Diverse Leaders Fellowship 2019 Participant Bios

DLF 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Anthony Hendrix Camielle Taylor Daisy Bermudez Rowe Clark Butler College Prep The

Delaina Martin Denise Vessel-Chatman Devin Evans Bulls College Prep Butler College Prep

Dominique Collins Eden Jimenez Francisco Huerta Noble Street

Ivory Duncan Jose Alvarez Joshua Sosa Comer College Prep Pritzker College Prep

DLF 2 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Kimesha Hampton LaShaun Crosby Laura Rodriguez Gary Comer Middle School DRW College Prep Muchin College Prep

Lucia Ramirez Mark Williams Masrura Faruque UIC College Prep Pritzker College Prep Muchin College Prep

Myriam Duran Quincy Hudson Reina Garcia UIC College Prep Rauner College Prep Network Support

Richard Mosley Robert Amey Sekordri Ojo Comer College Prep Network Support Comer College Prep

DLF 3 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Anthony Hendrix Camielle Taylor Rowe Clark Math & Science Academy Butler College Prep [email protected] [email protected]

Anthony Hendrix Camielle Taylor is the current serves in the following Founding Spanish Teacher and leadership roles at Rowe- an Alumni Counselor at Butler Clark Math & Science College Prep. In the 2019- Academy: 11th Biology/ 2020 school year, she will be AP Biology instructor, stepping into the role of Dean 12th Forensics instructor, of College & Post-Secondary 9th Advisor, and Science Planning. Although she was Department Lead. Born born and raised in Evanston, and raised in southwest IL, she is a first-generation Missouri, Anthony attended college at Missouri State American whose parents are from Belize. University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry. After graduation, Anthony After graduating from Northwestern University with was accepted into Teach for America and moved to a bachelor’s degree in Education and Social Policy & in 2014 to pursue teaching secondary science Spanish, she joined Teach For America Baltimore. While to scholars in the West Humboldt Park community. in Baltimore, she taught Spanish I and II and earned her master’s degree in Education from Johns Hopkins Serving as an educator for the past five years has University. In 2015, Camielle moved back home to allowed Anthony to connect with many of the best Chicago to build the Spanish program at Butler College and brightest scholars that Chicago has to offer! Prep and continue to grow as an educator. She is After recently graduating an advisory of four years, currently an advisor to eleven senior young ladies and Anthony is eager to expand his personal/professional also oversees Senior Council. In her free time she enjoys development within the network. The Diverse graphic design and going to CrossFit. She is also an avid Leaders Fellowship is the ideal opportunity for him to traveler. Camielle is a proud member of Delta Sigma acquire the necessary leadership skills to maximize Theta, Sorority, Inc. his professional impact on students, staff, and families who attend Noble.

DLF 4 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Daisy Bermudez Delaina Martin The Noble Academy Chicago Bulls College Prep [email protected] [email protected]

Daisy Bermudez is a College Delaina Martin is currently in Counselor and Manger of her fifth year as a 10th grade College Programs at the math teacher and the 10th The Noble Academy. As a grade math subject facilitator College Counselor, Daisy is at Chicago Bulls College responsible for overseeing Prep. She is also a coach for the 11th grade class with the math and track and field the pre-application process teams. Majoring in math along with managing her and Spanish and minoring in senior caseload. In her role economics, Delaina graduated as Manager of College Programs, Daisy coordinates all from Washington University in St. Louis in 2007. While at applications for college access programs that students Wash U, she was a thrower on the track and field team across grade levels participate in. where she was a 2-time All-American and still holds 3 school records. After graduation, Delaina joined Teach Born in Chicago, Daisy was a part of Pritzker College For America and moved to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas Prep’s founding class, and later attended Wesleyan where she taught at her placement school for six years. University where she studied Sociology and Hispanic Following that, she attended the Harvard Graduate Literature and Cultures. After graduating in 2014, Daisy School of Education, receiving her Ed.M. in Learning and joined The Noble Academy as a part of its founding Teaching and Math Instructional Leadership. staff. Delaina returned to the Midwest (from Peoria, IL) because she missed having different seasons when she lived in Texas. Delaina’s passion for teaching and drive to help students overcome barriers that impact their learning are what keep her in the classroom. She is proud to serve as an example to students who identify as part of a demographic that is severely underrepresented in most areas, encouraging students to grow personally and academically. Delaina has dedicated herself to being a life-long educator and learner and wishes to instill a similar desire in her students. When she is not doing school-related things, she enjoys doing crafts, listening to Bach, going to musicals, and anything related to the color purple.

