Alyana Gross

Alyana grew up in the Waukegan and Gurnee area. She graduated from the University of Tampa in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a minor in sociology. Her background in social sciences continues to shape her work as an educator, guiding her commitment to equity and inclusion in the classroom. Alyana is a special education teacher who is passionate about providing diversity, equity, and inclusion for all learners and dismantling systemic barriers within the educational sector by empowering youth through education. She brings nearly five years of experience working with students across grade levels (K–12) through roles such as student mentor, teaching assistant, tutor, and academic coach. These experiences have allowed her to develop creative, inclusive, and compassionate teaching practices that meet students where they are and help them grow. Her goal is to build confidence, ignite curiosity, and foster independence. Outside of teaching, Alyana enjoys writing poetry, knitting, baking, and volunteering with local Chicago organizations, which help her stay connected her community.