 Dr. Esther Monclova-Johnson has been appointed director of equity affairs by the Virginia Beach School Board.
Her responsibilities will include serving as an ombudsman for employees and parents for issues regarding cultural diversity and equity; collaborating with the Department of Curriculum and Instruction on the development of programs and curricula involving School Board goals and initiatives related to the academic performance of minority students; collaborating with the Department of Human Resources in the development of recruitment and retention strategies to help encourage a diverse workforce; and working with community organizations to promote the division’s equity initiatives. Monclova-Johnson will report directly to Dr. James G. Merrill, superintendent of Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
For the past decade, Virginia Beach City Public Schools has initiated a number of important diversity initiatives over the years, including establishing a diversity task force and a diversity youth ambassadors program. However, Merrill recently created the director of equity affairs position to help ensure that the school division forges outreaches that are systematic, strategic and successful.
A native of New York City, Monclova-Johnson graduated from the city school system before enrolling Carlow College in Pittsburgh where she received a Bachelor of Science in speech pathology and audiology. She later earned a Master of Arts degree in that field from Cleveland State University. She received a doctorate in urban education from Cleveland State.
Monclova-Johnson started her career in education as a speech/language pathologist in the Pittsburgh Public Schools from 1976 to 1980. From 1981 to 1987, she worked as a speech/language pathologist in the Cleveland Public Schools.
Monclova-Johnson became coordinator of curriculum/drop out prevention program coordinator in the Cleveland schools in 1988. In 1991, Monclova-Johnson assumed the post of supervisor of student activities/health education. She also oversaw the school system’s bilingual multicultural education office. From 1998 to 1999, she served as manager of human resources in the district. Monclova-Johnson was appointed as a regional superintendent of Cleveland school in 1999. In 2002, the served was promoted to be the deputy chief/supervising superintendent in Cleveland.
In 2004, Monclova-Johnson became the director of the Office of Civil Rights Compliance and Multicultural Affairs of the District of Columbia Public Schools. She was appointed executive director for extended education program in the D.C. district in 2005.
Among her many awards and memberships, Monclova-Johnson was named Hispanic of the Year in Cleveland in 2001.
Contact Esther Monclova-Johnson by e-mail esther.monclova-johnson@vbschools.com or phone 757-263-1529.
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