DLF 5 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Denise Vessel-Chatman Devin Evans Muchin College Prep Butler College Prep [email protected] [email protected] Denise Vessel-Chatman is the Devin is a committed Director of Recruitment and educator, community and Enrollment at Muchin College youth advocate, human Prep. As the recruiter, she is rights activist, and historian. responsible for developing Devin is currently a 10th a pipeline and maintaining grade English Language Arts dialog with students and 8th Instructor at Butler College grade counselors to market Prep. the school and persuade students to attend. He is a dynamic teacher and leader who uses intentional planning to ensure She is also responsible for increasing awareness and students receive instruction that will prepare them to enrollment through open houses, tours, and recruiting lead Chicago, and the nation, into the future. Devin fairs throughout the Chicagoland area. Born in Monterey, was born in Detroit, Michigan and graduated from California and mostly raised in Chicago, , she Michigan State University with degrees in social science attended Jackson State University in Mississippi and education and history and holds a master’s degree earned her Bachelors of Arts in English. After graduating from Relay Graduate School of Education in secondary from JSU, Denise became an elementary school teacher English Language Arts Education. He is a three-time in Chicago. Denise joined the Special Education team student choice teacher of the year recipient and leader at Muchin College Prep in 2010 to continue her dream in his school, community, and the education profession. and lifelong commitment to teaching and education. Denise wanted to gain experience in different positions at Muchin College Prep over the years, but finally settled into recruiting. She is now on her fourth advisory, Class of 2022, and is the Head Cheerleading Coach.

DLF 6 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Dominique Collins Eden Jimenez Rauner College Prep Noble Street College Prep [email protected] [email protected] Dominique Collins is the Eden Jimenez is a Learning 9th grade Civics and Justice Specialist at Noble Street teacher at Rauner College College Prep. As a Learning Prep. She also serves as the Specialist, she co-teaches 12th grade Advisory Chair 10th Grade Math, and is the and Site Coordinator for the content lead instructor for two NMSI AP English literature and self-contained Math classes language study sessions. Born serving students from 9th-12th and raised in Chicago in the grade. She was born and raised Humboldt Park neighborhood, in Chicago, and is an alum of Dominique feels right at home at Rauner. She attended and Northwestern University, where Noble Street for High school, class of 2008,then went on she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development to earn her Bachelor’s in Child Development at Northern and Psychological Services. While Eden knew from a young Illinois University. During her breaks, and after her time age that she wanted to be a teacher, it was not until her at NIU, Dominique worked as an Infant teacher right in Junior year of college that she refined her passions and her home neighborhood. After 8 years in Childcare, she decided she wanted to return to the Noble Network to was hired as a Paraprofessional for 9th graders at Rauner. serve the community that she came from. She enrolled After 3 years she was promoted to the 9th grade Civics in the Special Education track of Relay Graduate School and Justice teacher. This Year she will be graduating her of Education, which provided her the skills and access to first Advisory and completing her first full year in her new educational work, and she has enjoyed working within role. Special Education since.

