Born: 1950, Cuba
Died: 2011
Country most active: United States
Also known as: NA
The following is republished with permission from the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail.
Margarita Muñiz (1950-2011) worked in Boston Public Schools for 39 years, 30 of them as the principal of the Rafael Hernandez School, the premier dual language school in Massachusetts. As a principal, she never stopped teaching and learning. She eagerly embraced becoming a founding principal of Expeditionary Learning because its philosophy and pedagogy of adventure matched her own. Under Muñiz’s leadership, the Hernandez School was nominated as an Effective Practice School by the BPS, received a 2005 Teacher Team of the Year from USA TODAY, and had three teachers nominated by the Mayor’s Office as Boston Teacher of the Year. Muñiz was recognized for her many contributions as an educator and leader. She received the City of Boston’s Shattuck Public Service Award, was selected the 2009 Principal of the Year in Boston and chosen as a Barr Foundation Fellow from 2007 to 2010. She was also named one of 100 Outstanding Women in Massachusetts in 2003.