Published on Mar 3, 2025
Looking back on Black History Month and moving forward recognizing the work still to be done, the Network for College Success would like to honor a few Black leaders in our community who are making extraordinary moves to support young people's education every day. Read below to learn more about these phenomenal educators and administrators!
Toya Benson, Principal at Crane Medical Prep
Principal Benson is a reflective, student-centered leader who is consistently modeling what it means to be an antiracist leader. Toya empowers her Senior Leadership Team to develop their own capacities and implement their equity-focused Continuous Improvement Work Plan. She takes the time to examine her own identity and how it impacts her leadership. She consistently invites feedback, and she is a fierce advocate for students. She ensures both adults and young people are supported and engaged with using asset framing to propel the whole team towards excellence. We’re seeing a steady increase in Freshman On-Track rates and graduation rates at Crane Medical Prep.
-Octavio Casas EdD, NCS Professional Learning Manager
Devon Morales, Sr., Principal at Roberto Clemente Community Academy (RCCA)
Principal Morales, a proud Afro-Puerto Rican, has deep roots in the Humboldt Park community where he now serves as an educational leader. As RCCA celebrates its 50th anniversary, Principal Morales continues to honor and enhance the school's legacy by fostering collaboration among staff and community members, ensuring that every student feels valued, supported, and inspired to pursue their aspirations. His commitment to the school community is evident through his visible presence and active engagement. Principal Morales's unique perspective as a community member turned educational leader brings invaluable insights to his role, allowing him to connect very authentically with students, families, and staff.
-Lauren Perez Pietruszka, NCS Transformation Coach
Christopher Shelton, Jr., Principal at Englewood STEM High School
Principal Shelton has demonstrated exceptional dedication to the school community through his visible presence and active engagement with staff, students, families, and community partners. His passionate advocacy for students is evident in his emphasis on fostering connection and joy both within and beyond the classroom. Principal Shelton's leadership style is characterized by active listening, inviting feedback, and promoting collaborative decision-making at all levels. He truly believes in empowering students to take an active role in their education and in shaping their school community. As a thoughtful and strategic leader, he is guiding the school into its next era of growth and development.
-Lauren Perez Pietruszka, NCS Transformation Coach
LaDonna Myers, Freshman Success Team Lead at Williams Prep High School
LaDonna Myers leads and supports her team in staying focused on equity and serving all students by creating conditions for team members to engage in deep discourse and learning together; by centering meetings in both quantitative and qualitative student data that helps the team improve student supports and classroom practices, and by using the team’s feedback to improve her own leadership and to better support adult collaboration on the 9th grade team and across the school. Before this role, LaDonna taught music for 20+ years and has been able to use her strengths as a teacher to lead the 9th grade team in focusing on both quality instruction and student supports, resulting in consistently high Freshman On-Track and Bs or better rates during her leadership.
-Beth Brown, NCS Transformation Manager
Rashad Talley, Principal at Phillips High School
Principal Talley is a fierce advocate for quality learning environments for Black children. He just did an interview for the new Beyond the Book podcast, sharing:
“I see so many other people in my life that are impacted just by me doing what I’m purposed to do. That looks to me like purpose, it looks to me like fulfillment, it looks to me like I gotta keep doing it–and that’s the blessing that keeps overflowing. When my cup is full, I spill out into others.”
-Tinaya York, PhD, NCS Transformation Coach
Liddell-Jegen McGuire, Assistant Principal at Kelly College Prep
Liddell-Jegen McGuire is an incredible Assistant Principal at Kelly College Prep. She grounds the instructional improvement work in voices and experiences of young people, supporting and challenging adults to honor these perspectives as truth and respond to them in their classroom practice. She has tirelessly worked to create an Instructional Support Team in which teacher leaders vulnerably engage in learning and exploration of their own identities, classroom practices and leadership.
-Jessica Bunzol, NCS Transformation Coach