Michelle de la Guardia Honored by the Anti-Defamation League

At the Anti-Defamation League’s annual Essex County Law and Education Breakfast at Danversport on Thursday, May 7, Dean of Community & Belonging Michelle de la Guardia received the organization’s annual Community Service Award. Head of School Dr. Peter H. Quimby ’85, P’14 introduced her before an audience of local community, law enforcement, and education professionals, including colleagues and student Community Facilitators from The Governor’s Academy. Quimby’s remarks on de la Guardia’s commitment to community and belonging are printed below:

Since first coming to The Governor’s Academy 13 years ago as a Spanish teacher in our Language Department, Michelle has been a magnet for students and a fierce advocate for the values of equity, inclusion, and belonging on our campus. But it has been in her role as our Dean of Community & Belonging, a senior administrative position that she stepped into just two years ago, that Michelle has had her greatest impact on our community. 

Michelle has ably led our student Community Facilitators group–an organization that originally began as the ADL Peer Trainers. She has developed this group as one of the most important parts of our student leadership and anti-bias work. These students are trained in principles that align closely with ADL’s approach to school-based education and community culture-building. The training emphasizes peer-to-peer influence, equipping students to respond thoughtfully when they witness bias, and promote positive norms across our community. 

This past winter, under Michelle’s leadership, Govs initiated a partnership with Blue Square Alliance Against Hate, an organization that is dedicated to combating hate and antisemitism through data collection, education, and community-based initiatives. We hope to have the Alliance working with our Community Facilitators next year. Michelle has worked with affinity groups on campus and their advisors to facilitate community and cultural engagement opportunities, and in December, Michelle led our Community Facilitators in the development of an All-School Convocation on identity, mental health, and well-being.

But no tribute to Michelle or description of her impact on our community would be complete without mentioning her relationships with students. Whether in her office, her classroom, or the common room of the dormitory when she is on duty, Michelle is surrounded by students. They see in her a trusted adult who will always listen, challenge when necessary, and be a source of support and empathy both in moments of joy and celebration, as well as in those moments when tears might come more easily than smiles. In a moment of true tragedy this winter, Michelle was an oasis of hope and comfort for students struggling in the depths of despair. Our students are fortunate to have her in their corner, and I feel blessed to have her as a colleague and a friend. 

On behalf of the ADL, I am pleased to present this year’s Essex County Law and Education Day Community Service Award to Michelle de la Guardia.

Congratulations, Michelle, on this well-deserved honor.