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About Dr. Sylvia Sánchez Garza
Dr. Sylvia Sánchez Garza, a strong advocate for all students’ educational success, is a lifelong learner and is passionate about education. She believes students are born with a spark of creativity that sometimes needs to be reignited to remind them of their potential. She views learning as a continuous process where leaders guide the learning and teaching relationship. A student’s daily life is their actual ongoing education. Therefore, one should embrace their culture, traditions, and diversity as essential aspects of that educational experience.
Sylvia has a Ph.D. in leadership studies from Our Lady of the Lake University’s School of Business and Leadership, a master’s in educational administration from Lamar University, a master’s in fine arts in creative writing from National University, and a bachelor’s in English with a minor in sociology from Pan American University. She has served on the South Texas ISD School Board since 2008, and the South Texas ISD. Foundation Board since 2004. She currently serves as a Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Director for Region 1 and serves as an officer in the secretary/treasurer position on the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) board. Garza in also a member of the Mexican American School Board Association (MASBA), National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). She is a graduate of the Leadership TASB class of 2012 and has the distinction of a Master Trustee. Sylvia has been a community volunteer involved with multiple local organizations. She is currently a board member of the South Texas Literacy Coalition and is the co-founder of the Mayor Joe V. Sanchez Memorial Book Festival. She is also the Creative Writing Community Advisor for the South Texas Music and Cultural Arts Foundation, a member of the Authors Guild, Texas Authors and the Writer’s League of Texas.
Sylvia is a Gold Star literary award-winning published author. Her book Cascarones has won several literary awards. As an author and poet, she speaks and presents at schools and events regarding literacy, reading, writing, and the importance of “sharing one’s story.” Her work has been published in literary magazines, three anthologies, and includes three books. Awaken, a poetry book, Cascarones, a coming-of-age young adult novel, and a new release young adult novel titled Ghost Brother. Her author’s website is sylviasanchezgarza.com.
Dr. Garza grew up in Weslaco, where the local library, The Mayor Joe V. Sanchez Public Library is named after her father, a migrant farmworker, veteran, superintendent, mayor, and author.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Ghost Brother
Cris, who was driving the car, is overcome with guilt, and their mom is devastated at the loss of her son. The hazy details of the crash and its fallout are narrated in the alternating voices of the brothers, one a survivor and the other a ghost. No one can see or hear Carlos despite his efforts to let them know he is still there, so he is able to listen in on numerous conversations. One of the bullies that died in the crash was the son of the local sheriff, and the ghost learns the lawman intends to place the blame for the accident on his brother!
As Cris navigates his sorrow, he is intent on getting to know his father, who has been absent all their lives. To complicate matters, he meets and falls head-over-heels in love with Selena, who has secrets of her own, including knowing more about the crash than she lets on.
Exploring death and grief from a young person’s perspective, this absorbing novel for teens set in South Texas brims with the cultural traditions and beliefs of the Mexican-American community.
South Texas Music & Cultural Arts Foundation 