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Campus Information

Year Open:

Bond Year:

School Mascot: Gladiators

School colors: Black, Silver

Mission Statement:
At Dr. Hector P. Garcia Middle School, we:
Grow - Critical thinkers who positively impact society
Reflect - On our relevant and rigorous instruction
Inspire - A love of learning
Take ownership of every studentโ€™s learning experience as a team with parents and community

Vision Statement: Garcia Middle School will educate and empower lifelong learners who are responsible, contributing citizens in a diverse, evolving world.

Mark Lopez
Dr. Mark Lopez - Principal
Hello Gladiator Nation! I am so proud to be the Principal of Garcia Middle School!

What an honor it is to serve the students and community of Garcia Middle School. Each day we strive to provide our community with the highest quality educational experience. We want each student and each community member to feel welcome and valued in our school. As a graduate of NISD, I attended Northwest Crossing Elementary School, Coke Stevenson Middle School, and Taft High School. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Texas State University, Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas State (Eat em up cats!), and a Phd in Leadership Studies from Our Lady of the Lake University. My wife owns a small business as a Therapist and my three children are 15, 11, and 6. I love listening to live music, playing basketball, enjoying events around the city, and love my Spurs, Cowboys and Bobcats.

I pride myself on treating each student as I would my own children; with kindness and respect; while holding them to the highest academic standards each day. I constantly push myself, my students and my staff to do what is best for students and make kids the center of all our decisions at Garcia. I draw my energy each day from the interactions with students, teachers, and parents. I believe a school should be an open part of the community each day, and we welcome anyone to come visit our school to see The Garcia Way on full display.
Mateo Macias
Mateo Macias - Associate Principal

The Associate Principal also serves as the Campus Behavior Coordinator. They can be reached by email at mateo.macias@nisd.net or by phone at 210-397-8415.

Howdy Gladiator Nation! I am excited to have the opportunity to serve as associate principal at Dr. Hector P. Garcia Middle School. My educational background includes a B.B.A in Economics from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Master of Education in Administration from Lamar University. In 2007 I began my career in education at Hearne High School in a small town outside of the Bryan/College Station area. I taught all high school social studies courses and coached football, basketball, and baseball. The following school year I was blessed to have the opportunity to teach and coach at A&M Consolidated High School in College Station. After my wife graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M in 2011, we made the decision to move to San Antonio. I taught AP Macroeconomics at Roosevelt High School for 6 years before becoming an assistant principal at Krueger Middle School. In October of 2021 I was blessed to start my journey as a Garcia Gladiator!

I started my 17th year in education in July with the support of my wife and our two children. We love to travel and play pickleball. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, attending local sporting events, and learning about the latest in the automotive world.

I firmly believe that every student deserves to be provided with a high quality educational experience every day. It is our responsibility to prepare our students for the future by encouraging them to become creators, collaborators, communicators, critical thinkers, leaders, learners, innovators, and solution-finders. I will do my best to be a positive role model for all students and lead by example.

  • Lori Persyn
    210-397-8418
    lori.persyn@nisd.net
    Lori Persyn
    Academic Dean

    It is an honor that I get to serve as your Garcia Middle School Academic Dean!

    I am extremely excited to continue to partner with you to ensure your child develops a strong academic foundation at HGMS. My educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Texas A&M University and a Master of Arts Degree in Educational Leadership from The University of Texas San Antonio. The 2023-24 school year will mark my 15th year in education. Personally, I am originally from a small Texas town in the Panhandle. My husband is a retired middle school principal, and we share three children. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, reading, hiking, going to sporting events and spending time with my family.

    I believe that strong, trusting relationships (at every level) are at the core of student learning. I also believe that if we live our values, they become a part of our culture, drive decisions and then have the power to improve schools. As Academic Dean, I work with all stakeholders to support a shared vision to ensure that everyone not only feels valued, but also understands their role in supporting and empowering students to reach their full academic potential. My door is always open to you and I am looking forward to a wonderful school year.

  • 210-397-8417
    anna.lopez@nisd.net
    Anna Lopez
    Assistant Principal

    Greetings Gladiators! My name is Anna Lopez, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as your Assistant Principal. 

    I'm originally from the Rio Grande Valley where I received a bachelor's degree in history from UTPA, and began my career as a 7th grade history teacher. In 2014, I moved to San Antonio and joined Northside. Since then, I have earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from UTSA, and have worked with elementary and middle school students as a teacher, department coordinator, instructional coach, and administrator. The 2024-2025 school year will mark my 14th year in education. I'm excited to meet you all and am looking forward to a great school year!