Catholic education represents for me the fulfillment of the promise that is placed in out hearts through the nature of our beings as people of God: to want to know, learn, and understand God with the whole nature of our being. The promise of Catholic education is that our whole body, mind, and soul will be developed in pursuit of that truth.

Being a LEAD Fellow means that I can be a part of community that understands the unique mindset and frames of reference that we Latino/a educators bring to the table as school leaders. Our desire to form a community with a community; to draw strength from our shared experiences and highlight our our cultural strengths enrich the Catholic school mission as a whole. All of the salient literature on the future of Catholic education points to the crucial role that our Latino/a brothers and sisters will play and we Latinx educators can help our schools understand where this future will lead us.

When one immerses her or himself into the deep well that is the life of the saints, it's hard to choose just one! I dedicated my thesis to Our Lady of Guadalupe who continues to inspire me in my educational ministry. In addition, a local bishop by the name of Bishop Gallegos, who confirmed me as a child and whose cause for canonization is advancing through the church due to his work with the migrant communities here in Sacramento, is also a great source of inspiration for me and a constant reminder to me that the graces of our faith are available to everyone regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic backgrounds.