Q&A with Notable Women in STEM recipient Yolanda Luna-Mroz
Yolanda Luna-Mroz, a devoted and award-winning middle-grade public educator and strong proponent of Fine Arts and STEM education, has been selected as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ Notable Women in STEM! Check out Crain’s feature (if you’re a subscriber), and read on to find out how Yolanda helps develop learners with the skills they need to thrive wherever they go.
As Chief Programs Officer of High Jump, Yolanda Luna-Mroz (center) oversees leadership and development for High Jump’s successful middle-grade enrichment program, alumni program extension, and community pilot program.
What does being a Notable Woman in STEM mean to you?
I am honored and feel a sense of gratitude to every person who has been part of my journey to get where I am today. I owe so much to my family, mentors, teachers, and students. Whenever you attempt to build anything new, there are challenges, failures, and immense learning along the way. I am fortunate to be recognized for those efforts and will continue nurturing STEM in more spaces to bring greater access to all students.
Devoted to a career in public education, Yolanda Luna-Mroz is driven by a love of middle grades and her passion for increasing access to Fine Arts and STEM (known as STEAM when combined.) Yolanda builds programs that create student-centered climates and foster academic and social-emotional growth. Her progressive and student-centered approach has resulted in positive learning environments with students who love learning.
How long have you been focused on Fine Arts and STEM for students?
It started in middle school for me. I attend Franklin Fine Arts Center (FFAC), a CPS school in the Old Town neighborhood. FFAC was one of the first to pioneer a fully integrated fine arts program for all students while also delivering high-quality instruction in traditional classes. I learned quickly how knowledge and passions can intersect and make our learning more rich and meaningful. I took that experience with me throughout my educational and professional journey.
A native Chicagoan and an alumna of Chicago Public Schools, Yolanda is a first-generation college graduate. As Chief Programs Officer of High Jump, Yolanda taps into her lived experience to create a thoughtful inclusive and culturally relevant curriculum. Access to student-centered STEAM programming leads to strong academic and social-emotional growth that can be life-changing.
What is the difference between STEM and STEAM?
Including art in the four pillars of STEM recognizes the ability of the arts to expand the application of STEAM education and offers students a more well-rounded experience. STEAM is connected and integrated into countless aspects of our society and our learning; it’s our responsibility to help students see those connections. The arts can only help to accelerate progress in this space.
Yolanda’s passion and commitment to holistic education in public schools attracted her to High Jump, where she could make a more significant impact on the students of Chicago. As Chief Programs Officer of High Jump, Yolanda uses the power of STEAM to promote high school readiness and boost college completion. Yolanda oversees programs that serve more than 480 students annually at three dedicated campuses and two public school pilot locations in Chicago.
“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 is.”
Why do students need STEAM? And why should educators embrace it?
The world needs creative problem solvers. To prepare students for the 21st century, we must regularly give them a chance to innovate at school.
Continuing to do school as we’ve always done isn’t an option. Solving problems in a predetermined way doesn’t allow us to ask, ‘What could be?’ or ‘Why not?’ Asking new questions, trusting current research, and having the courage to discover completely different approaches to education are necessary.
For Yolanda, developing a culture that fosters a love of learning, is inclusive, and educates the whole child is a must. While at Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and now at High Jump, Yolanda initiated and developed STEAM education for middle-grade students. She launched the first STEAM program for all students at her school and one of the first in CPS to be aligned with Engineering and Computer Science curriculum and standards, formed one of the first LEGO Robotics teams in CPS, and has recently been building out FUSE maker spaces as part of the curriculum for High Jump’s Community Scholars pilot program.
What have you been working on that led to this Notable Women in STEM recognition?
Over 12 months, I led my team through a data adaptation using technology to systematize High Jump’s admissions, enrollment, and alumni program processes. Launching this strategic initiative reduces manual effort to ease the burden on teachers and staff so they can spend more time engaging with students and growing the program.
Luna-Mroz took ownership alongside her tech-savvy team to enable High Jump to improve data quality, analytics, and access to track students’ progress through High Jump, high school, and college enrollment to inform long-term program impact. Creating real-time reports and dashboards has changed data collection operations for the program to allow for thoughtful growth by implementing research-based techniques and data-informed approaches to improve student outcomes.
What compels you to use your curiosity to help others?
I have always felt a sense of responsibility to improve the world around me and to use my abilities to help others. As the eldest child of an immigrant household, I saw so many opportunities to help my family and community; I learned to ‘think outside the box.’ I find great joy in working with others to solve problems, and it fulfills me to create new and innovative ways to improve situations that others have deemed untenable.
Yolanda is a dynamic leader with proven success in developing teachers, growing passionate teams, and helping all students realize their potential and achieve academic goals— a testament to the undeniable power of education to transform and edify communities.
“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. As a first-generation Latin American, I know that committed schools with engaging programs change lives. The people who supported my education gave me chances to be brave, and that helped shape me as a person.”
In 1989, High Jump started with a single, mighty mission: To bring equity to education for Chicago middle grade students who have exhibited academic ambition and potential and who are of limited economic means. Today, that mission is stronger than ever. High Jump empowers Chicago’s middle schoolers to become well-rounded leaders through our tuition-free programs with one-of-a-kind experiences, resources, and educational support for curious and motivated 7th and 8th-grade students who want to challenge themselves academically.
