During Latinx Heritage Month, we’ve had the opportunity to chat with several Surge Alumni about their experiences with Surge and how these experiences have informed them in their respective communities. One thing is certain: the creativity, calling, and commitment of these persons reflect the boldness, depth, and innovative leadership of the Latinx Diaspora they represent. This week, we feature Isolda Antonio, BPN ‘24.

Isolda Antonio discovered Surge and, in the process, discovered more of herself, too.

What do you do when you feel duty-bound to your calling and those you serve, but also have an itch to do something newer, bolder, and even more purpose-driven? This is the crossroads where Isolda Antonio first engaged the Surge Institute through the Black Principals Network.

In 2024, Isolda began her 26^th year as an educator and tenth as a principal with Orange County Public Schools (Orlando, Florida). A merger principal, Isolda skillfully led the consolidation of two elementary schools into a new K-8 school with a new campus, culture, and traditions. After three years at the new school, she was asked to lead another turnaround effort, this time a middle school. And while Isolda was honored to be selected for this role – the first Latinx principal to represent a school with an 85% Latinx population that opened in 1956 – she wondered if this was the long-term calling she wanted to pursue.

Black Principals Network offers community and a place to reflect. 

Isolda reflected on those first days of her BPN cohort experience: “So I got accepted, started the program, and I'll be honest, when I was sitting in the sessions, I felt a sense of guilt because I knew I was at a crossroads. I didn't share that with anybody there, but I wanted to be able to understand, ‘what am I supposed to do with this knowledge if I'm trying to do something else?’”  

As Isolda awaited clarity for the next steps in her individual journey,  the collective journey with her Surge Community remained clear: “We know why we're there; to make sure that we receive the knowledge to be able to make those courageous decisions, and initiate hard conversations, and have a seat at the table in order to do what's best for kids, all kids, primarily Black and Brown kids.”

Isolda remained at her school for another year, and she credits ideas gleaned from BPN as a catalyst for better organizing her resources. She and her team reconfigured elective courses to better serve students with significant mental health needs, all because of musings with her colleagues. Ultimately, Isolda decided to leave the public school system and recently accepted a role with JPMorganChase.

In her new role as Community Manager, Isolda is working with a team helping create financial wellness for underserved and primarily Spanish-language residents in Orlando. Through workshops on homebuying, small business needs, and entrepreneurship, she’s developing relationships with community members to help break a vicious cycle of generational financial gaps. “It’s phenomenal,” Isolda says. “I’m still teaching, just with a different focus.”

Isolda credits Surge and Black Principals Network for creating a space where she could determine her next chapter of transformational leadership: “Having that space – that protected space – to be able to be transparent and open to learning how you could be your best self as you lead and you change lives is a difference maker. I'm very appreciative that Surge/BPN allows this space for leaders.”  

 And the Surge Community is grateful for leaders like you, Isolda Antonio!

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