Mayor Menino and Superintendent Johnson remember Margarita Muñiz

BOSTON – Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Carol R. Johnson today issued the following statements remembering longtime Hernández K-8 School Principal Margarita Muñiz. Muñiz, who had worked for BPS for 39 years, lost her courageous battle with cancer today.

“Our city has lost a true advocate for public education,” said Mayor Menino. “Margarita Muñiz displayed a spirited passion for her work, and it was contagious. With a fire and energy that inspired her youngest students and even her most senior staff members, Margarita lived each day doing what she loved most, teaching. Margarita has left a mark on our city that lives on in her students, and that is the finest legacy of all.”

“The entire Boston Public Schools family mourns the loss of Margarita Muñiz today,” said Superintendent Johnson. “Margarita was an outstanding school leader who, at her core, was a great teacher who cared for her students and staff like family. She was a strong voice for quality education for all students and never missed an opportunity to share the Hernández School ethos. We are comforted to know Margarita's legacy lives on in the generation of students she taught and that a future generation of students who will attend the newly created Margarita Muñiz Academy will be the great beneficiaries of her hard work.”

On Tuesday, the Boston School Committee approved the Margarita Muñiz Academy, a two-way bilingual high school that will open in the fall of 2012.

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Wake and funeral information:

MUNIZ , Margarita Of Belmont, Nov. 18th. Funeral from the Mann & Rodgers Funeral Home, 44 Perkins St. (corner of So. Huntington Ave.) JAMAICA PLAIN, Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at The Mission Church, 1545 Tremont St., Mission Hill at 2 P.M. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours Tuesday 4-8 p.m. Late active Principal at the Rafael Hernandez School in Boston. Interment will take place Friday at 10a.m. at Belmont Cemetery, all are welcome. Guestbook at mannandrodgers.com

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Hernández K-8 families received this letter:

Dear BPS family,

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Hernandez K-8 Principal Margarita Muñiz. At her core, Margarita was a great teacher who cared for her students and staff like family. She was a strong voice for quality education for all students.

Margarita had been with the Boston Public Schools for 39 years, and led the Rafael Hernández School for the last 30. Just three days ago, the Boston School Committee voted to approve Margarita Muñiz Academy, our first dual-language high school. We plan to open the school next fall at the Agassiz building. Margarita advocated for this program for many years and fittingly, we plan to open it in the same site where she began her long BPS career.

Margarita came to the United States without her parents at just 11 years old. She had an early talent for teaching and an extraordinary ability to relate to young children who were not yet confident in their language skills. In doing so, she was able to help them bridge the gap between language proficiency and personal confidence.

She joined the Boston Public Schools in 1972 as an English as a Second Language teacher and within nine years was asked to lead the Hernández. There, she quickly established a clear mission: to provide a quality education for Latino students who, at that time, had very few options. It remained her life’s work. Indeed, she expanded her focus so that all children can experience the rich diversity that a dual-language education can provide.

Her passing compounds the grief for the Hernández K-8 community. On Tuesday morning, we learned that school Director of Operations/Assistant Principal Ken Larson passed away unexpectedly. He was a true leader and dedicated member of the Hernandéz family, and in every way, went beyond the call of duty to serve students, families and educators.

After consulting with Principal Muñiz and with her blessing, on Wednesday we named Maria Campanario the interim principal for the Hernández K-8 for the remainder of the school year. Today, she is working with a team of counselors at the Hernández to provide support for students, families and staff as they attempt to cope with this dual loss. Mayor Menino, School Committee Chairperson Reverend Groover, Dr. Amara and I visited the school this morning and were deeply impressed by the entire Hernández school community, which, while grieving, is honoring their memories with deep respect and gratitude.  We are grateful to the team from the Office of Special Education and Student Support and the Office of English Language Learners for their assistance they have provided to the Hernández community. 

As you look ahead to Thanksgiving, please take a moment to remember the legacy of the many men and women who dedicated their entire lives to building better schools for our community.  All of us share the same mission. We hope we can live up to the high standards they set.

Gratefully,
Carol R. Johnson
BPS Superintendent