Students coming from all over the world moving to Vernon Hills have at least one thing in common throughout their journey: they all cross paths and work with Jessica Fernandez, English Learners (EL) Department Chair.
As the EL department chair at both VHHS and LHS, Fernandez mainly assists teachers and students in overcoming language barrier issues, ensuring that all international students feel heard and understood as they begin high school in the US.
Fernandez’s journey in education started in college, shaped by her experiences and belief that every student deserves to belong.
Merin Jacob (11) is one of the students who has worked closely with Fernandez.
“[Fernandez] always checks on every student and makes sure everything is okay with them,” Jacob said.
Fernandez’s belief that every student deserves to belong has been a guiding principle since her earliest days in education. After studying English and Latin American studies, Fernandez began her teaching career in Texas, where she worked at an underserved school on the border with Mexico, and gradually embraced her love for teaching.
Fernandez said she was the only English teacher there, and the experience made her realize she loved teaching and wanted to pursue it as a career.
Coming back to the Chicagoland area, Fernandez started applying to teaching jobs, and despite being an AP teacher, she decided she wanted to focus on teaching the kids she felt like needed more help.
“I really want to teach the kids who are struggling for whatever reason. It could be language, it could be other stuff,” Fernandez said.
Now, as EL department chair, Fernandez wants to help support teachers with language barriers, while helping students and their families feel understood and seen during their cultural transition.
“The most important part of my job is helping all staff members support all students to the best of their abilities,” Fernandez said.
Elissa Gong, EL teacher, suggests that the EL department still faces challenges despite Fernandez’s leadership. Gong mentions that she still has many “hopes and dreams” for the department and school in general.
Gong says that she believes staff should get more training in order to support EL students appropriately,
and acknowledges that Fernandez brings experience as an instructional coach which helps when training staff.
Still, for a student like Jacob, Fernandez’s support was life changing, especially early on in high school,
when Jacob struggled with fear of speaking.
“I truly believe that if she wasn’t there in freshman year, I wouldn’t have been where I’m at,” Jacob said.
That’s the impact Fernandez hopes to keep making in the school, as she focuses on making students feel at home and helping them overcome any trouble they might be going through.
“Every kid has their own stuff and their own needs. We’re all like tiny puzzles,” Fernandez said, reflecting on her daily work with students. “I like to joke around with people and make sure they feel comfortable.”