Springfield Missouri Public Schools Leadership

Azell Cavaan are a Chief Communication Officer at Springfield Missouri Public Schools and are based in Springfield Massachusetts Area.

Deborah Rion is an Employment Coordinator at Springfield Missouri Public Schools and Executive Assistant to Chief Human Resources Officer at Springfield Missouri Public Schools and is based in Springfield, Missouri. She has worked as Executive Assistant to President & CEO at Enactus, Business Office Manager at Hospice Care of Kansas, and Business Services/HR Director/Resource Center Supervisor & HR Administrator at Girl Scouts of Kaw Valley Council. Deborah studied at Washburn University between 1982 and 1986.

Penney Rector is a Chief Human Resources Officer at Springfield Missouri Public Schools and is based in Springfield, Missouri. She has worked as Assistant Attorney General at ATTORNEY GENERAL, MISSOURI OFFICE OF THE; In-House Counsel & HR at Springfield Missouri Public Schools; and Legal Counsel at Missouri Council of School Administrators. Penney studied at University of Missouri-Kansas City between 1990 and 1993, Yellville-Summit Schools, and Lyon College between 1984 and 1988.

Yvania has worked in Education with a focus in Higher Education since 2007 and recently transitioned into K-12 Education as the inaugural Chief Equity and Diversity Officer for Springfield Public Schools in Springfield, Missouri. She has 12 years of experience in diversity and inclusion work at the collegiate level. Her background also includes Residence Life, Academic Advising, Living Learning Communities, Event Planning and Management. She recently received her Ph.D in Leadership, Culture and Curriculum program in Educational Leadership Department from Miami University. She also has 6 years of teaching experience in the university setting. Yvania is available for diversity and inclusion consulting in both the private and public sectors as well as education. Experience in consulting includes strategic planning in regards to diversity and inclusion as well as department reviews focused on the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) in Students Affairs as well as Multicultural Affairs/Multicultural Centers. Served as Secretary for the Ohio Consortium of Multicultural Centers in Higher Education (OCMCHE) Executive Board 2013-2015Selected to be a Barbara Jackson Scholar 2013-2015, University Council for Educational Administration Scholarship Interests:- Students of Color/Difference Experiences and Negotiation of Place-Making within Multicultural Centers- Latinx Identity/LatCrit & CRT- Intersectionality - Curriculum Studies- Educational Policy Dissertation Topic, May 2020HOMEPLACE: A Case-Study of Latinx Students Experiences in Making Meaning within a Multicultural CenterYvania is also a sister of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc.