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Celebrating more top administators

Yesenia Sanchez has been director of ELL/Bilingual and Title I Programs in Mundelein Elementary District 75 since July 2014.

She has spearheaded development of a two-way immersion program and looks forward to the 2021-22 school year when 50 percent of the kindergarten to fifth-grade students will be on a path to bilingualism and biliteracy.

She is also a founding board member of the Illinois Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents.

Sanchez holds a bachelor of arts degree from DePaul University and a master's degree in teaching and a master's in education leadership degree from Aurora University. She is pursuing her doctoral degree in education leadership.

Q. Why is it important for you to join groups outside your school district to improve education of diverse learners?

A. I believe that all students can succeed, and it is our responsibility as educators to create a culture and climate in our schools that will allow all children to flourish as students and individuals.

I selected education as a career because I want to help students, specifically children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For those reasons I've become a supporter of groups focused on improving education for diverse students, through their continued advocacy for responsive, informed educational policy development such as the Illinois Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, the Latino Policy Forum and LULAC.

Q. What are some of the challenges faced by diverse populations in terms of education?

A. The biggest challenge is access to the best education possible for all students. The demographic shift in schools has brought attention to the lack of educational equity and increased the need for culturally competent teachers and leaders.

In order to reach all students, school districts require policies that promote behavioral, cognitive, and affective engagement, while advocating for policies that promote a school climate and culture where all children feel valued and respected.

Culturally and linguistically diverse school districts must ensure that policies and programs in place provide all students access to the best educational experience.

Educational agencies with their sights set on excellence are driven by policies that embrace educational equity, cultural competence, and focus on cultivating talents in all students.

Q. What are some of the ideas to meet those challenges that groups you've worked with crafted?

A. Providing high quality, professional development opportunities in the areas of educational equity and cultural competence. Developing a mentoring program to build capacity among minority educational leaders.

Q. Was there an event, conversation or experience that led you to join these groups?

A. I had some difficult experiences as a child in school because of my differences. I want all children to enjoy going to school and learning. It is time to kindly and graciously deconstruct the deficit mindset that has been embraced by many educators.

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