Dr. Brenda Garcia Castro is an assistant principal at Century Community Charter School in Inglewood, California, and an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University. A passionate educator and respected scholar-practitioner, she is one of the very few pursuing both an EdD and PhD, with her research centered on immigrant families, access, community partnership, and the systems that help students thrive.
With a career spanning more than two decades at Century, Dr. Garcia Castro has built her leadership on intentionality, trust, and deep community engagement. She is known for creating programs and spaces that give students and families the resources, support, and voice they need to flourish.
Her expertise includes instructional design, curriculum development, technology integration, teacher mentoring, and the development of culturally responsive school systems. She is the creator of the Optimal Partnership for Thriving Integration, a conceptual model now informing practice across multiple educational contexts.
Dr. Garcia Castro holds a Master of Arts in School Administration from Loyola Marymount University and is a current doctoral student in Pepperdine’s Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy program. She presents her work nationally and internationally and is widely regarded as a rising leader shaping the AC stage of education.
