REVISTA PALMAS 68 OCTUBRE 2022

David Sanabria,
the Incoming Head of School
What interested you in the opportunity
to become the next Head of School of
The Palmas Academy?
In 2016 I visited Palmas Academy as part of the
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
accreditation team to assess the school for accreditation.
During that week I met some great people who
truly loved their school, who saw the immense potential
around them, and I soon realized that it was
truly a wonderful, very special place. Not knowing
that it would one day be a reality, I remember thinking
“wow...this would be an awesome place to work”.
Then earlier this year I learned of the opportunity to
become Head of School of Palmas Academy, and immediately
became excited to enter the process. I was
further convinced that it was the right place for me
once I met the members of the Board of Trustees and
saw a group of extraordinary individuals, with a unified
vision, who are passionate and selflessly committed to
take Palmas Academy to new heights. The entrepreneurial
spirit in me helped me to see the chance to
go on a journey to turn Palmas Academy into the best
college preparatory school in the Caribbean.
When do you start and what can you tell
us about the transition to your new role
as Head of School?
My tenure as Head of School officially starts in August
of 2023. However, throughout the 2022-23 school
year I will be working very closely with the current Head
of School, Dr. Lilliam Morales, to ensure a smooth and
seamless transition in the leadership, paving the way
for the next chapter in TPA’s history, and that work has
already begun. I have already been in the school several
times, met with administrators and other members
of the faculty. I could not feel more fortunate to be
able to work with someone of Dr. Morales’ caliber, who
knows and loves the school and its people as much
as she does, and who
has done so much for
the school community.
My goal is to learn from
her as much as possible
about the culture of
the school, the people,
their needs, and make conscientious decisions with
those considerations in mind as we move to the future.
Dr. Morales is a pillar of Palmas Academy and I
am blessed to be able to collaborate with her in this
transition.
Our collaboration only helps to secure the chances
of success of this transition and strengthen the school
moving forward. Together, we will be working on important
aspects such as making curricular revisions, revising
school structures and protocols, finding ways to
optimize our human resources, strategic planning for
the future, professional development for the faculty
and updating or creating key core documents. I look
forward to getting to know the faculty, the students
and their families in the year ahead.
What is your vision for
The Palmas Academy?
My vision for the Palmas Academy is bold and ambitious.
I will work ceaselessly to lead a transformation to
turn Palmas Academy into the top college preparatory
school in the Caribbean. From day one, I intend to
work to create the best value in the offerings at TPA
for students and families, so that they will find the
same quality of education and support programs that
they would find in the best independent schools in
the mainland. It will be a place that will not only offer
top academics but also unique, signature programs
in interscholastic athletics, the arts, entrepreneurship
and STEM, to offer all students a path to success in
all fields of study, and eventual admission to the best