I gave up, and never graduated college. But Kristine, she prserevered! Only relying on herself she did it, she graduated college! What an accomplishment! Wait, that’s not it, not enough . . . Everyone has a story right? There was life, she got pregnant and had her daughter Karina born with special needs, now it was Karina and Kristine since Karina’s father decided he did not want to be a responsible father. Karina is completely dependent on Kristine and will be for the rest of her life. Knowing she had Karina to care for, Kristine pressed on, and continued her education. She married and had a son, Ethan (a fine young man, I might add. She’s done a great job with him!). Kristine divorces Ethan’s dad, and keeps on trucking with her two loves in tow. Ethan and Karina had no idea who God gave them as their mom. A woman on an a mission to educate herself and provide the best life for herself and her children. No matter what, she continued her education, never settling. My friend from 7th grade is now Dr. Kristine Garza!! She’s been through a lot in her life, but it’s never stopped her, no excuses, she sets a goal and conquers! Now Kristine, who is she? She’s full of life, a smile that can light up a room. A heart full of compassion for everyone she meets. And kids, don’t get me started about how much she loves kids. The patience and passion she has to help children is one of her best qualities. She’s always looking for ways to improve education and provide new ways to help th children at her school. She’s inspired me to go back to school and finish my education. At the age of 47 I’m finishing what I started. Kristine is a role model and a person I love and admire. I know she’s changed my life, and touches the lives of everyone she encounters.
I am in awe of Dr. Kristine Garza. Her ability to run a campus successfully, earn her doctorate, be a great and present mother to her children, and continually give back to her community, is what makes her the perfect recipient for this award!
So happy for Dr. K. Garza for being nominated for this award. She has always gone above and beyond for her school. She has a caring heart for her students, faculty and parents and makes sure she provides the tools necessary for everyone to achieve success.
