Melissa Sweazy is in her sixth year as the Founding School Director of UCSN Esmeralda Santiago Charter School. One of Santiago’s greatest successes is the student attendance rate, as last year’s average was 97.7%; for the last two years, their attendance rate has consistently ranked in the top 10 out of over 650 schools in the city. Melissa believes that ensuring high attendance rates for students is one of the most powerful weapons in the fight against poverty and the ever-present achievement gap. Esmeralda Santiago earned a Level 1+ rating under CPS’ SQRP evaluation system and recently appeared in Chicago Magazine as the top performing charter elementary school in Chicago.
While growing up in a rural community and in a family of educators, Melissa knew at a young age she wanted to work with children and advocate for those underserved and oftentimes misrepresented. Melissa is most passionate about promoting social justice issues and equipping students with the confidence and social political consciousness necessary to exercise their voice and choice in their school, community, and beyond. She cites a strong partnership with parents, an emphasis on student advocacy and accountability, and encouraging teachers’ engagement in continuous reflection around their practice as key levers of success. The best part of Melissa’s job is working alongside her teachers and seeing the smiles on her students’ faces as their confidence grows, achievement levels rise, and ultimately, they disrupt the status quo.
