It’s never too early for students to think long term about their success. Santiago Navarro has witnessed that firsthand.
Navarro, Arts ’95, Grad ’04, is principal of Bruce-Guadalupe Middle School, a public charter school on Milwaukee’s near south side primarily serving the city’s Hispanic community. He’s seen plenty change in his 29 years at the school – including an enrollment that has climbed from 283 students to about 1,600 today.
Helping drive that influx of interest are achievement rates that now stand as a point of pride.
During his time at BGCS, the school has seen the number of alumni enrolling in college increase from under 10% to more than 80%. In addition to becoming a feeder for numerous high-ranking colleges and universities in Wisconsin – Navarro’s alma mater Marquette among them – Bruce-Guadalupe graduates have gone on to some of the most prestigious institutions in the country, including Columbia University, Harvard University and Princeton University.
“I know we’re an elementary and middle school here, but we’re always talking about college,” says Navarro, who earned his master’s degree in Marquette’s College of Education. “We want our kids to go to the best high school. We know that if they go to a good high school around Milwaukee, they’re going to go off to college. If they’re going to college, they’re going to have more career opportunities.”
For Navarro, success begins with combining data analysis – he jokes that others at the school consider him a “data nerd” – and deep relationships built through the United Community Center, which operates Bruce-Guadalupe.
He meticulously reviews reports detailing local high schools’ results, focusing on those of his former students. Seventy percent of Bruce-Guadalupe students now attend private high schools after completing middle school, many with scholarship support from the UCC.
He lays out the numbers to families, many of whom are going through this process for the first time, to find the right fit.
“We’re targeting schools that have a track record of success,” Navarro says. “If we don’t put them in the right school, then some of these colleges won’t be a possibility for them.”
Bonds with these students can sometimes be built over an entire childhood. Given the wraparound services offered by the United Community Center, including daycare, some have been part of the community since infancy.
And the connection doesn’t end when they walk out the doors at the end of middle school.
“We track them in high school, seeing that they are getting services, seeing that they are getting ready to take the ACT, seeing that they are talking to their counselors and their teachers,” Navarro says. “We even see what they’re doing in college.”
Navarro loves to share the success stories: the former student who has gone on to become a principal himself, another now working in a local hospital, and some he’s had the pleasure to bring back to Bruce-Guadalupe as teachers and staff members. These countless positive outcomes have earned him statewide recognition, though he’s quick to credit his teachers with driving results.
Last year, the Rochester, Minnesota, native was named Secondary School Principal of the Year by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, which recognizes leaders who have helped drive student learning, foster instructional collaboration, and create safe and positive school environments.
His unwavering commitment to the school’s community and dedication to student success are truly remarkable
Jim Lynch, executive director of the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators
“His unwavering commitment to the school’s community and dedication to student success are truly remarkable,” said Jim Lynch, executive director of AWSA, when Navarro was presented with the award. “His long standing investment in the school is palpable, as he consistently goes above and beyond to ensure every student receives the support they need to thrive.”
The honor has opened opportunities for Navarro to connect with other leaders from around the country, including at events in Seattle and Washington, D.C.
“That’s the great thing about this award for me, hearing from other people,” Navarro says. “I’ve been here a long time and always want to make sure whatever I’m doing isn’t stagnant. Hearing other ideas, collaborating, hearing stories and using it here if it impacts children.”
That student-first mentality began at Marquette, where he combined his love for running with a passion for serving others. It’s kept him at Bruce-Guadalupe for nearly 30 years and, as he sees it, many years to come.
“They say ‘Be the Difference,’” Navarro says. “What kind of job, what kind of career can you have that makes a difference for others? I think that’s what we do in education all the time.”
