For Principal Sanchez, arriving at Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy was the culmination of a journey decades in the making. Few people know that he first applied to work at HMCRA nearly 30 years ago. Today, after a career as a teacher, Board of Education member, and school leader, he is finally where he hoped to be. We asked him to reflect on that journey and his first year leading our school.
Q&A with Principal Sanchez
Can you share a bit about your journey to becoming principal of Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy and what drew you to this community?
My connection to Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy goes back much further than this year. In 1998, when I was teaching at Bret Harte Elementary, I applied for a 4th/5th-grade teaching position here. I didn’t get the job, and I was honestly heartbroken because I really wanted to work with then-principal Sande Leigh, who was such an icon in education.
Years later, after serving on the Board of Education, I was encouraged to become a principal. In 2009, I interviewed for the principal position at Harvey Milk and was selected, but at the last minute the district reassigned me to Horace Mann. Then, in 2025, the opportunity finally came around again, and this time I made it here. It was a long journey, but I’m grateful to have arrived.
What drew me in then and what continues to draw me in today was the community, the Harvey Milk legacy, the school’s commitment to civil rights, and its deep connection to the LGBTQ+ community, which I’m proud to be a part of.
How do you approach leading Harvey Milk, and what values have guided your work this year?
I believe leadership is about working with people, not directing them from above. I recently participated in the district’s Transformative Leadership for Equity and Excellence (TLEE) program, which emphasizes that school leaders shouldn’t try to be superheroes who do everything themselves. Instead, they should build strong teams and create conditions for collaboration.
That philosophy aligns with how I’ve always led. I rely heavily on our Instructional Leadership Team and staff to help make important decisions. I’m not a “because I said so” principal. My goal is to build consensus, listen to different perspectives, and move forward together.
Creating new opportunities for students has been a hallmark of Principal Sanchez’s first year. Here, he celebrates the opening of HMCRA’s new soccer mini-pitch alongside soccer icon Megan Rapinoe, an initiative that Mr. Sanchez brought to the school through his connection with non-profit, America Scores Bay Area.
What has stood out to you most about the Harvey Milk community?
What makes Harvey Milk special is the incredible sense of community. Of course, that includes our students, staff, and families, but it also extends far beyond the school walls.
One thing that has really impressed me is how invested the broader Castro community is in supporting the school. Local businesses, neighbors, and community members consistently show up for our students. In more than 30 years in education, I haven’t experienced anything quite like it.
I knew Harvey Milk had a reputation for having highly engaged families, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. What I’ve found is a community that is deeply invested in the success of the school and eager to work in partnership with staff. It has truly been a pleasure.
The willingness of people to come together, solve problems, and support one another is what makes this place so special. I’m proud to be part of it.
A Community Worth Investing In
Mr. Sanchez spoke about the importance of partnership and the many people who come together to make HMCRA special. Your support helps sustain the programs, experiences, and opportunities that enrich our students’ lives and strengthen our community. We invite you to join us in investing in the future of HMCRA.