Chelsea Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Almi G. Abeyta received the inaugural Premio América Unida award at the América Unida gathering at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) on Friday, September 25.
Premio América Unida recognizes leaders who demonstrate what it means to build community across differences. The award celebrates leaders whose work is rooted in dignity, belonging, collective care, and a commitment to ensuring communities have voice and agency. Dr. Abeyta was selected for the award in recognition of her significant contributions to education, advocacy for the students of Chelsea, and her continued support, encouragement, and mentorship for the next generations of system-level leaders.
As CPS Superintendent, Dr. Abeyta has centered her leadership around ensuring that every student is known by their “Name, Strength and Story.” Her work has focused on creating school communities where students and families are known, valued and treated as partners in the educational experience.
“I am deeply honored to be the first recipient of the Premio América Unida, especially at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a place that has been so important in my own leadership journey. This recognition reflects what I believe at my core: leadership begins with seeing the dignity, strength, and story in every person,” Dr. Abeyta said. “In Chelsea, we work every day to build a community where our students and families know they belong and are welcomed.”
In addition to receiving the award, Dr. Abeyta participated as a panelist during the first-ever América Unida gathering, a student- and alumni-led initiative created in celebration of Latinx Heritage Month to bring together students, educators and community leaders. The event centered on the question: “What can the diverse experiences of Latin America and its diasporas teach us about building communities rooted in dignity, belonging, and collective care?”
Dr. Abeyta joined Maritza Hernandez, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Services at HGSE; Shirley Vargas, Senior Associate Commissioner for District and School Assistance at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; and Massachusetts Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike for the panel discussion. Margarita Ruiz, Director of the Ed.L.D. Residency Program at HGSE, served as moderator.
Participating as both a panelist and as an award recipient was particularly meaningful for Dr. Abeyta, who is a three-time HGSE graduate and has served as a mentor to candidates in HGSE’s Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) program. She was presented the award by Carolina Armstrong, one of her mentees and a member of the América Unida organizing committee.
