At Wilson Avenue School in Newark, NJ, where Margarita Hernandez-Abeigon has been principal for 18 years, 75% of the students come from Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador, and Peru. Several are also from Spain and Portugal, with 25% from Brazil. It is a relatively high-performing school, boasting an impressive daily attendance rate of 96%.
However, Margarita explains, many families in the community are currently feeling threatened by government policies. As a result, several families have chosen to return to their home countries rather than risk deportation and family separation. Many parents are also out of work.
“They’re almost all under tremendous stress and see our school as a refuge,” she says. “We connect them to food, mental health resources, and jobs.”
Wilson Avenue School has numerous community and student organizations that hold drives for groceries and toiletries, as well as offer counsel on dealing with agencies like ICE. Among the remarkable groups that help are the Sheriff’s Community Organization, the Student Community Organization - Student Council - Middle School, and The League, which consists of students from all grades at Wilson.
Being bilingual has been invaluable to Margarita in this community. “I am able to sit down with the parents and understand their situations,” she says. “And being Hispanic makes you a role model for the children.”
Born in Newark to Cuban parents from the town of Victoria Las Tunas, Margarita was taught early on about the importance of education. She was the first in her family to earn a BA and an MA.
“Seeing my parents struggle, I wanted to be independent and self-sufficient,” she says.
In the 1980s, when she was in high school, conversations about being a strong, financially independent woman were at the forefront of adolescent life.
“I’ve always had a strong sense of womanhood. I could see we were often subservient in life and needed to be equipped to support ourselves. That was a big thing for me growing up. I’ve encouraged girls about this at every level.”
In her very first job interview after graduating with honors from Rutgers University, she got lucky. Seeing that she was bilingual, Principal Muriel Lovell immediately recognized the need for a bilingual teacher and offered her the job—if she agreed to start working on her bilingual and ESL certifications. She was hired on the spot at Dr. E. Alma Flagg School.
Soon after, she became the school’s literacy coach. Later, Superintendent Marion Boldon appointed her Vice Principal at South Street School, then Miller Street School.
Not at all surprised to move into leadership, she explains, “I found myself bored and needing change quickly. I always wanted to have an impact on student achievement and ensure all students had opportunities to succeed.”
Later, Superintendent Boldon appointed her Principal at Clinton Avenue School, Dayton Street School, and, for the past 18 years, at Wilson Avenue School, where the motto is “Striving for Excellence through Perseverance.”
“I felt like I was at home on the first day,” she says.
“I try to help my kids enjoy being at school,” she explains. “You want to do everything you can to inspire kids to be all they can be in life.”
Wilson Avenue School is known as a School of Performing Arts and Science, with rich music and arts programs, including a marching band. Every year, eighth-grade students take a field trip to a Broadway show, and all students are afforded the opportunity to participate in a school-wide production or Wilson’s Got Talent show. Margarita says, “This year, we will be featuring The Wizard of Oz in April.” The school also offers a wide array of team sports, including basketball, soccer, and tennis, and competes in Robotics, Debate, and Law Day.
“We’re always holding different cultural events at school,” she says. “We’ve just completed Dr. Seuss/Read Across America with community guest readers and celebrated Mardi Gras with beads and masks. Our Marching Band will also participate in the Essex County St. Patrick’s Parade this month.”
She likes to invite elected officials to these events, as it’s mutually beneficial.
A matter of great pride for Margarita was receiving The Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders Women’s History Month Award in 2018 “for embodying the spirit of accomplishment of women educators.”
Despite her professional goals, Margarita says, “I wasn’t looking to get married at all.” But during a flood crisis at Wilson Avenue School in 2010, the president of the Newark Teachers Union, John Abeigon, showed up to help. She is a member of the City Association of Supervisors and Administrators, Newark, Local 20, AFSA. She and John started dating, and the rest is history.
Margarita loves her life, and whenever possible, she and John travel, including trips to Florida, where her family lives, and Spain, where his family lives. They enjoy attending theater performances in New York City as often as they can. She is passionate about arts and crafts, particularly knitting, crocheting, and sewing.
She also loves her job and says, “There is nothing like being a principal today. The impact you have on children’s and families’ lives is unmatched. It is one of the most difficult jobs, but if you have the will to strive for excellence, it is one of the most rewarding.” She says she wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the profession to anyone interested in making a difference in children’s lives.
