La’Tonya Fairley is a 2025-2026 Teach Plus Illinois Chicago Change Agent. She is a STEM Coordinator and English language arts curriculum and instructional coach at Cuffe STEM Academy in Chicago. La’Tonya is also an Instructional Leadership Team facilitator and supports STEM integration and literacy instruction to build problem-solving and critical thinking skills in preparation for jobs of the future. She has been a reading specialist for 13 Chicago Public Schools. La’Tonya was awarded Cuffee STEM Academy’s Teacher of the Year (2016-2017) and was recognized for having the highest NWEA growth scores for middle school diverse learners for three consecutive years (2016-2018). She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, where she has been financial secretary and membership co-chairman. La’Tonya earned a BA in elementary education from Governors State University, and MEd in the teaching of reading and MA in general administration, both from Chicago State University.
