Project Description
Dr. Olimpia Bahena, Fellow
Talcott Fine Arts and Museum Academy
Chicago, IL
Twenty-eight years ago, Dr. Olimpia Bahena’s first position in the United States was as a bilingual educator in Chicago. As a well-educated immigrant, her work in a low-income community opened her eyes to the importance of high-quality instruction for historically underserved students. It became a calling. Adult learning is the cornerstone of Olimpia's professional growth. She was one of the first Latino educators in Chicago to be Nationally Board Certified. She has taught graduate courses. Olimpia has also presented nationally and at international conferences. As a participant in a Fulbright Exchange Program, she visited Argentina to extend her knowledge of international education. She is continually involved in professional learning and leadership projects with the school district. Olimpia is a strong proponent of dual language education for emergent bilinguals. For 13 years, she has served as Principal of Talcott Fine Arts and Museum Academy, one of the Chicago Public Schools with a recognized high-quality Dual Language Program. Talcott is known for its innovative, well-rounded, high-quality curriculum, dedicated and hard-working families, and learning-focused staff. She attributes her development as a leader to caring and disciplined mentors. As an immigrant and Latina, Olimpia is a proud role model for students, staff, and the broader school community. She deeply values opportunities to collaborate with others to improve her professional practice and strengthen student learning at Talcott. Her passion, persistence, and determination as an adult learner continue to inspire and enrich her commitment to world-class learning for every child.
Elva Bahena, Ally
Assistant Principal
Talcott Fine Arts and Museum Academy
Chicago, IL
Elva Bahena was born and raised in Chicago by immigrant parents in the Little Village Community. Elva is blessed with a blended family of four boys and two girls who keep her on her toes. Elva received her degrees from the University of Illinois, Columbia College, and Concordia University. Her 27-year career in education started as an elementary school teacher, which eventually led her to utilize her science degree as a high school science teacher. In addition to teaching, she was a department chairperson, where she realized that she truly enjoyed working with and supporting teachers to create a nurturing and rigorous learning environment. This was her segway into school leadership. Her servant leadership has always brought her to neighborhood schools in communities of great need. Both her personal, classroom and leadership experiences have instilled in her a passion for serving all students to ensure they receive the high-quality education they deserve, as well as to take pride in their cultural diversity. Elva understands the importance of bringing teachers, staff, parents, and students to the table to develop a unified vision for the school. She also believes that we are lifelong learners, and through reflective practices, together, we can refine and enrich our community with new knowledge. This year, she is very excited about her new leadership role as Assistant Principal at Talcott FAMA. She is confident that this will provide excellent opportunities for personal growth while simultaneously allowing her to serve the school community.