Public school principals, administrators, CAPE teaching artists, and teachers will engage in dialogue about navigating the evolving demographics of their neighborhood schools. They will explore the impacts and opportunities presented by these shifting community landscapes and examine how schools can foster equitable learning environments. 

Through this conversation, educators and artists will address changing educational priorities and the role of arts integration as a curriculum and cross-cultural bridge. The conversation will include a tour of Perspective(s) 2025, CAPE’s annual exhibition of afterschool student artists. 

Participants:

• Leticia Pineda (Teacher, New Sullivan Elementary)
• Luis DeLaTorre (Teaching Artist)
• Gabriela Nuñez (Principal, Telpochcalli School)
• Sarah Norton (Director of Community Partnerships, West Chicago Elementary School District 33)
• Markevius T. Hawkins (Youth Intervention Specialist, Arthur R. Ashe Elementary School)
• Betsy Zacsek (Teaching Artist)
• with moderation by Andre Porter (Music Teacher/Fine Arts Liaison, Douglas Taylor Elementary School)

Leticia Pineda (Teacher, New Sullivan Elementary)

“I am a 25 year veteran teacher for Chicago Public Schools. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education and Science Education respectively from DePaul University. I also hold an ESL endorsement from National Louis University. I have worked with CAPE for 7 years working with after school programming, AR/P programming, and summer programming.”

Luis DeLaTorre (Teaching Artist)

Luis DeLaTorre was born in McAllen TX and spent his early childhood in Mexico and brought to Chicago in 1976. DeLaTorre continues his work in Chicago while raising his brilliantly creative daughter. He attended the American Academy of Art where he studied painting under Irving Shapiro. His work is concerned with patterns both on and off the canvas and celebrates the ephemeral nature of our existence. DeLaTorre has participated in exhibitions throughout the United States and Mexico with solo exhibits at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and Chicago State University. DeLaTorre’s work is in various private and public collections including The National Museum of Mexican Art, and the Patric McCoy collection.

Gabriela Nuñez (Principal, Telpochcalli School)

Gabriela Núñez brings 11 years of experience as a dedicated dual language educator at Telpochcalli School to her role as Principal. Holding a a Master’s in School Leadership, she is deeply committed to culturally sustaining teaching practices, empowering student voice and agency, while championing the benefits of bilingualism.

Sarah Norton (Director of Community Partnerships, West Chicago Elementary School District 33)

Sarah Norton is a licensed clinical social worker and started her career in West Chicago as a Community Mental Health Therapist in 2016 after receiving her Bachelor of Social Work with minors in Spanish and Gender and Diversity Studies from Xavier University and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Illinois Chicago. She then moved into leadership at the District level to oversee the Community School model for the entire district. Sarah works with Community Partners, like CAPE, to build well-rounded opportunities for students and their families to enrich their learning, build meaningful connections, and thrive both in and out of school.

Markevius T. Hawkins (Youth Intervention Specialist, Arthur R. Ashe Elementary School)

“My name is Markevius Hawkins. Originally from Newark, NJ. I transitioned to Chicago two years ago. In that time, I’ve used my professional experience in Agricultural Sciences to assist with my role within CPS. For myself, Urban Agriculture is not just a profession nor a hobby. It is a personal passion that can combat food security issues in underprivileged communities. Not only that, it allows our children to showcase their creativity, problem solving skills, and artistic expression.”

Betsy Zacsek (Teaching Artist)

Betsy Zacsek has been a Teaching Artist since 2011. She is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago who has created and curated art in galleries, moving trucks, public spaces, parks, and schools.

Andre Porter (Music Teacher/Fine Arts Liaison, Douglas Taylor Elementary School)

Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Andre found his calling in Music early on by becoming a saxophonist in the fourth grade. At the age of seventeen, he joined the United States Marine Corps where he earned the opportunity to study and become an alum of the Armed Forces School of Music (now Naval School of Music) in Norfolk, Virginia. Andre was then afforded the privilege of serving actively with the 1st Marine Division Band out of Camp Pendleton, CA, where he functioned as everything from a basic rifleman to multiple heavy weapons fire-team leader to a performing woodwind specialist in the marching, concert and jazz bands. After completing active service with the USMC, Andre returned to Chicago to continue his studies and under the tutelage of Dr. Al Gras, Professor Roxanne Stevenson and Professor Derek Cannon, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Chicago State University. Throughout this time, Andre continued his military service as a U.S. Army Reservist with the 85th “Custer” Division where he served as a squad leader, specialized task trainer, woodwind specialist and lead saxophonist in the jazz combo band.

 In 1997, under the mentorship of Mr. Lester V. Moody Sr., Andre found his passion for teaching music. Throughout his twenty seven years in education, he has diligently honed his craft and has been an advocate for the Arts encompassing such roles as Music Coordinator for the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago (2007-2008), and taking on professional educator assignments encompassing private, charter, special needs, alternative and traditional public school environments. Andre has served in multiple capacities to include: Music Teacher, Dean of Students, Fine Arts Liaison, National Jr. BETA Club faculty sponsor, Male Youth Mentor and Local School Council Teacher Representative. 

In 2014, Andre became a Thurgood Marshall TQRP Fellow and has carried that distinction with him to the Chicago Public School system where he is currently the Music Teacher and Fine Arts Liaison at Douglas Taylor Elementary School. In 2018, Andre was selected by the organization Teach +Plus to become a Change Agent within his school’s environment. This opportunity led to him being invited to be a part of a team of dedicated educators that in 2022, created the first Affinity Group for teachers of color in the state of Illinois. Throughout his tenure in CPS, Andre has actively worked to solidify the Arts as core instruction. His work in collaboration with CAPE dates back to 2015, beginning with the ATLAS program where he gained valuable experience working alongside fellow Arts educators. Andre gained even more knowledge of Arts educational practices by continuing to partner with CAPE in both the AR/P and SCALE programs. He subscribes to the teaching philosophy statement inspired by Ignacio Estrada “If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn”.