Christa Valencia is a 2019-20 Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellow. Christa is a middle school teacher in the cluster program for the deaf and hard of hearing at Ray Elementary School in Hyde Park, Chicago. At Ray, Christa serves on the instructional leadership team and sponsors the Advocacy Club and American Sign Language Club. Christa is a 2010 Golden Apple Scholar and has received the Crystal Apple Award for honoring her commitment to teach in schools of need in Illinois. Christa holds a BA in Special Education for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing from Illinois State University.
