About me
Dr. Curtis Garcia is a San Luis Valley native who earned his bachelor’s degree from Yale University, then returned home to work as an educator. He holds a Master of Arts degree in educational leadership from Adams State and a Ph.D. in educational leadership research and policy from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Dr. Garcia’s research focuses on teacher quality and evaluation, issues in rural education, and issues related to multicultural education and equity in schools.Dr. Garcia joined the faculty of Adams State’s School of Education in 2014 and has served as field service coordinator, department chair, and School Director. In addition to his faculty and administrative roles, Dr. Garcia directs Project SERVE, a program aimed at supporting early recruitment and retention of educators in the San Luis Valley. He has also served as principal investigator or project director for multiple state and federal grants aimed at supporting recruitment and retention efforts within the field of education.Prior to joining the faculty of Adams State, Dr. Garcia served as a high social studies teacher, director of special programs, then as PK-12 principal. He was recognized in 2013 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Cross State Learning Collaborative with the Integration Award for Outstanding Principal Leadership. He also does educational consulting work and serves as a regional specialist in the Educator Effectiveness Unit for the Colorado Department of Education.
