Jennifer Rowe ready to begin ‘equity journey’ at Lyons

Having a seat at the decision-making table and a voice for students in the halls, Jennifer Rowe is excited to bring her work as director of equity and belonging to Lyons Township High School District 204.

“I get to work with administrative leaders, staff, students and families. All of these pieces make my heart sing,” Rowe said. “I love professional development with teachers, as well as being able to work with students.”

Her title may seem unfamiliar, but in the world of higher education, school districts throughout the country are adding the position to their administrations.

“From the North Shore to [Elgin Area School District] U46, if you are going to be a leading educational district, it is a position you have to have,” Rowe said. “Equity and belonging are interwoven in all aspects of school and community, and I am looking forward to being a part of this ongoing equity journey with LTHS.”

Rowe joins Lyons Township after spending two years as the executive director for educational equity at Indian Prairie School District 204, which serves parts of Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield and Bolingbrook. In District 204, she worked with faculty and students from 33 schools. Each school had an equity team.

Rowe said she is excited to transition to Lyons Township, where she plans to maintain office space at both campuses.

In her previous role, she worked with faculty on professional development to help them find ways to incorporate greater equity and belonging, whether it was with materials and lessons used in the classroom or the culture of the school community.

She has worked on the annual Equity Summer Summit, offering educational professionals, as well as community members, a chance to address some of the top issues of the day.

Working in a smaller district, Rowe said she hopes to build more connections among the faculty and students. Before her role as an executive director, she spent 10 years as a dean of students at Metea Valley High School in Aurora, where among her accolades, she earned the district’s A+ award based on nominations from students.

Rowe’s roots are in the classroom. She started her career in education as a high school English teacher at Catholic schools on the South Side of Chicago and later the North Shore.

Her role at Lyons gives her a seat at the proverbial administrative leadership table. At her previous post, some of those responsibilities included reviewing policies and procedures, as well as measures to support the hiring and retention of a diverse teaching staff.

“Dr. Rowe’s previous experience will undoubtedly help LTHS make an immediate impact, with a renewed focus and attention on equity,” Lyons Township Superintendent Brian Waterman said. “I am confident she will help our organization incorporate a focus on equity and belonging in every decision we make.”

As she steps into her new role, Rowe said she brings her experiences, as well as the legacies of those in her family who believed in the importance of education. Those family members include her grandfather, who had the courage to venture beyond his home deep in coal country for a college education.

“I come from a strong family of educators,” Rowe said. “All of these people and their stories are always in my heart.”