DLF 7 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Francisco Huerta Ivory Duncan Hansberry College Prep [email protected] [email protected] Francisco Huerta is a Ivory Duncan is the Senior 9th grade world history Seminar Teacher and College and reading instructor at Counselor for the seniors at Hansberry College Prep. He Gary Comer College Prep. is in his 5th year of teaching As a College Counselor, she at Hansberry where he has is responsible for assisting developed a world history students in creating a post- course that is aligned with secondary plan that ideally the IB curriculum for IB includes college. World Schools. Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, she attended Currently he is mentoring his second advisory at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Hansberry where he is also the advisor for the Missouri and earned his Bachelor of Science in criminal school’s chapter of the National Honors Society. He is justice with a minor in legal studies. After graduating a Chicago native who grew up in the Belmont-Cragin from MWSU, Ivory moved to Chicago and became neighborhood. He is one of Noble’s very own as he a Case Manager for the Chicago Housing Authority graduated from Rauner College Prep in 2010. In 2014, working with residents in Altgeld Gardens on Chicago’s he graduated Cum Laude from Wabash College where South Side. Upon receiving her Masters of Arts in public he majored in psychology and minored in economics policy, Ivory continued to take on roles that focused and religion. After college he joined Teach For America on youth, community, and education; working with the as a member of the 2014 Chicago corps. In 2016, he Department of Family and Children Services, Youth graduated from Dominican University with a Master Connection Charter School, and as the Partnership of Arts in Teaching. He is dedicated to ensuring all Manager at Teach For America. Ivory joined the college students, regardless of race and socioeconomic status, team at Gary Comer College Prep in 2017 wanting to have access to a quality education. continue her impact by aiding youth in obtaining college access. She is the mother of a two-year-old son and spends her spare time building her Defining Myself brand.

DLF 8 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Jose Alvarez Joshua Sosa Pritzker College Prep Pritzker College Prep [email protected] [email protected] Gunnery Sergeant Alvarez Joshua Luis Sosa is the 11th is the Marine Instructor U.S. History teacher at Pritzker for Pritzker College Prep/ College Prep. In addition to Elective Marine Corps Junior regular U.S. History, Joshua Reserve Officer Training Corps also teaches AP Program. Since November History (APUSH). Next year, 2009, he has dedicated Joshua will expand his course himself to disciplining and offerings and will teach AP educating cadets to become Government and Politics. the best students in our schools and community. His military background and Joshua is elated about the new course since he majored in training has facilitated his dream of working with youth Political Science at Macalester College (another major in that remind him of himself. Like many of the students Russian Studies). While in Minnesota, Joshua worked as a at Pritzker College Prep, Sergeant Alvarez was born and kindergarten teaching assistant. After finishing undergrad, raised in Chicago, Illinois, came from first generation Joshua moved to Chicago where he taught full-time at immigrant parents, lived in the Hermosa Park area, and Pritzker College Prep and earned his master’s in teaching. graduated from the neighborhood grammar school and Currently, Joshua is working to better his craft, not only for high school. himself, but for the network.

After graduating from in 1986, he attended Northeastern for a few semesters before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. This was his escape from the inner city lifestyle, and an opportunity for him to find his place in the military as an American citizen in the world’s finest fighting force, the United States Marines. His vision was to give back to his community by serving in a different capacity as a teacher, instructor, and mentor. As a Marine Instructor, he wanted to demonstrate and reinforce that young people from his community can succeed and rise above from their current circumstances. He hopes to impress upon his students the accountability demanded of them, critical thinking skills, a sense of self while keeping the moral values of good citizenship, academic prowess, and a pride in where they came from.

DLF 9 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Kimesha Hampton LaShaun Crosby Gary Comer College Prep Middle School DRW College Prep [email protected] [email protected] Kimesha Hampton is LaShaun Crosby is a proud the Assistant Dean of Chicago native, graduate Operations for Gary of , Comer College Prep Middle and first-generation college School. As 50% of the graduate. The opportunity Operations Team at GCMS, to provide Chicago youth she is responsible for the with equitable educational daily school operations opportunities led him to his including, but not limited current role within the Noble to, administrative functions, network. compliance, site level procurement of supplies, materials, equipment and inventory management, LaShaun currently serves as the Senior Collegiate management of all aspects of free and reduced lunch Seminar Instructor and College Counselor at DRW program/process, community service and college College Prep. Over the last decade, he has served as exploration implementation, and coordination of 8th an elementary classroom teacher, learning specialist, grade activities and commencement. and college counselor. Since joining the DRW team, he has served in leadership positions as a 12th Grade Born and raised in Chicago, she extended her studies Team Lead and Advisory Team Lead. LaShaun joined at Arizona State University majoring in Pyschology the Noble Network in 2013 as a 10th grade learning with a focus in Human Development. Mesha worked specialist at Gary Comer College Prep. In the fall of as medical professional in emergency medicine and 2014, he made his transition to DRW College Prep surgical departments before deciding to embark on a as a founding college team member. In addition to career change. Mesha joined the discipline team at Gary being a founding member of the college team, he took Comer College Prep Middle School in 2014 and quickly on the role of freshman advisor and graduated his excelled. She has graduated two advisories, currently advisory four years later. Outside of the classroom, advising a new 6th grade advisory, and also serves as LaShaun serves as the head track & field coach at the head girls varsity volleyball coach for both GCMS DRW College Prep. LaShaun holds an MEd in Higher Ed and GCCP. Administration from Middle Tennessee State University, a MAT in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Special Education from National-Louis University, and a BBA from Tennessee State University.

