Please tell us about yourself:
Under the direction of former DPS 61 Superintendent, Gloria J. Davis, I was elected as an Eisenhower Co-President on the Superintendent’s Youth Advisory Council for 3 consecutive years. As an Eisenhower student eager to make change in the district, I was one of very few students who took part in district affairs. In addition, I’ve sat on numerous committees and advisory councils around the district and Macon County. I was also President of the Mayor’s Youth Council (Mayor, Mike McElory) where I gained experience with Geographic Information Systems, urban planning, and 4-H. Alongside community involvement, I’ve also had the honor of representing Decatur Public Schools at the national level in 2013 as a presenter on Youth-Adult Partnerships and DPS Service-Learning initiatives in Denver, Colorado. In 2018, I interned for the U.S Department of the Interior, where I assisted with Federal Employee Resources, as well as Community Outreach and Development. Also, in 2018, I was the recipient of a Decatur City Proclamation recognizing the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, which led to the Spirit of Central Illinois Award. Currently, with the help of GLSEN, I’ve been constructing a district policy for DPS 61, which will provide guidelines and procedures that aim to protect and value LGBTQ+ students, district employees and families. With great confidence and 1 decade of experience, I can say that I’m a strong candidate for DPS 61 Board of Education. I have a proven track record of leadership, community engagement, public policy, and human resources, among other skills.
Please list any endorsements:
DEA, DESPA, DFTA, and SEIU
Please tell us about your platform and key areas of focus for the Decatur Public Schools Board of Education:
My key areas of focus for the DPS 61 BOE are: Special Education Department, LGBTQ+ Students, Teacher/Staff Morale, Mental Health of students/staff, Professional Development, Trade Programs, and public safety. See website below for more details about Alana’s platform.
