Evonne Elena Medrano

Evonne Elena Yanez-Medrano was born in Los Angeles County, California on June 18, 1981. She is the 3rd daughter of Augustine III and Erlinda Yanez, youngest sister to Evangelina and Evette. She grew up in Pico Rivera, CA a suburb of Los Angeles. She attended private Catholic school for 12 years and continued her higher education at Whittier College. Evonne earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and Child Development in 2003, her Multi-subject Teaching Credential in 2004 and in 2006 she earned her advanced master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Literacy Development. Evonne aspired to work in school administration and leadership, when the opportunity presented itself, she continued her learning legacy in 2010 and earned her Specialists Degree in Educational Leadership from California State Polytechnical University.

In 2005, Evonne married the love of her life Jesus Medrano, whom she met during high school while they both attended Bishop Amat Catholic High School. They have a beautiful love story and Evonne came home one day telling her mom, “I met the man I’m going to marry.” As Evonne’s mother puts it lovingly, “Jesus did not stand a chance” against the force of love that was Evonne and so began their journey. Evonne traveled with Jesus during the summers while he was playing minor league baseball, a time Jesus recalls as “The best most carefree time of our lives, we had nothing to do but have fun and enjoy each other.” Jesus always supported Evonne’s career aspirations and was very proud of his “Babe.” Their special day was Evonne’s dream wedding, with family, good food, drinks and of course dancing. Evonne and Jesus began to grow their family with the birth of their eldest daughter Ezra Elena in 2006, Victoria Ann in 2010 and Abraham Jesus in 2014.

Evonne’s dedication to the education of young minds was her life’s passion. She was a fierce advocate not just for access to quality culturally informed education of students but also for their emotional, social, creative, and emotional wellness.

Evonne began her teaching career in 2003 at Broadoaks Children’s School where apart from classroom instruction she was an active member of the Elementary Leadership Team, supervised and mentored intern teachers and college work-study students, and established and implemented the First-Grade Guided Reading Program, emphasizing on developing struggling readers phonemic awareness, decoding and comprehension skills.

She went on to teach in the public school system for the Rosemead School District from 2007 - 2010 where she taught multiple grade levels, was an Assessment Specialist and Parent Coordinator for Migrant Education and helped develop a parent education program on campus as a means to educate and encourage parental involvement in their children’s academic future.

In 2010 Jesus and Evonne made the decision for their growing family to relocate to Lee’s Summit Missouri where several other family members had previously moved. They longed for a place to establish a home for their children that would offer the small town feel they wanted to raise their family in. They created a beautiful life with family and friends who became family, while frequently visiting California for breaks and holidays as Evonne prided herself on being a “California Girl.”

Evonne began working in the Raytown School District (2011 – 2014), where she taught multiple grade levels, was a member of the Raytown District Teach Like A Champion Leadership Committee and she was involved in the implementation and coaching of district common core math curriculum. Evonne was able to continue to give back to her profession by continuing to mentor new district teachers. During her time in the RSD she served on the school Culture and Climate Committee, where she was instrumental in rewriting the school vision and mission statement as well as helping to promote a positive and collaborative work environment.

In 2014 Evonne was thrilled to have the opportunity to become part of the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District, she reveled in the ability to live and work in the community she loved so much and also where her children went to school. Being part of LSR7 she had numerous opportunities to continue her dedication to equal access to culturally relevant education, community resources, student advocacy, development of students creative, social, emotional wellness. She had experience of multi-grade classroom teaching as well as leadership and mentorship opportunities. She served as a Mentor Educator and Ambassador within the district as well as worked closely with teachers throughout the Kansas City area.  Evonne served as the Vice-Chairperson of the City of Lee’s Summit Human Relations Commission. She also worked closely with The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents and The LatinX Education Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing and retaining the number of quality LatinX K-12 education professionals. In 2020 Evonne was recognized as Educator of the Year through the LatinX Education Collaborative, for her work in advocating, teaching, and working for the inclusion of all children and youth. During the COVID Pandemic in March of 2021, when Evonne was working as an On-Line Academy Teacher, she was the recipient of The Learning for Life Award. She was thrilled and honored to have this recognition from her colleges, she viewed this as acknowledgment that her impact and passion for her profession was relevant and appreciated. In the 2021/22 school year Evonne reached one of her career aspirations when she earned the role of Assistant Principal at Summit Lakes Middle School.

Evonne’s legacy of culturally relevant curriculum, access to quality education for all children, nurturing student’s passion for the arts, sports, trade, and emotional enrichment will leave an indelible impression upon anyone that she has taught, mentored, or worked with. Evonne loved her family and they were always her world, despite her education and career accomplishments, she was first and foremost a wife and mother. Evonne loved being a mom, having her children involved in sports and the arts brought such pride to her and Jesus. Evonne was always smiling, silly, dancing, singing and welcoming – she had a calm yet powerful presence. She fought for things she was passionate about with vehemence while also maintaining grace and decorum, she had a way with words that made others comfortable with her as she was very charming and down to earth and as she has said “I never forget where I came from and the struggles of those before me.” Evonne was the baby of her family, and her parents were so proud of all of her accomplishments and the life she and Jesus created, her sisters’ “sissies” were her best friends and confidants. Despite the distance between Missouri and California her love for her family was none the less felt or void in their lives. Evonne’s untimely departure from the lives of her family, especially her husband and children, will forever change them, however she raised brave and fierce children who will carry on her teaching of being kind and standing up for what they believe in. It is the hope of her family that her legacy and passion for equal access to culturally relevant education, resources, mental health, and student advocacy within her profession and community will continue to be impactful and make a difference in the lives of all children and youth.

Evonne is survived by her husband, Jesus Medrano and their three children, Ezra Elena, Victoria Ann, and Abraham Jesus. She is also survived by her parents Augustine III and Erlinda Ann Yanez, Grandmother Evangelina Sakadjian, her two sisters Evangelina Ann Yanez-Fuentes and Dr. Evette Marie Yanez, as well as several nieces, nephews, and Godchildren.