Asia-Ana was born and raised in Chicago, IL and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood before attending Illinois State University for her Bachelor’s degree in English Education 2018. As a first-generation college student, she has had her share of difficulties. Living as a black queer woman has presented its challenges, especially in white professional settings. She has been discredited, disrespected, and talked down to, but she continues to be convicted in her beliefs and in advocacy for the communities she loves.
As a driven educator passionate about advocating for and expanding opportunities for students from diverse academic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds, she spent 5 years as a teacher in Chciago Public Schools, often serving as a teacher leader and coach in the building. She has proven success in program management, including planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational initiatives.
As a Program Manager at High Jump Chicago, she is skilled in teacher recruitment, coaching, and mentoring, designing educational curriculums, program development, and effective teacher leadership. Asia-Ana is also experienced in creating and managing community-based programming that prioritizes family integration and support to strengthen student outcomes. She is adept at at fostering partnerships between teachers, schools, families, and communities to build a collaborative network that enhances academic success and retention. She desires to be an active community member in meaningful ways personally and professionally. She also wants to increase access to quality educational opportunities for students of color in urban cities and recognizes that there are many ways to make an impact doing so.
