High Jump’s New Chief Programs Officer: Yolanda Luna-Mroz

On December 1, 2020, High Jump welcomed Yolanda Luna-Mroz as our new Chief Programs Officer overseeing leadership and development for High Jump’s successful middle-grade enrichment program, alumni program extension, and upcoming pilot program.

“I am professionally and personally driven by a commitment to equity and a belief that education can be an engine for social change. My childhood experience within CPS shaped this belief and my sense of responsibility to improve it for others. I am a first-generation citizen and college graduate, and like many immigrants, my parents trusted the school system. From lived experience, I know that great schools and programs change lives. The people who supported my education gave me chances to be brave, and that helped shape me as a person.”

Luna-Mroz has a history of success working with middle schoolers and building programs as an elementary school principal at Decatur Classical School in Rogers Park, one of the highest-rated elementary schools in Chicago and one of 367 National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2020. At Decatur, Luna-Mroz’s decisions were always guided by what would clearly be in her students’ best interest. Her work with teachers helped improve their high-quality instruction and fostered a community to build resilience in all children. Luna-Mroz has also held teaching and leadership positions at Stockton Elementary (Uptown) and Hamilton Elementary (Roscoe Village), both of which are Chicago Public Schools. A native Chicagoan and alumni of Chicago Public Schools, Luna-Mroz earned her bachelor’s degree from DePaul University. She received her master’s degree in Education Leadership from National Louis University.

We recently spoke with Luna-Mroz about her background and what excites her about joining High Jump:

What will you draw from your personal background for this role?
Like High Jump, I am professionally and personally driven by a commitment to equity and a belief that education can be an engine for social change. My childhood experience within CPS shaped this belief and my sense of responsibility to improve it for others. I am a first-generation citizen and college graduate, and like many immigrants, my parents trusted the school system. From lived experience, I know that great schools and programs change lives. The people who supported my education gave me chances to be brave, and that helped shape me as a person.

What’s your perspective on the importance of data and research when it comes to programming like High Jump’s?
Data was a big part of everything I did at CPS, and I look forward to bringing this focus to High Jump, too. I believe in research and taking multiple views of how students are learning and developing. Ultimately, you want multiple snapshots to make the best decision for how to move forward and, if necessary, pivot. Data and analysis both foster the courage to change something, go out of your comfort zone, to best serve parents and students. High Jump is doing this already via reflection surveys.

What excites you about being part of High Jump?
One of the many things that is appealing about working with High Jump is the organization’s focus on middle schoolers. I spent the bulk of my time teaching and getting support for students in that age group, and I love seeing the results as students get into their choice school. I am actually still in touch with many of my students. There are kids that I have known since they were 10 years old who are now 24, in graduate school, and they still stay in touch with me. I know that it is critical to make an impact on kids before they get to high school so that they have the tools and support they need to navigate the complicated systems of high school, college, and beyond.

I’m also excited to join an organization that changes lives by altering children’s lifelong trajectory. The kids we serve are just like the child I was. I love that High Jump makes a long-term commitment to students and families to ensure continued growth and success, because I too view my job as lifelong. In this line of work, you don’t know how good you are until 10 years later, when you can really see the impact you had on students. I love that High Jump commits to supporting kids and their families throughout their entire educational journey; the fact that High Jump kids come back to the program as alumni shows how impactful and important this program really is.