Face to Face Interaction is a Blessing

November 16, 2021

Greetings fellow administrators, members, and supporters of NHAE,

As we now move into the second quarter of the academic year, let us think about what we have accomplished during the first quarter. As school leaders we have safely opened schools for all our students and have once again built community within the school building among the students and staff. While -it is clear- based on beginning of year data, that we have more students that will need additional supports to move them towards grade level this year, we also witnessed the joy that students bring when they are able to interact with their peers’ face to face. What a blessing this has been!

At our September meeting we had one of the largest turnouts for a general membership meeting in a long time. Our membership came out to welcome our first Latino CEO -not in an interim position- Pedro Martinez from our very own Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago. CEO Martinez gracefully took questions from the membership and stayed well past the time he promised. During the meeting he committed to meeting on a quarterly basis with the executive committee and highlighted three areas of focus: t

Ø Talent: Latino leadership pipeline, and equitable representation in the district

Ø Equity: in funding and program access at neighborhood schools

Ø Dual Language Education and other programs for our ELLs

CEO Martinez even stayed to take pictures with the membership; it felt like one of our typical Latino milestone celebrations.

This month our guest is Adrian Segura, who is serving as the Chief Officer of the CPS Family and Community Engagement (FACE) office. He will share with us the strategy his office has to re-engage our families with the schools, as this has been a challenge due the current pandemic. Mr. Segura comes to us from my original neighborhood, Humboldt Park. Once again, we have achieved a milestone at CPS, by having our first Latino heading the FACE office in a district that is 47% Latino.

Finally, as we celebrate National Native American month, let us remember the contributions of the first stewards of the lands in the Americas, the history of colonization in these lands, and how that has affected us as Latinos. As Latinos the blood of our indigenous ancestors runs through our veins and lives within us today. Let us be thankful that in our city and state teachers are free to teach the true history of this country, both the accomplishments and the mistakes. For it is by reflecting on our mistakes of the past that we can ensure a better future for us and the children we serve. I wish everyone a happy early Thanksgiving and hope you can spend it with the people you love.

Dr. Antonio Acevedo

President of the Network of Hispanic Administrators in Education.