Dr. Taya Kinzie is a vital part of ETHS. She brings vibrance to our community and uplifts student voices. Since 2022, she has been the Assistant Superintendent, but she has been a Wildkit since 2004! Before her role as Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Kinzie has served as the Associate Principal of Student Services, Dean, and Special Education Social Worker. She is also a Spanish/English bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and has previously worked with students and families in Chicago, Waukegan and California Public Schools and social service agencies.
Just like the students, Dr. Kinzie has had to adjust to the transition from summer to school. “[The first month of school has been] busy; it’s been exciting,” she says. We have all had to get used to Bell to Bell, No Cell and Dr. Kinzie is no exception.
“Sometimes there has to be a bad guy,” Dr. Kinzie says, and she is willing to take the fall because she knows, through the extensive research that has been done for months prior to the new school year, that the new phone policy will benefit all in the building. Bell to Bell, No Cell has “only [received] positive feedback from parents and families” according to Dr. Kinzie.
The policy has also brought ETHS together. Even though students may not be too fond of the policy, we’ve agreed that we need it. “Sometimes people don’t like vegetables [but they know] it’s good for you,” Dr. Kinzie says. And because Dr. Kinzie promotes student advocacy, she wants to make sure that they know their voices are welcomed in the discussion. “I want to invite conversations [about] concerns that exist.”
In the near future, Dr. Kinzie also plans to address the student body about preparations for the upcoming end-of-semester exams, also referred to as semester experiences. “This is something we have always done pre-Covid, and so we’re continuing with that now,” she says. As a school, it is paramount that we transition back to times before the pandemic to bring some of that normalcy back. “[They will help] in all post-high school ways… In terms of certifications, [and] if you go straight into the workforce there will [also] be exams.” However, the semester exams/experiences are not meant to appear out of nowhere and scare unprepared students. “We will have steps and processes throughout the semester to help build clarity and expectations. But also to help manage anxiety,” says Dr. Kinzie. She plans to guide the student body through this new process to learn how to manage test anxiety and not feel overwhelmed by it.
Dr. Kinzie has worked at ETHS for two decades, so she’s heard a lot of Friday Songs. When asked what her favorite one has been, she decided to pick two. “Sometimes I’m a rule breaker!” Dr. Kinzie admits. One of her favorite songs was “Don’t Fence Me In” by Ella Fitzgerald from 1998, when she was a social worker intern at ETHS. The second was a song that most of us will remember, “Lean on Me” by Club Nouveau from 2023. Dr. Kinzie truly does appreciate nostalgia, and we can all relate to that feeling.
Although the student body has been hesitant to accept the new phone policy and semester exams/experiences, the collective knowledge is that they are ultimately beneficial to us. Dr. Kinzie has made it her mission to provide counsel as we go on new adventures and invite us to advocate for ourselves.
