McHenry Times

At its April 18 meeting, the District 155 Board of Education invited Cary-Grove High School Principal Neil Lesinski to discuss his school's Latino Leadership Club. 

He discussed how the club has supported students, families, and the entire school community since it was started ten years ago. He also praised the efforts of Vice Principal Rebecca Saffert in continuing and growing the club for many years. 

He thanked several of the administrators who made the club possible, and introduced some of the students from the club to speak to the board. 

Student Andrea Angeles told the board about a college scholarship essay she wrote that recounted how the Latino Leadership Club changed her long-term mindset of feeling not good enough because native English speakers had an easier time at school. She thanked several teachers and staff for their efforts, and shared fond memories of Cary-Grove. Andrea will be going to Harper Community College next year.

“Lana (Bachta) and Linda (Matthias) set out over ten years ago to create this club as a way to support the transition for our Latino students and ensure that it was smooth for them as they entered high school,” Lesinski told the board. “And I will tell you that not only did they accomplish that goal, but they have truly transformed the presence that our Latino students have, not only within our building, but within our community.”

Club sponsors shared the story of the club, which they created to support Latino and Hispanic students through education, culture, and emotional support. The goal was to give them role models and more opportunities to succeed and grow, especially in experiences of a first-generation student or citizen, which is a trait the club founders share. 

The club holds meetings around once a month, and hosts other events, as well. They do college visits and museum visits, as well as working with the dual language program in the district, reading to younger students in Spanish.

Several other students in the club shared their experiences and their plans for the future, whether careers or college. 

Michelle Vega said she loved the four years she spent in the club, and was proud of her culture and her ethnicity. Michelle has committed to the University of Illinois next year. 

Gabriella Lopez said she will study aerospace engineering at the U of I, hoping to continue with a similar club in college. 

Other students were hoping to study architecture at McHenry Community College, nursing and engineering at Western Kentucky University, computer science, nursing, or business. They all credited the club for increasing their expectations for themselves and encouraging them to pursue higher education instead of just getting through high school because they had to.

The board uploaded a livestream of its public meeting to the districts’ YouTube channel.

In other business, the board also discussed various employment statuses of its faculty and staff.

The board will meet again at 7 p.m. on May 16 at the District Center’s board room at One South Virginia Road.