04/11/2026
Welcome to the team, Mrs. Rivas!
Good Afternoon HGA Families,
It is with great excitement and pride that we introduce your founding principal, Mrs. Jessica Rivas!
About Me
I'm Jessica Rivas, and I'm honored to be joining Harrisburg Global Academy as your founding principal. I started as an elementary and middle school classroom teacher, and over the past 13 years, I've grown from the classroom into school leadership because I believe deeply that every child deserves someone in their corner fighting for their success.
Over the past seven years in school leadership, five as a principal and two as an assistant principal, I've dedicated myself to building strong school cultures where students feel they belong, families feel like true partners, and teachers feel supported to do their best work. I'm passionate about using data not just as numbers on a page, but as a tool to make sure we're reaching every student, especially those who need us most.
My education journey started at UNC Charlotte, where I earned my degree in Child and Family Development. I went on to earn my Master's in School Administration from Queens University, followed by my Education Specialist degree from Appalachian State. I'm currently pursuing my Doctorate in Organizational Learning and Leadership at UNC Chapel Hill, where my research focuses on how we recruit and retain great teachers through innovative support strategies. This work is personal to me. I believe the strength of any school comes down to the people inside it, and I'm committed to building an exceptional team here at HGA
A few things you should know about me: I'm bilingual in Spanish, which I'm especially excited to bring to a school that values world language instruction. I lead with relationships first. I believe you can't move people toward a vision until they trust you and feel seen. And I am a firm believer that a school should be the heartbeat of its community.
On a personal note, I'm married and a proud mom of three. My youngest is graduating high school this year and heading off to college in the fall, so I know firsthand what it means to trust a school with the people you love most. That perspective shapes everything I do as a leader. I want every family at HGA to feel the same confidence and care that I've wanted for my own children.
I can't wait to meet our students, families, and staff and start this journey together.
