Promising Pathways: How One School Leader Boosts Latino Success

Tom Moore, the chief administrator of Niles Township High Schools, recently earned a top teaching honor for his work with Latino students. He shares the award with a committee that values real progress in opening doors for all learners, not just talk. Moore’s district covers four high schools and a special‑education center. The area is home to more than 4, 600 kids who speak over 70 languages at home, and about 60 % of families can communicate in two or more tongues. Spanish is common, but Urdu, Assyrian and Arabic are also spoken widely. The district even pioneered an Assyrian language program, a first for public schools nationwide.Because of Moore’s focus on equity, the district stopped charging fees for Advanced Placement classes. A few years ago only a third of seniors took AP courses; now more than 70 % are enrolled, and their test scores have risen. He says the real credit belongs to students who seize these chances and teachers who keep believing in them. Moore began leading the district in 2022 after over a decade as superintendent in Connecticut. He stresses that diversity—people from families who arrived generations ago or just last week—is a strength. “Education is the key to a better life, ” he says, and his goal is to keep that promise alive for everyone in the community. The award recognizes Moore’s tangible actions, but he remains humble. “It isn’t my prize; it belongs to all the people who work hard, ” he notes, reminding readers that collective effort drives change.