District 303 hires Tracy Taylor as diversity director

St. Charles School Board members on Monday unanimously voted to hire Tracy Taylor for the newly created position of director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the district.

In the position, Taylor will lead the district's efforts to "build a culture of equity and inclusion for all students, families and community." The position pays $132,000 a year in salary and benefits.

Several surrounding school districts have created a similar position, including Community Unit Community Unit District 300. Taylor is currently an education specialist at the Illinois Resource Center in Arlington Heights. She also served as principal at Garfield Elementary School in Elgin from 2014 to 2017.

"As a resident of District 303 myself and as a mother of a future District 303 student, I am honored to have been selected as the director of diversity, equity and inclusion," Taylor said in addressing board members.

Board member Carolyn Waibel thought she was the right person for the position.

"You're very passionate about providing an equitable environment for all your students and watching them excel," Waibel said. "I think you just bring a breath of knowledge to our group that we are in need of."