Juan Carlos Chavez is the new assistant superintendent for the Oregon Department of Education Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
ODE announced the appointment in its Oct. 10 newsletter. Chavez started the job Sept. 25, days before ODE announced a major reorganization of its offices to accommodate its Student Success Act work.
Chavez’s office has been charged with supporting efforts to dismantle and restructure systems that create different supports for marginalized groups. The office will include emerging bilingual program and African American, Latinx and LGBT student success teams, as well as teams to support inclusive schools and culturally responsive practices.
“It is imperative that ODE leads for change toward education equity,” Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction Colt Gill said in the ODE announcement.
Chavez is affiliated with the Sonora Yaqui Tribe and is a military veteran, according to ODE. For the past 12 years, he has conducted NASA science, technology, engineering and math education and outreach for underserved communities through the Northwest Earth and Space Sciences Pipeline and the NASA Space Grant Consortium.
