Harvard Community Unit School District 50 announced that Dr. Consuelo O’Leary has been named the Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) - Special Programs and Services.
In this role, she will work alongside educators and administrators to support high-quality special education programs and services, advance inclusive and culturally responsive practices and provide instructional support to help ensure every child has access to the services and opportunities needed to reach their full potential and the district’s goals.
Born and partially raised in Mexico, O’Leary learned the values of hard work, collaboration, community and perseverance while working on her family’s farm. As an immigrant student who learned English as a second language, she experienced firsthand the life-changing impact of educators, family members and community members who believed in her and invested in her future.
“Growing up, my community did not have the word ‘disability’ as part of our language,” O’Leary shared. “This did not mean that human differences did not exist; rather, differences were recognized, respected and supported so that everyone could participate, learn and contribute to the community.”
Those experiences have continued to shape O’Leary’s professional lens. She uses the term “exceptionality” to reflect her belief that every person is capable of learning, growing and contributing to their community.
O’Leary is a National Board Certified Teacher and holds bilingual and ESL endorsements. She earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a doctorate in Education with specializations in Disability, Equity in Education and Curriculum Advocacy and Policy.
She is grateful to join Harvard CUSD 50 and looks forward to serving alongside the district’s exceptional educators, staff, students and families.