English teacher Angie Yuan will be stepping down as the program coordinator of LEAD when her three-year term ends in June. She has been in charge of the program since she joined UPrep.
As much as Yuan enjoys being the program coordinator of LEAD, she is looking forward to the lessened responsibilities.
“I think it will be good,” Yuan said. “My first love about my job has always been being in the classroom and teaching and reading books together and talking.”
Unlike being the adviser of a club, the program coordinator of LEAD is a paid position.
“It’s within the DEI office, so in this position there’s a stipend,” Yuan said. “And there’s a course reduction. So I have one less course.”
Over the last three years, LEAD has expanded.
“There’s been more involvement from students,” Yuan said. “When I first started, we had I think 20 kids who were leaders. But now we have 50.”
To hire the next program coordinator, a committee will screen applications and interview candidates.
“Any position like this, similar to the grade level deans, the position reopens. People are welcome to reapply, and new people are welcome to apply,” Taylor Kanemori, director of diversity, equity and inclusion said.
The position came with a lot of pride for Yuan. By working with students outside of the classroom she has gotten to see students’ leadership skills grow.
“I’m most proud of the execs every year, how much they’ve stepped up and done so much and learned so much,” Yuan said. “And also the leaders who just learned how to facilitate and be in the room. I think just working with those groups who do it because they truly care about it and want to get better at it and care about these discussions. That’s been the best part.”
