Three women dubbed "The Doctors of College Park" are making changes in Orlando, Florida. Their leadership has reportedly demonstrated faith, zeal, and a hunger for learning.
Sharing Common Goal
In a report with The Florida Catholic, Erika Wikstrom, Alicia Abbey, and Jamie Rodriguez are principals who share a common campus in Orlando.
Wikstrom heads Bishop Moore, Abbey is the principal of Morning Star, and Rodriguez leads St. Charles Borromeo.
Henry Fortier told the news outlet that this trio of College Park shares a strong partnership. Fortier is the superintendent of Catholic Schools.
He commended their leadership and commitment to being effective Catholic educators.
Fortier pointed out that these three women represented what Catholic education was about. He explained that the trio epitomized "deep faith, service to others, academic excellence, and the rich diverseness of our Church."
Diverse Background
As per the Orlando Diocese website, Wikstrom is the current principal of Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando. She was born and raised in Hawaii.
Growing up, she lived among people of different ethnic backgrounds, which included Japanese and Filipino.
She shared that celebrating one's unique heritage was the hallmark of their community.
The principal admitted that moving to Apopka as a teen was a culture shock. There were times when she was called derogatory names by her peers.
Experiencing Racism
Wikstrom was even prevented from certain classes. She shared that it was the first time she had experienced racism.
Her parents told her that this was a part of her life. Instead of letting her focus on the negative aspect, they encouraged her to concentrate on her studies and sports.
Focusing on Education
She told the news outlet that education could empower one to leave their mark in the world. Wikstrom would later attend universities in Glasgow, Scotland and York, England, and Boston College.
The principal is currently working on her certificate from Harvard.
Wikstrom shared that her experiences in life inspired her to write her dissertation on women and minorities. She explained that she wanted to learn people's stories by knowing their culture.
She pointed out that understanding a person's experience and perspectives allowed one to develop empathy and compassion.
The principal is thankful to Bishop John Noonan and Fortier for helping pave the way for the leadership the Diocese needed.
She said there were challenges in ensuring that Catholic education went beyond the standards.
Wikstrom noted that these included "openness, solidarity, and a drive for high academic standards."
She told the news outlet that she was glad to be part of a campus with three different principals of diverse backgrounds.
Wikstrom added that as Catholics, they were part of a universal Church. She was glad that their Diocese was representing that because of its leadership.
According to the website, Bishop Moore Catholic School aims to provide its students with the highest quality secondary education.
The school hopes to impart the message of the Gospel and Roman Catholic teachings among its students.
Bishop Moore Catholic School achieves its vision through a Christ-centered environment that stresses academic excellence, spiritual growth, and personal integrity.
The school also encourages its students to have "community involvement, athletic development, and cultural appreciation."
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