Accomplished educator Sharon Romeo-Willis of Dana Point, California, is one of the newest members of our volunteer Project Access board of directors. Romeo-Willis has been honored as the Santa Ana Kiwanis Club Teacher of the Year, Santa Ana Unified School District Teacher of the Year, and Orange County Teacher of the Year. She is the founder of “Lift the Gifted,” which creates curriculum for all students, using GATE curriculum to achieve accessible rigor through project-based learning. In her curriculum, the arts are a fundamental component in the development of student expression, critical thinking, and presentation.
Romeo-Willis is currently an instructional coach for the Santa Ana Unified School District, working with comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) and additional targeted support and improvement (ATSI) designated schools.
Her role is to develop and facilitate Improvement Science systems that give teachers the ability to provide students from generational poverty equity, and access to strong instruction. Since 2001, she has worked for SAUSD as an elementary teacher, secondary teacher in Language Arts, teacher effectiveness coach, GATE trainer and coordinator, grant coordinator, curriculum writer, and curator of Projects and Partnerships.
“We are honored to have someone of Sharon’s educational experience on our board,” said Project Access CEO and President Kristin Byrnes. “She brings a unique perspective that will help inform our learning initiatives in our resource centers like our Education for Youth program.”
Project Access strives to be the leading provider of vital on-site health, education and employment services to families, children and seniors living in affordable housing communities. Its goal is to help keep family members employed, children in school, and seniors active.