Dr. Dolores Garcia-Blocker is a lifelong educator with more than 30 years of experience working in public school systems. She started as a teacher in Washington, D.C., led schools in New York and Connecticut, and has held district leadership roles for the last 10 years in Connecticut.

Having attended public school and then a private boarding school for high school, Dr. Garcia-Blocker
recognized how her private educational experience allowed her to excel academically and socially in college.

As a new teacher, she saw the stark inequities between her educational experience and that of her students. As a result, Dr. Garcia-Blocker has focused her career on providing equitable opportunities for all students, regardless of background. She did this through rigorous instruction in the classroom, leading excellent schools, and developing innovative programs and initiatives focused on college and career readiness.

Dr. Garcia-Blocker received her B.A. from Spelman College, M.S. from American University, and an Ed.D from Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds numerous professional certifications, including a Superintendent Certification from the University of Connecticut. She was recognized by The College Board for closing the achievement gap, earned US News & World Report’s Bronze and Silver medals for Outstanding High Schools and was awarded the Outstanding Educator by the National Council of Negro Women, Inc.

Dr. Garcia-Blocker is a proud mother of a graduate from Notre Dame High School of West Haven and student at Sacred Heart University.