NCLR ANNOUNCES 2015 FELLOWS FOR
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LATINO SCHOOL LEADERS
Fifteen educators chosen for program that strengthens advocacy on behalf of Latino students
WASHINGTON, D.C.—NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is pleased to announce that 15 stellar educators from California, Colorado, Utah, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Missouri, Texas and Washington, D.C. were selected from a competitive pool of applicants as the 2015 Fellows and Master Fellows for the National Institute for Latino School Leaders (NILSL). NILSL, launched in 2011 by NCLR in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is the only institute that trains school administrators to advocate for national- and state-level policies that strengthen the education of Latino students and English language learners (ELLs).
Designed for mid- to senior-level education leaders who show high potential, this fellowship will equip the Fellows with the advocacy and communication skills needed to promote an equitable policy agenda and serve as spokespersons for NCLR. The 2015 NILSL fellowship is composed of two cohorts:
· NILSL Fellows, Cohort IV: These educators will be introduced to policymaking, advocacy and communication skills.
· Master Fellows: These NILSL alumni who successfully completed Cohort II or III will deepen their understanding of policymaking and lend their advocacy efforts to one of the following areas:
o Parent engagement
o Common Core State Standards
o Accountability metrics
o School climate
o Teacher effectiveness
NILSL provides NCLR Affiliates with an opportunity to strengthen their collective voice by bringing together a national cohort of reform-minded educators who share a common vision, mission and purpose. The ultimate goal of this institute is to elevate the voices of school leaders advocating for reform measures, accountability systems and quality programs in the Latino community.
“We are excited to welcome the educators who were selected as 2015 NILSL Fellows. Their commitment to Latino students and their families is evident through years of dedication to their communities, especially in urban public school settings,” said Margaret R. McLeod, Deputy Vice President, Education and Workforce Development, NCLR.
Over the course of the year, the Fellows will receive training to serve as NCLR spokespersons and active agents in the policymaking process. They will join a policy group and explore a pressing policy topic affecting Latino and ELL students. As the fellowship’s signature project, each group will present a policy memo to a panel of national experts. The Master Fellows experience will culminate with a congressional briefing in Washington, D.C., and two additional state-level activities.
“We are more than confident that the NILSL fellows will use their combined strengths and passions to serve as impeccable leaders. With their strong voices, they will improve the educational environment for Latino students not only in their local school systems, but also on a national level,” said McLeod.
The NILSL Fellows are based at schools that belong to NCLR’s extensive Affiliate Network of community-based organizations throughout the U.S. The 2015 NILSL fellows are:
· St. Claire Marlin Adriaan, Academia Avance (Los Angeles, Calif.)
· Ryan Monroe, Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School (Washington, D.C.)
· Jaime Rene Huerta, East Austin College Prep (Austin, Texas)
· Kristin L. McGraner, STEM Preparatory Academy (Nashville, Tenn.)
· Tommy Ramirez, MAAC (Calif.)
· Alexandra Oliver-Davila, Sociedad Latina (Boston, Mass.)
· Bianca Arriazola, AAMA George I. Sanchez Charter School (Houston, Texas)
· Ed Mendez, Alta Vista Charter School (Kansas City, Mo.)
· Heather McManus, Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, Harvard Campus (Los Angeles, Calif.)
· Cheryl Anderson, GOAL Academy (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
· Gini Pupo-Walker, Conexión Américas (Nashville, Tenn.)
· Kevin Myers, Youth Policy Institute Charter Schools (Los Angeles, Calif.)
· Crystal Gallegos, Chavez/Huerta K-12 Preparatory Academy (Pueblo, Colo.)
· Jennifer Amador Mayer-Glenn, Mountain View Elementary School and Glendale Community Learning Center (Glendale, Utah)
· Marisol Rerucha, MAAC Community Charter School (Chula Vista, Calif.)
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.