DLF 10 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Laura Rodriguez Lucia Ramirez Muchin College Prep UIC College Prep [email protected] [email protected] Laura Rodriguez is the Alumni Lucia Ramirez is a Spanish Counselor at Muchin College Instructor, teaching 12th Prep. Laura will be going graders at UIC College Prep. into her 10th year at Muchin She is currently teaching AP College Prep next year and Spanish Language and Spanish has has worn multiple hats Heritage 4. and had different roles and responsibilities throughout Born in Mexico, her family the years. migrated to the United States when she was eight-years-old. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, she is a She grew up on the South Side of Chicago and decided CPS high school graduate and a first-generation college to move back to Mexico after graduating high school. student. Laura attended Fox College where she earned She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from her associate’s degree, then attended Harold Washington Universidad de Morelia and her master’s degree from City College and transferred to NEIU, where she earned Universidad Vasco de Quiroga in political science. After a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary studies. She graduating, Lucia began working as a news anchor for a graduated her third female advisory last year and is local TV channel in Morelia, Mexico while also teaching currently advising freshman boys. Laura is currently English as Second Language. She later moved back to looking into master’s programs at NEIU to continue to Chicago, where she joined the UIC College Prep team and develop her leadership skills. began teaching Spanish and advising a group of young men who are now juniors.

DLF 11 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Mark Williams Masrura Faruque Pritzker College Prep Muchin College Prep [email protected] [email protected] Mark Williams is a college Masrura Faruque teaches counselor and the test 9th grade English and serves coordinator at Pritzker as the ELA Department Chair College Prep. As a counselor, and 11th Grade Level Chair he is responsible for at Muchin College Prep. overseeing the college She was born in Toronto, selection and application but she spent most of her process for 54 students. As life in Champaign, Illinois. a testing coordinator, he is After graduating from the in charge of planning and University of Illinois at carrying out all interim and state testing on campus. Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Communication, Masrura joined Teach For America Mark is a proud Boricua, born and raised in San Juan, (2014) in Chicago where she taught Pre-K for two years. Puerto Rico. He left the island to attend the George She joined the ELA department at Muchin in 2016 to Washington University and earned a Bachelor of Arts share her passion for writing with her scholars. in International Relations. During his undergraduate career, Mark had the opportunity to study and work abroad in France and Senegal for a year. After graduating from GWU, Mark came to Pritzker College Prep as a Teacher-at-Large. His consistency in implementing the school discipline code as a TAL allowed him to become Pritzker’s Assistant Dean of Culture by his second semester at Pritzker. As an Assistant DoC, Mark saw the great work that the college team was doing with Pritzker’s seniors and joined the team as a counselor in 2017. In addition to these positions, Mark has also been the AP Spanish teacher at Pritzker since 2014 and has had over 95% of his students score a 3 or higher on the AP Spanish and Culture exam. Beyond his professional career, Mark is a private pilot and is currently working on his IFR rating (let’s you fly in the clouds). His favorite airplane to fly is the famed Cessna 172, for its reliability and high-wing configuration.

