Raul D. Garcia, United Federation of Teachers
Raul Garcia believes that school social workers and psychologists are superheroes, but they need the proper support to keep doing their work well.
Elected as UFT chapter leader in 2017, Garcia represents 3,800 school social workers and psychologists. Garcia has spent his career advocating for mental health support for students, and says that begins with supporting social workers, psychologists and counselors.
“For our members, the burnout is real,” he said. To prevent burnout, these trained professionals have to be used appropriately, and that includes showing appreciation for the critical role they play.
Garcia organizes annual appreciation days, which includes professional development, self-care, and other resources. He also works hand-in-hand with members to ensure that they know the ins-and-outs of their contract and how to advocate for themselves and their students.
Garcia began his career as a bilingual school psychologist in 2009, working at multiple high schools in Williamsburg, the same Brooklyn neighborhood where he was born and grew up. Garcia is the child of immigrants; his parents arrived in the U.S. from Ecuador in the early 1980s. Garcia said as a child he didn’t even know he had access to school counselors and psychologists, and so during his career he’s focused on being visible and vocal. Garcia lives in Williamsburg with his partner, Michelle, and their three sons.