Proviso Press Release

Proviso Township, Ill. — Proviso Township High Schools District 209 is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Olimpia Bahena as the new Director of Instructional Framework and Support. Dr. Bahena brings more than 30 years of experience in teaching, school leadership, and system-level administration, most recently serving as Deputy Chief of the Office of Multilingual-Multicultural Education in Chicago Public Schools.

A proud immigrant from Mexico, Dr. Bahena’s experiences as a student, parent, and educator have shaped her lifelong dedication to advancing equity in education, honoring student identity, and expanding access to high-quality instruction. She began her U.S. career as a bilingual educator in Chicago’s Back of the Yards community, witnessing firsthand the need for culturally responsive and inclusive teaching for historically underserved students.

“Dr. Bahena is a visionary leader whose commitment to equity and high-quality instruction aligns perfectly with our district’s mission,” said Superintendent Krish Mohip. “We are excited to welcome her to the Proviso team and look forward to the positive impact her leadership will have on students and educators alike.”

Grounded in intrinsic motivation theory and culturally responsive teaching, Dr. Bahena has pioneered professional learning communities, strengthened teacher leadership, and introduced collaborative practices such as learning walks and lesson study. She became one of the first Latina educators in the country to earn National Board Certification, a milestone that enhanced her reflective practice and instructional leadership skills.

Dr. Bahena’s leadership journey has been further shaped by participation in the Cahn Fellows Program, the Northwestern University Principal Fellowship, and the Fulbright Principal Exchange, as well as international study visits to Japan, Argentina, and China. She spent 13 years as a principal in Chicago Public Schools, implementing inclusive instructional models for multilingual learners and students with disabilities, while cultivating strong community partnerships.

Most recently, Dr. Bahena led the design and implementation of professional learning systems to strengthen dual-language education and provided the rationale and design for the CPS Multilingual Pathways Framework, advancing the district’s Five-Year Multilingual Pathways Priority.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Bahena is a proud mother of two daughters, one a teacher and the other completing her teaching degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and she enjoys traveling with her family.