📣 Support Principal Zulema Garcia – Sign the Petition to Keep Her at Brewster School! 📣

For the past 7 years, Principal Zulema Garcia has served as a dedicated leader at Brewster School, strengthening our school with pride, heart, and vision. She has honored the traditions of our school and community, always putting students first and ensuring our teachers and staff are fully supported.
Under her leadership, Brewster has:
✅ Built a positive and respectful school culture
✅ Improved student achievement and attendance through focused instruction and support
✅ Maintained a safe and secure learning environment for students and staff
✅ Increased parent involvement and strengthened the school-community connection
✅ Beautified the campus to reflect the pride we have in our school
✅ Uplifted staff morale and created a space where teachers and students thrive
✅ Preserved community values and school traditions that make Brewster special
Principal Garcia represents everything we want in a school leader—someone who honors our past, builds our future, and places the well-being of students, teachers, and families at the forefront.
Let’s come together as one strong Brewster community to support her continued leadership! We need your voice! Let’s come together to show our support and let the ECISD Board Members and Superintendent know that our community stands with Principal Garcia.

✍️ Sign the petition today to help keep Principal Zulema Garcia at Brewster School!
 
#KeepPrincipalGarcia #BrewsterPride #SupportOurPrincipal #WeStandWithGarcia #CommunityStrong #StudentFocused #TraditionMatters #LeadershipMatters 

Zulema Garcia's accomplishments throughout her time as Principal are as follows: 

Attendance Rates trending Upwards

2024-2025 – 94.20

2023 2024 – 94.10

2022 2023

STAAR Accountability Ratings:

2022 – 91 – A

2023 – 81 – B (switched to full online testing for all 3rd-8th Grade students)

2024 A-F Ratings remains pending and subject to change based on judicial rulings

2025 – 87 – B (elementary was an A and middle school was a B)

School improvements:

1.       Stadium Lights installed in our football field

2.       2 Certified Police Officers

3.       Barbed wire around the entire school perimeter

4.       Veterans Park opened and used by the school daily during school hours

5.       Security Cameras updated for a total of 125 for full school visual

6.       Intermediate and Primary Floors updated

7.       Middle School hallways painted and updated with positive visuals

8.       Gates installed outside the Intermediate breezeway for student safety

9.       3 tiered vestibules with camera system, buzz in, and locked doors

10.  Gym floor updated to the new Brewster School mascot

11.  6 out of 28 teachers designated by the Teacher Incentive Allotment as Exemplary (4) and Master levels (2)

12.  Historical Elementary District Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Amanda Cruz (hired 3 years ago)

13.  Band program has grown to include 4 bands – 5th Grade, 6th Grade, Symphonic, and Honors Band.

14.  Afterschool program offers high quality instructional programs for Kinder to 8th Grade

15.  Fellowship of Christians Athletes started in 2024

16.  Updated the Old West Room to host meetings with the staff and community

17.  Started the John F. Perez memorial Esports tournament in our gym

18.  Middle School Coder Z State Champions

19.  Cheer program has grown to include 17 cheerleaders

20.  Top Growth in iReady Math for elementary in 2025

21.  Top Five in School Attendance for 3 months running in the Fall of 2024

22.  Community involvement growth with parent volunteers

23.  School and Community Celebrations in our gym to accommodate all our families

24.  Updated the front office lobby to be friendly, inviting, and collaborative with our students, staff, and community

25.  Reading program is at 100% participation with average of 90% testing rates

26.  Strengthen our bilingual program to help our students exit 

 

Named as the Top Performing School by the state Children at Risk program in 2023 earning a Gold Ribbon Award for placing 14 overall across the Rio Grande Valley

The Importance of Retaining a Successful Principal in a High-Performing PK3–8 School in a Rural Community

 

In rural communities, schools are more than just centers for academic learning—they are cornerstones of stability, culture, and opportunity. For a PK3–8th grade school that is already high-performing, retaining a strong, successful principal is not only vital to sustaining excellence, but also essential to the broader wellbeing of the community.

 

1. Stability for Students and Families

In a rural setting, students often spend their entire early academic careers—nearly a decade—in the same school building. A consistent, effective principal ensures that the educational environment remains safe, nurturing, and driven by high expectations. Frequent turnover in leadership can disrupt school culture and lead to confusion or instability for students, staff, and families. A long-standing, trusted principal provides continuity that is especially important for young learners, who thrive in secure and predictable environments.

2. Deep Community Ties and Cultural Understanding

A successful principal in a rural community doesn’t just manage a school—they become part of the fabric of the town. They understand the unique needs of local families, work closely with community partners, and build relationships that help bring resources into the school. Replacing such a leader risks losing this valuable community connection and trust that can take years to establish.

3. Proven Success and Strategic Vision

High-performing schools are not built overnight—they are the product of clear vision, strategic planning, and years of consistent leadership. A successful principal who has guided the school to high achievement brings institutional knowledge, tested strategies, and a deep understanding of what works for this particular student body. Keeping this leader in place ensures that progress continues and that new initiatives are built on a foundation of success, not guesswork.

4. Staff Retention and Morale

In small, rural schools, staff often wear multiple hats. A strong principal sets the tone for collaboration, motivation, and high morale. Teachers and staff are more likely to stay in a school where they feel supported, respected, and inspired. Leadership turnover can lead to uncertainty and attrition, which is particularly harmful in areas where hiring and retaining educators is already a challenge.

5. Long-Term Academic and Social Impact

Ultimately, the principal’s leadership directly affects student outcomes—not just in academics, but in personal development, school climate, and access to future opportunities. A successful principal in a rural PK3–8 school sets students on a path toward lifelong learning, resilience, and achievement. Keeping that leader in place is one of the most effective ways to ensure that the school continues to thrive, and that the students—and by extension, the community—continue to grow stronger.