Ebony

I grew up in North Chicago and I used to joke and tell people that I was born in Rolling Green [housing development], but I was born in Lake Forest. I went to Novak King K through 8th grade, went to the high school. I started working at North Chicago High School as a paraprofessional in the fall of 2001. I just completed my 21st school year as a North Chicago school district employee; I am the Family and Community Liaison for School District 187.

After high school I did go to to University of Illinois at Urbana... went down there, kind of… didn't do so well. Came back home. That happens. I tell students this all the time; I graduated top 10% of my class and National Honor Society, Student Council, cheerleading team... then went to U of I where class was in a lecture hall that was as big as my school. You know, you're in North Chicago– you're a big fish in a little pond. You go to U of I, and you're small, small fish in a big pond. I could have done it, but... my mom still lived in North Chicago so I came back home with her and started working temp jobs. I ended up going to CLC [College of Lake County] to finish my Associate's degree.

My best friend was in education. It just so happened that a paraprofessional position opened up at the high school with my former teacher, Mr. Joe Hall, and the rest is history. Got in, loved it. Originally, I was just doing it for a job. I was also coaching cheer as an assistant coach. I loved being in the school. Later, I ended up going back to school to get my teacher certification.

When you first went to U of I– what career were you pursuing?

Hah! My major, my major was finance! I enjoyed math. I enjoyed accounting.

You give that up, move back in with your mom– and you thought what?

Outside of "Oh I gotta go back home?" I just didn't realize– I really didn't have a plan. For real.

You've had a few different jobs within the school district between when you started and now. When did it occur to you that this was it– that this was your home?

I was the transition after finishing up my degree. That was the same year that the then-principal said, "no offense to your current job, but you're more than a para." We had this grant, and he pulled me into the family and community liaison position mid-year. I really enjoy the family and community position. I've had so many bosses since 2012– everybody's perspective or vision of what my job really is has been different. I had been working at the high school, then summer of 2018, Dr. Price [District 187 Superintendent] pulled me from the high school to work for the whole district.

My anxiety level was through the roof. With all the change over the years, the only thing constant for me had always been me being at the high school. To this day, I thank him for pulling me out. Being able to meet new families, be in the other buildings, meet other colleagues, meet other staff members. And now, because I've been in the district for 20 years, some of the kids that we had in our classes are now parents. It's come full circle. That gives me so much joy, to know that. And I tell people all the time; they're going to have to kick me out of here.

In your twenty years in the school district, you've witnessed a change in the demographics of the school district...

The demographics of the community and the school district has shifted. We're more Latino than we are African American. And there are a few Caucasian families, which has always been the case– mostly from military families.

I'm not fluent in Spanish, but I tell people: I'm fluent on text in Spanish– because I'll Google translate it. Parents appreciate me even trying– to build that relationship and bridge that gap. I'm really big with building relationships, and making our families feel welcomed, and whatever environment that I'm in, or whatever environment that they are in. The needs of kids hasn't changed. Students need what they need– regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity. They need social-emotional, they need academics, they need resources. And so we provide all of that, regardless of the color of their skin.

Other than some conversational Spanish, what's the last thing that you learned?

What is the last thing that I learned? That's that's a trick question... You know, I learned that sometimes we have to give each other grace. Everybody is allowed a bad day, and you never know what kids are going through, what adults are going through. We've had a tough couple of years. Sometimes you just have to give kids grace.

You mentioned your mother, who passed a few years ago. What three words would she have used to describe you?

I would say... smart, outgoing, and lively? Social butterfly?

What are you most proud of?

Being a mother.

How would your child describe you in three words?

She would say that I'm fun, nice, and mean– because she just she just called me a meanie the other day. I wouldn't let her do something– but she was just playing. She probably wouldn't say mean. I'm not mean... strict.

What are you most afraid of?

Heights.

What's your fondest North Chicago memory?

Being in high school, playing cards at lunch.

Poker?

Spades. We used to pay spades every day at lunch. It was so much fun!

What do you aspire to, personally?

Just to be a better version of me.

If you met a stranger on the train, and you they found out they knew nothing about North Chicago, what's the first thing you'd tell them?

The the elevator pitch? "North Chicago is great place to develop and learn and stay."

It feels like I have to fight all the time about the good in North Chicago and what North Chicago gives and provides– not just for families but for students. I think we've had such a bad rap for so long. You know, you don't know the politics of it all. I think North Chicago is a really good place to work. It's a really good place to be. The school district is really turning the corner. I do believe that we will be one of the top schools here soon again. We are definitely finally moving back towards being able to say North Chicago is a really good place to be, and to raise your kids, to raise your families, to get educated, and to provide students and families with all of the resources– and not just educational resources– but all of the resources that they need.

This conversation has been edited and condensed.