Zaria Jakes is a 2024-2025 Illinois Senior Policy Fellow and a 5th grade ESL sheltered teacher and teacher mentor at McCleery Elementary in Aurora, Illinois. She focuses on teaching and supporting English language learners in her classroom, while assisting with developing and implementing SEL practices and routines in her school community. She previously taught 4th grade ESL sheltered and worked in the early childhood field in various positions ending as an assistant director. She earned her BA in elementary education from Aurora University, and her English as a Second Language endorsement from University of St. Francis, Joliet.