DLF 12 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Myriam Durán Quincy Hudson UIC College Prep Rauner College Prep [email protected] [email protected] Myriam Durán serves as Quincy Hudson is the Senior Alumni Supports Manager Literature and Composition at UIC College Prep. Through teacher and a College intrusive advising practices, Counselor at Rauner College Myriam works closely with Prep. He also serves as alumni at their respective the teacher representative universities; examining on the Rauner College trends of retention and Prep leadership team. persistence with the end As a teacher and college goal to increase college counselor, Quincy works to graduation rates. Myriam is the proud daughter of ensure his students are prepared to meet the rigors Mexican immigrants who earned her bachelor’s and of college placement and life after high school. Born in master’s degree from the University of Illinois at North Chicago, Illinois, Quincy was a first-generation Urbana-Champaign; she holds a Master’s of Education college student and attended the University of Illinois at in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership with a Urbana-Champaign. concentration in Higher Education. Prior to joining the Noble family, she served for the College Advising Corps After graduating from UIUC, Quincy joined Teach as a College Counselor in Round Lake, worked as an For America where he taught fourth and fifth grade. advisor in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, Following his corps commitment, Quincy worked in and conducted outreach for Latinx students at Oakton educational leadership for TFA before spending 10 Community College. Myriam is passionate about serving years as a procurement manager for a healthcare firm. low-income, first-generation youth achieve their higher Quincy returned to education in 2013. He believes education goals. deeply in educational equity for all and runs an affinity group for African-American boys called My Brother’s Keeper at Rauner College Prep.

DLF 13 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Reina Garcia Richard Mosley Network Support Gary Comer College Prep [email protected] [email protected] Reina Garcia is the DREAMer Richard Mosley, Jr is the 10th Supports Manager with grade world history and AP the Noble Support Team. world history instructor, As the DREAMer Supports senior advisor, and coach of Manager, she supports the Catamount Chaos step undocumented Noble team at Gary Comer College students both as they apply Prep where he has received to college and once they are awards and recognition for college students. Reina was outstanding performance in born and raised in Chicago each of the roles he holds. and earned her bachelor’s degree in theology and Spanish from Georgetown University. She then earned A native of Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, service her Master of Science in Education from Northwestern and social justice are deeply rooted in his core values. University. Prior to joining Noble, Reina taught middle Richard is a proud alumnus of Dillard University, a school in Pilsen for three years. Reina joined the Historically Black College/University located in New Noble family during the summer of 2014 as a college Orleans, Louisiana, where he earned his Bachelor counselor and collegiate seminar instructor at Golder of Arts in Psychology. Following graduation, Richard College Prep. Reina joined the Noble Support Team in returned to Chicago as a member of the 2013 Teach 2017 wanting to focus on supporting undocumented For America Corps as a second grade teacher and students. In addition to her role at the Noble Support math instructional lead for his grade level on Chicago’s Team, Reina also helps run Golder College Prep’s Drama West Side. Richard is also a member of the local Dillard Club. University Alumni Chapter executive board and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

DLF 14 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Robert Amey Sekordri Ojo Network Support Gary Comer College Prep [email protected] [email protected] Robert A. Amey Jr. is a Sekordri Ojo is the 9th grade Student Recruitment Lead social movements teacher for the Operations team at at Gary Comer College the Noble Support Team. Prep. She was born and As a Student Recruitment raised on the South Side of Lead, he is responsible for Chicago and is committed to supporting recruitment serving her community. She and enrollment at Noble attended DePaul University, campuses. Born and where she doubled majored raised on the South Side of in History and African & Chicago, he attended California Lutheran University Black Diaspora studies. After graduating from DePaul, and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications Sekordri joined Teach For America in 2014 where she with a concentration in media production, and Argosy taught special education on the South Side of Chicago. University where he earned a M.Ed in Higher Education. In 2015, she joined Gary Comer College Prep as a special Robert joined Noble in 2017 and has been instrumental education teacher, where she taught 9th grade reading. in the creation of recruitment and enrollment material. Sekordri also has a senior advisory of 12 young ladies Outside of work, Robert enjoys, writing, traveling, trying that will graduate in June 2019. new food, and mentoring students through Chicago Scholars.

DLF 15