Celebrating Our Hispanic Heritage Month Employee Spotlights

Posted on October 14, 2026
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Categories: Employee Spotlight, Employee Spotlights

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the employees featured in this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month Employee Spotlights.

Each of these individuals brings talent, dedication, culture, and a deep commitment to the students, families, and communities we serve. Their stories reflect the many ways our employees contribute to the strength of the School District of Philadelphia and the rich diversity that makes our District special.

We hope you enjoy learning more about these remarkable colleagues and join us in celebrating their contributions, accomplishments, and impact.

Michelle Cotto
Yonaira Rodriguez
Iris Negron
Jomyra Crespo
Dr. Jose Lebron
Virgin Gerena
Katherine Daley
Sonia Santa Diggins
Margarita Abuawadeh
Iris Figueroa

Michelle Cotto

ELA Teacher, Samuel Fels High School

In just her second year at Fels High School, Ms. Michelle Cotto has made a meaningful impact by intentionally incorporating Latino culture into her classroom and helping create greater visibility and belonging for Hispanic and Latino students. During her first year, she recognized that Hispanic Heritage Month was not being celebrated schoolwide and took the initiative to help change that.

This year, Ms. Cotto has helped organize a month-long celebration that engages students and reaches beyond the classroom through community and stakeholder involvement. Her work reflects a commitment to ensuring that students who may not always feel seen or heard have opportunities to celebrate their culture, share their voices, and feel represented within their school community.

Dr. Yonaira Rodriguez

Principal, William Cramp School

Dr. Yonaira Rodriguez leads with pride in every part of who she is. A respected Philadelphia school leader and proud Puerto Rican woman, she makes sure Latino students know that their culture, language, family traditions, and identity belong in every space — including leadership. Through cultural events, family engagement, advocacy, and representation, she creates a school community where Hispanic and Latino students and families feel seen, valued, and celebrated.

What makes Dr. Rodriguez’s impact especially powerful is its authenticity. Her commitment to honoring heritage is not limited to Hispanic Heritage Month; it is reflected in how she leads every day. By showing up fully and unapologetically as herself, she sends a powerful message to students: your name belongs here, your language belongs here, your culture belongs here, your story belongs here — and you can lead here too.

Iris Negron

Bilingual Counseling Assistant, Northeast Community Propel Academy

Iris Negron serves as a powerful advocate and cultural bridge for Spanish-speaking students and families. As a Bilingual Counseling Assistant, she goes far beyond translation by ensuring parents feel heard, respected, and empowered in critical spaces such as IEP meetings. She also responds when families are in crisis, helping connect them with food, clothing, and other essential resources so they do not fall through the cracks.

Her impact reaches across the entire school community. Iris mentors and advocates for Latino students, helps families become stronger partners in their children’s education, and leads professional development that strengthens staff understanding of Hispanic families and culture. Through her pride, resourcefulness, and service-driven leadership, she helps create a school environment where Latino students and families feel seen, supported, and genuinely valued.

Jomyra Crespo

Climate Manager, William D. Kelley School

As Climate Manager at William D. Kelley School, Jomyra Crespo has built far more than a positive school climate — she has built trust. Over the past three years, she has become a steady advocate for Spanish-speaking families, helping them navigate school forms, meetings, appointments, community resources, and everyday questions without carrying the burden of language barriers alone. Her work extends beyond her formal role and includes supporting families through the school’s grocery store, farmers market, and Temple University dental clinic.

Ms. Crespo’s impact is especially powerful because families know they can rely on her. When two families were frightened by reports of possible immigration enforcement in the neighborhood, she stayed with them, spoke with them in their own language, and helped restore a sense of safety and trust. Her leadership has helped Kelley become a place where Hispanic families feel known, welcomed, and supported. As a founding member of Latinas in Motion, that commitment extends beyond the school day — uplifting Latina women and families is central to how she leads, serves, and builds community.

Dr. José Lebrón

Principal, Kensington High School

Dr. José Lebrón is a trailblazing leader whose legacy has helped shape generations of Hispanic and Latino educators and administrators across the School District of Philadelphia. In 1973, he became the District’s first Latino administrator, beginning a remarkable 53-year journey of service and leadership that opened doors for countless others who followed.

