Convocation Speaker

Teresa is a mother, sister, and tía; a Polish-Mexican (Polexican) Latina who grew up in Logan Square, attended Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and now lives in the Hermosa neighborhood with her family and a couple of blocks down from her sister, a lifelong educator for CPS. 

She serves as the Inaugural Secretary of the Illinois Department of Early Childhood, which is officially administering programs as of July 1, 2026. Prior to this role, she served as the First Assistant Deputy Governor for Education for the Office of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Teresa was the VP of Public Policy, Research, and Advocacy at Illinois Action for Children, where she supported policy, research, and community engagement teams as they advocate for an equitable early education system. 

Teresa spent 7 years as the Director of Community Engagement for Advance Illinois. In that role, she built and managed the Funding Illinois’ Future coalition and campaign. Teresa was also a community organizer and managed a Grow Your Own program. In 2012, Teresa completed her Ph.D. in Anthropology with a minor in Latina/Latino studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and remains a life-long learner through reading, exchanging insight from her peers, and through the eyes of her 6-year-old.