I have a deep and personal commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that I have been privileged to put into action as I serve the students, staff, and community in our diverse school district.
I served on the strategic planning committee, and trained the Action Team Leaders, that facilitated the development of detailed action plans to achieve the following strategy, “We will, in partnership with families and community, develop and implement plans to deliver culturally responsive educational experience and expand the diversity of our faculty and administration in order to close the achievement gap.” Through this action planning committee, I established the Strategy 6 Family and Community Committee in partnership with the superintendent. The group met monthly and we developed plans that resulted in the implementation of Implicit Bias training for all staff members, Community Conversation events held at locations that reach our diverse population, and the JTHS Diversity Statement which reads, “The Joliet Township High School Diversity Statement reads, “Joliet Township High School District 204 is committed to cultivating an inclusive community that values and embraces diversity and respects the humanity of all people.” The statement was developed to send a welcoming message to families of all backgrounds while creating an accountability standard for all faculty, staff, and administration.
I believe that diversity should be celebrated. I serve as the lead organizer for the MLK Day of Service, an event attended by over 500 students, staff, and community members; and I assist with the planning and publicity for our district’s Kermes event and the African American Read In.
I served on the strategic planning committee, and trained the Action Team Leaders, that facilitated the development of detailed action plans to achieve the following strategy, “We will, in partnership with families and community, develop and implement plans to deliver culturally responsive educational experience and expand the diversity of our faculty and administration in order to close the achievement gap.” Through this action planning committee, I established the Strategy 6 Family and Community Committee in partnership with the superintendent. The group met monthly and we developed plans that resulted in the implementation of Implicit Bias training for all staff members, Community Conversation events held at locations that reach our diverse population, and the JTHS Diversity Statement which reads, “The Joliet Township High School Diversity Statement reads, “Joliet Township High School District 204 is committed to cultivating an inclusive community that values and embraces diversity and respects the humanity of all people.” The statement was developed to send a welcoming message to families of all backgrounds while creating an accountability standard for all faculty, staff, and administration.
I believe that diversity should be celebrated. I serve as the lead organizer for the MLK Day of Service, an event attended by over 500 students, staff, and community members; and I assist with the planning and publicity for our district’s Kermes event and the African American Read In.
In my role as Community and Alumni Relations Director, I wrote the job descriptions for positions that eliminate language barriers, providing students and parents with equal access to information. I supervise a Bilingual Communication Specialist, and I wrote the job descriptions and led the hiring committees for our Bilingual Family Engagement Liaisons. As a result, all communication is delivered in English and Spanish, and interpretation services are available at all events.
It is sad and unbelievably unfortunate that we still see instances of racial injustice taking place within our society. It is important to acknowledge when something is wrong and to take a stand. Below are examples of communication I wrote, in partnership with the Superintendent and Board of Education, to take address the senseless death of George Floyd and others who lost their lives to violence due to the color of their skin. It is extremely important that we let our families and community know that hate has no home in our schools and that we stand side-by-side, united in our fight against injustice.
View the JTHS Anti-Racism Statement: https://www.jths.org/post/~board/district-news/post/jths-anti-racism-statement-hate-has-no-home-at-jths
View the Board of Education Anti-Racism Statement: https://www.jths.org/post/~board/district/post/jths-board-of-education-commitment-to-anti-racism
My work with diversity, equity, and inclusion carries on through my involvement as a member of the Zonta Club of Joliet, an international woman’s organization that advances the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. I planned the Festival of Culture, an event that included food from all cultures, and I serve as the Chair for the LUNAFEST Film Festival, an event that brings over 300 individuals together to view and discuss films that focus on topics such as racial inequality, gender identity, and immigration while raising over $60,000 in scholarships for women continuing their education at Joliet Junior College. I served as the international delegate in France and Japan, representing the Zonta Club of Joliet at the Zonta International Convention where I voted on international club policy.
I truly feel blessed to have had these opportunities to make a difference in my community through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and I acknowledge that there is so much more work to be done.
It is sad and unbelievably unfortunate that we still see instances of racial injustice taking place within our society. It is important to acknowledge when something is wrong and to take a stand. Below are examples of communication I wrote, in partnership with the Superintendent and Board of Education, to take address the senseless death of George Floyd and others who lost their lives to violence due to the color of their skin. It is extremely important that we let our families and community know that hate has no home in our schools and that we stand side-by-side, united in our fight against injustice.
View the JTHS Anti-Racism Statement: https://www.jths.org/post/~board/district-news/post/jths-anti-racism-statement-hate-has-no-home-at-jths
View the Board of Education Anti-Racism Statement: https://www.jths.org/post/~board/district/post/jths-board-of-education-commitment-to-anti-racism
My work with diversity, equity, and inclusion carries on through my involvement as a member of the Zonta Club of Joliet, an international woman’s organization that advances the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. I planned the Festival of Culture, an event that included food from all cultures, and I serve as the Chair for the LUNAFEST Film Festival, an event that brings over 300 individuals together to view and discuss films that focus on topics such as racial inequality, gender identity, and immigration while raising over $60,000 in scholarships for women continuing their education at Joliet Junior College. I served as the international delegate in France and Japan, representing the Zonta Club of Joliet at the Zonta International Convention where I voted on international club policy.
I truly feel blessed to have had these opportunities to make a difference in my community through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and I acknowledge that there is so much more work to be done.
