January 25, 2021

In her principal’s message at the start of the 2020-21 school year, she celebrated the strength of the community amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Through it all, our students, teachers, staff, and school community demonstrated their resilience and determination to continue learning,” she wrote. “That’s why this year’s school theme is ‘Be Brave.’”

Upon hearing of her passing, students said things like, “I love Ms. Quito,” “She always remembered my name,” “She dressed up for spirit days,” “She read to us,” and “She loved us.” Many students drew pictures for her with rainbows and flowers, pictures that were shared during a virtual staff celebration of her life.

A Filipina American who grew up in San Diego as part of a military, immigrant family, Quito attended UCLA where she studied political science. She advocated for inclusion of Pilipino studies in the curriculum and was a co-founder of the UCLA chapter of Gabriela Network, a U.S.-based, Philippine solidarity organization for women. She would often travel to the Philippines to support the women’s movement there, according to her obituary.

Quito started her career at LAUSD as a kindergarten teacher and served as a CPA in schools before becoming Independence Elementary’s principal in 2016. Remembered for her smile, her laugh and countless moments of kindness she so willingly shared, her colleagues spoke of a strong, compassionate woman who was a fierce advocate for her students. Quito was also a fan of books, her favorite being “The Little Prince,” and musical theater. Quito traveled the world, including a recent trip to Croatia where she visited filming locations from “Game of Thrones.” An avid Disney and Star Wars fan, colleagues remembered “nerding out” with her and expressed that she is now “One with the Force.”

Read Quito’s full obituary at https://www.asianjournal.com/usa/southerncalifornia/milady-sy-quito-a-devoted-educator-dies-at-47/.