Biography

Jessica Florez Huamanttica was the principal of Chumpe School for the last ten years. She decided her life to ensuring that her students thrived. She transformed a school that was almost abandoned to a well respected learning institution where students were completing high school for the first time and several earning scores high enough on their graduate exit exam to earn admittance to the university. She ensured that students were fed a nutritious daily meal and helped push her teachers to give their very best. She never tolerated abuse and discrimination of her students because they were Quechua and coming from the mountain communities and she never lowered her expectations or listened to others who believed that her students would not succeed. She expected the best from her students and staff because she knew education was the key to improving the quality of life for her students and the Quechua communities. 

Jessica was recently relocated and will be taking on the principal position at Pokes school. Still, she remains steadfast in her mission to transform the lives of indigenous children in the Peruvian Andes through education. The Pokes school is another school that had been closed for several years, but the school board recently decided to reopen because the mountain communities population has increased. Once again she is starting over in a school that is in shambles, but she is determined to help her students succeed here too. Jessica's work has ensured that over a hundred children receive a quality education and are supported and encouraged to believe in a future beyond the isolated mountain communities where they live. Jessica works with her staff to inspire and build the confidence of all her students so that they succeed in life as well as school.