Dr. Lebrón is widely regarded as a living legend and a founding figure for many Hispanic administrators throughout the District. His influence extends across students, educators, school leaders, families, and community members, and the full reach of his impact is difficult to measure. His career represents more than a historic first; it represents a lasting legacy of representation, mentorship, and leadership that continues to inspire those who came after him.

Virgin Gerena

School Improvement Support Liaison, Thomas K. Finletter School

As Finletter’s Attendance Coach, Ms. Gerena has built strong, trusting relationships with students and families while helping remove barriers to consistent attendance and school engagement. Through individualized interventions, family outreach, translation support, and positive attendance incentives, she has helped contribute to consistent year-over-year gains in attendance at Finletter. Her support of Spanish-speaking families is especially meaningful, ensuring they can fully understand school information, participate in important conversations, and feel heard and respected.

Ms. Gerena’s impact extends well beyond attendance. She serves as a cultural bridge between families and staff, advocates for Hispanic and Latino students, and sponsors an after-school sewing club that gives students another space to create, build confidence, and develop meaningful relationships. Through her daily actions, she helps reinforce a powerful message across the Finletter community: you belong here, your voice matters, and your presence matters.

Katherine Daley

ESOL Teacher, William H. Ziegler School 

Kate helps ensure that every student at Ziegler is represented, supported, and included. She has been instrumental in strengthening inclusive practices for both ESOL and non-ESOL students, including supporting the school’s true co-teaching model from its earliest stages. She works closely with staff and families to create learning environments that recognize students’ academic growth while also celebrating their individual strengths and identities.

Her leadership has helped build a schoolwide commitment to serving diverse learners more effectively. Kate leads professional development and family meetings, supports teachers in strengthening communication and inclusive instruction, and helps colleagues better understand the students and families they serve. Her work has contributed to reduced disproportionality and meaningful progress for diverse learners across the school community.

Sonia Santa Diggins

Bilingual Counseling Assistant, Spring Garden School 

Since joining Spring Garden during the 2024–2025 school year, Mrs. Sonia Santa has become a trusted bridge between the school and its Hispanic and Latino families. As a Bilingual Counseling Assistant, she supports family meetings, student counseling and social-emotional needs, attendance outreach, and translation of important school communications. From translating greetings and affirmations during morning arrival to helping families navigate IEP and concern meetings, she ensures Spanish-speaking families are seen, heard, and able to fully participate in their school community.

Mrs. Santa’s service consistently extends beyond her formal role. She has helped families navigate periods of heightened anxiety related to immigration enforcement, maintaining personal contact and helping families feel safe and connected to school. She shares her culture through food and activities with students, supports the main office during a secretary vacancy, and is regarded as a dependable and compassionate presence throughout Spring Garden. Through advocacy, humility, and service, Mrs. Santa has helped transform language barriers into stronger relationships, deeper trust, and a more culturally responsive school community.

Margarita Abuawadeh

Bilingual Counseling Assistant, Academy At Palumbo

Margarita Abuawadeh is a dedicated leader who provides wraparound support to students and families, with an especially strong commitment to Hispanic and Latino children and immigrant families. As a Bilingual Counseling Assistant, she goes beyond her core responsibilities by helping families access resources, organizing workshops and support groups, and stepping in during times of need to connect families with critical care and assistance.

Her impact is also deeply felt in the cultural life of the school. Ms. Abuawadeh leads the Hispanic and Latinos Unidos club each week, organizes the school’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month Assembly, and creates meaningful opportunities for students and families to celebrate their heritage with pride. Through her advocacy, service, and commitment to community, she helps ensure Hispanic and Latino students and families feel supported, celebrated, and connected.

Iris Figueroa

Kindergarten Teacher, Benjamin Franklin Elementary School

Ms. Iris Figueroa is a trusted and joyful presence who helps Hispanic and Latino students and families feel welcomed, represented, and supported. She shares family traditions, celebrates Latino culture, advocates for students and families, and frequently helps bridge communication through translation. Her support often extends beyond the students she directly serves, reflecting a commitment to making sure families across grade levels feel seen, respected, and connected to the school community.

Ms. Figueroa is especially valued for the relationships she builds. She recognizes students’ strengths, helps them work through challenges, and encourages them to see possibilities for their futures. Families trust her because her care is consistent; she follows up, advocates, and remains involved rather than treating support as a one-time interaction. Through her warmth, cultural pride, and genuine investment in others, Ms. Figueroa helps create a stronger sense of belonging for students, families, and colleagues alike.