The State of Texas recognized Cypress Ridge High School principal Claudio Garcia with a proclamation declaring December 11 as “Claudio Garcia Day” in honor of more than 40 years in education that will conclude with his retirement this month.
Cypress Ridge students and staff celebrated the proclamation during an assembly at the school last week. Several student groups gave Garcia a token of their appreciation during the event:
The Rams’ football team presented him with a “Garcia” No. 1 jersey and helmet.
Art teacher Amanda Loos gave him a framed painting of a Ram in front of the Cypress Ridge front façade.
The AFJROTC presented him with the Order of the Sword, a U.S. Air Force designation that recognizes individuals held in high esteem that they wish to honor.
The band and orchestra played songs while students performed a dance with him.
The entire campus and community presented a miniature bronze Ram designed by local sculptor Ed Hankey.
The proclamation was presented by Cypress Ridge graduate Jason Baldwin, who wanted to help recognize Garcia for helping him through tough times while he was a student. Baldwin, who worked on Governor Rick Perry’s campaign and now works as a legal assistant in a law office, contacted Governor Perry’s office to get the proclamation approved.
Baldwin contacted English teacher Alicia Vedder about the proclamation to organize the on-campus events on December 11.
“Working with Mr. Garcia has been a gift of learning every day. He is a teacher at heart and will help students and staff to achieve their very best,” said associate principal Stephanie Meshell. “His belief that we are here to help all students and staff be successful has made Cypress Ridge the family we are today. His servant attitude stands out the most. He would not ask of others, unless he was willing to do it himself.”
Garcia received his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Texas A&M University and his master’s degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University at Kingsville. Garcia’s 40-year career in public education began as a teacher and coach in Odem, Texas, in 1973 and continued at Brownsville Porter and Orange Grove high schools before he was named assistant principal at Orange Grove in 1988. In 1992, he was promoted to principal at Orange Grove, where he served six years before accepting a principal position at Flour Bluff Junior High School in Corpus Christi in 1998. In 2000, he was named principal at Corpus Christi Calallen High School, before moving to Houston to open Cypress Ridge in December 2001.
“It was totally unexpected and came as a complete surprise to me that day, as did most of the festivities and gifts that I received,” he said. “The idea for this proclamation was originated by a former student and one of my staff members. I suppose that it goes to show that we just never know how far our influence as educators will go. I am grateful for having received the proclamation from Governor Perry, along with his and First Lady Anita Perry’s well-wishes on my retirement.”
Garcia said he was surprised, honored and humbled by the proclamation issued by Governor Perry.
