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Lisa Cenca

@lisacenca

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Changing the World Education. Harvard Graduate School of Education

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Imagine if I was playing solitaire on my phone and missed this. Real beauty experienced …Taking a breath and a screen break. #gratitude # #beauty #notpossibletocapture by @lisacenca

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10 days ago

A few words from our Founder: Dr. Lisa Cenca, Ed.L.D.⭐️ to you💜🩵!
#jgw #girlsleadership #empowerwomen #podcast by @lisacenca

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12 days ago

This is the infamous @chi.vu_ .❤️ Small but mighty.

When Chi first came to my school, I was her principal. She was a very shy international student from Vietnam, finding her way in a new country and a new school.

But I quickly realized that Chi needed more than a principal. She needed a mentor, someone who could see what was already inside of her and help her find the confidence to become all she was capable of becoming.

And what a journey it has been.

I watched her play piano for a crowd of strangers alongside the Mayor of Malden, join cross country, win countless awards, study at the New England Conservatory, perform an incredible solo concert, go to prom, graduate from high school, and get accepted to UNC–Chapel Hill.

I even traveled with her to North Carolina, helped move her into her first dorm room, and then watched from afar as she built a whole new life for herself.

Through all the years and all the miles, we stayed connected.

Chi recently graduated from UNC, and yesterday she came back to Boston to tell me about her next chapter. New York City, where she’ll begin her career as a financial analyst.

Talk about a full-circle moment. ❤️

I started as her principal. Somewhere along the way, I became her mentor. And yesterday, sitting across from her, I realized I was no longer looking at that shy young girl from Vietnam.

I was looking at an accomplished, confident young woman ready to take on the world.

From Vietnam to Malden to Boston to Chapel Hill and now NYC.

Small but mighty, indeed. ❤️

What a privilege it has been to have a front-row seat to her becoming. #wowwowwow #amazingyoungwomen by @lisacenca

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2 months ago

If you know, you know. This young woman showed up at the girls school I was helping to build - she was from Vietnam and was 13 at the time. This was her interview. Her mom wanted her to attend as the school’s first international student. She would live with a host family and essentially be on her own for the next four years to navigate American life and school. I knew the moment she arrived that she was a very special person. I enrolled her. But that was just the beginning. Follow for more about what happened next. #amazingyoungwoman #chivu by @lisacenca

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2 months ago

As Mother’s Day nears, I wanted to share this fun story. Yesterday, both my daughter, Felicia, and I received roses at our doors. She called me. I called her. Neither of us had sent the flowers.

Then I looked more closely at the card and remembered I had submitted a writing piece to @renttherunway and @1800flowers about the woman I most admire.

I wrote that one of the greatest joys of being a mother is watching your daughter work to make the world a better place. I admire her strength, courage, and commitment to conflict management and peacebuilding. Though she isn’t a mom herself yet, she makes being a mom one of the greatest gifts of my life.

Thank you to @renttherunway and @1800flowers for choosing our story to uplift and surprising us both with these beautiful flowers. #rtrx1800flowers #amazingwomen #storytelling by @lisacenca

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5 months ago

So happy to be outside finally for my first spring hike 🌿☀️

It’s been such a long, cold winter, and getting out into the sunshine has totally uplifted me. There’s something about being surrounded by water, trees, and fresh air that just resets everything. Hope everyone got a little sunshine today. by @lisacenca

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6 months ago

Happiest of birthdays to my one and only son ❤️

These photos hold some of my favorite memories but they only tell a small part of the story.

Your journey has been full of adventure, success, growth, strength, and so much to be proud of.

I can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes you.
I love and am so proud of you, son. Happy birthday. by @lisacenca

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7 months ago

One of the greatest gifts of being an educator is running into former students, years later, and realizing the impact never fades.

While traveling to Texas, I had the joy of running into Bella Paragona, one of the inaugural students at the Malden Catholic School for Girls, where I served as the founding principal before completing my doctorate at Harvard Graduate School of Education ‘25. Together with courageous students and families, we didn’t just open a school, we built a community from the ground up.

Now, many of those incredible young women are finishing their college journeys across the country. Bella is completing her final year at Baylor and preparing for a promising career in forensics.

To all of our inaugural girls who may see this: I am so proud of who you are, what you’ve accomplished, and the good you will continue to bring into the world.

#MaldenCatholic #MCGirls #FoundingPrincipal #ProudEducator #WomenWhoLead #BuildingSomethingBeautiful #Legacy #harvardgraduateschoolofeducation by @lisacenca

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10 months ago

Today is one of those moments I will never forget.

My Harvard doctoral capstone has officially been published — now a part of the long history of scholarly work at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Holding this book in my hands feels surreal.

I am filled with pride for the countless hours of research, writing, and reflection that brought me here, but even more so, I am filled with gratitude. Gratitude for the incredible guidance of my professors, the inspiration of my peers, and the unwavering support of my family and community.

This milestone isn’t just mine — it represents the possibilities of what we can accomplish together. My hope is that this work will help shape the future of education, opening new doors for students across the country and around the world. 🌍📚

Here’s to growth, learning, and the work ahead.

#Harvard #Doctorate #Gratitude #EducationForAll #Milestone taken in Boston, Massachusetts by @lisacenca

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a year ago

There’s nothing I love more than celebrating my Italian heritage — the food, the laughter, the stories passed down from generation to generation. Every gathering is a reminder that these traditions aren’t just about the past, they’re a way of keeping our roots alive and strong.
Today is Tomato Day- where we clean, cut, macerate, cook and jar tomatoes for the winter months ahead. These moments connect us to where we came from and to each other — and although it’s hard work - I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

Grateful for my family, my culture, and the chance to keep these beautiful traditions alive.

#ItalianPride #TraditionAndLove taken in Boston, Massachusetts by @lisacenca

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a year ago

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#BostonSeniors #CollegeApps #CommonApp2026 #CollegeConsulting #EducationExpress #CollegeCoach #CollegeBound #ClassOf2026 #CollegePlanning #SeniorYearSuccess by @lisacenca

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a year ago

Post 14 – Ciao, Europe

And just like that, my two-week journey through Switzerland and Sardinia comes to a close. What a ride it’s been! From hiking through crisp Alpine air to swimming in island coves, I gave myself permission to do something radical: pause.

Yes, there was reflection (a lot of it). But there was also joy— naps, spontaneous swims, morning espressos, mountain trails, ferry rides, books read, fresh pasta devoured, and belly laughs shared.

There’s a kind of wisdom that only comes when you slow down. And there’s a kind of clarity that only shows up when you let go.

Now it’s time to head home—sweet sorrow, indeed. But I return with a full heart, a rested body, and a renewed sense of purpose. I’m ready to pour this energy into the work I care most about: helping students and school leaders create more inclusive, joyful, and empowered spaces.

Thank you, Europe, for the beauty, the stillness, the silliness, and the soul reminders.
Onward—with vision, with freedom, and with a little sand still in my shoes 🏔️🌊📚🍷 taken in Cannigione, Sardegna, Italy by @lisacenca

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a year ago