Rebeca Garcia is a 2025-2026 Teach Plus Illinois Affinity Group Facilitator and high school special education teacher and instructional coach at Vernon Hills High School in Vernon Hills Illinois. She co-teachers the courses American literature and senior literature and composition. Rebeca provides professional development via one-on-one coaching, small learning teams, and large group workshops and has worked as a reading specialist. Rebeca won a “You Make a Difference Award” from her school (2025), award for excellence in podcasting from the Illinois Chapter of the National School Relations Association (2022), and created an autism program featured in the Chicago Tribune (2010). She began her teaching career in 2007, serving in such other roles as resource teacher and Latin American Student Organization advisor. She is part of the Learning Forward Academy Class of 2025. Rebeca earned her BA in special education from Roosevelt University and master’s in reading and literacy from Benedictine University.
