La Casa de Amistad Welcomes Dr. Nicole Garcia as Director of Youth Programs

8/18/2026

La Casa de Amistad is thrilled to welcome Nicole Garcia, Ed.D., as our new Director of Youth Programs.

Dr. Garcia brings more than 20 years of experience in education and a deep commitment to helping young people learn, grow, and succeed. As a member of La Casa’s executive team, she will oversee a staff of 10 and more than 100 regular volunteers who serve children and teens throughout the year.

In this role, Dr. Garcia will lead La Casa’s youth programs and build on our strong foundation of bilingual academic support, leadership development, and family engagement. She will also help ensure that La Casa continues to meet the changing needs of students and families across our community.

Dr. Garcia believes in being a lifelong learner. She earned a BA in English Literature and Secondary Education from Saint Mary’s College, an M.Ed in Reading from Xavier University, an Ed.S from Liberty University, and an Ed.D in Curriculum and Teaching from National University.

Dr. Garcia is committed to building lasting relationships, to using people’s diverse backgrounds to make meaningful connections and to empowering others to be the best version of themselves.

Dr. Garcia began her career as an English teacher at Washington High School. She served the West Side community for 15 years and worked closely with various stakeholders to bring marginalized voices to the forefront. For the last seven years, she served as the principal of Clay International Academy, which is a PK-8 building on the North Side of South Bend.

During her time at Clay IA, she cultivated a school culture that was dedicated to improving student outcomes and student engagement at school. She strived to support all members of the school community and to cultivate a culture of trust and belonging. At the end of her tenure, Clay International Academy earned authorization as an IB World School for the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Primary Years Programme (PYP). Additionally, Clay International Academy saw gains in student attendance, IREAD pass rates and enrollment during her tenure.

Throughout her career, Dr. Garcia has focused on high quality teaching and learning that was culturally responsive and met the needs of diverse learners. She is passionate about providing a rigorous and relevant curriculum, impactful professional learning, and instructional coaching that improves outcomes.

“Dr. Garcia is a passionate and servant leader who believes in the transformative power of education on our youth. We are beyond thrilled to welcome her and are grateful she chose to bring her experience to serve the youth and families at La Casa de Amistad.” -Juan Constantino, CEO

Dr. Garcia’s appointment reflects La Casa’s continued investment in strong, culturally grounded bilingual youth programs that help all students, particularly our Latino students, succeed in school and prepare for their future.