Malden Linden STEAM Academy Principal Rafael ‘Ray’ Garcia receives statewide award

Latino Educator SHINE 2025 Honors for 25-year administrator, teacher; recognized at Mass. State House

By Steve Freker

Rafael “Ray” Garcia has been a highly regarded and committed educator across several communities for nearly three decades. For about the past eight years, he has been a fixture in the Malden Public Schools, first as a House Principal at Malden High School and for the past seven years as Linden STEAM Academy (Grades K-8) Principal. Before coming to the Malden schools, Garcia worked as an administrator and teacher in the Lawrence Public Schools. For nearly a dozen years prior to his years in Lawrence, he taught Science and Technology in programs at UMass Lowell.

Last Wednesday, Garcia received a prestigious honor when he was honored in a special ceremony at the Massachusetts State House in Boston with the presentation of a “Latino Educators SHINE 2025” Award. Presenting the award on behalf of the Mass. House of Representatives was longtime Malden state Rep. Steven Ultrino (D-Malden), himself a former teacher and school administrator for many years before he became a legislator. Also attending the State House honors ceremony were Malden Mayor and School Committee Chairperson Gary Christenson, Malden Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy Sippel and Ward 8 School Committee member Sharyn Rose-Zeiberg.

According to a spokesperson from the office of Mass. House Speaker Ronald Mariano (D-3rd Norfolk), “Latino educators are the backbone of our communities—especially in times of uncertainty.

“[May 28] at the Massachusetts State House, we proudly hosted the Latino Educators Shine Awards to honor their impact and celebrate their unwavering commitment to students across the Commonwealth, alongside legislators, community leaders, and advocates.”