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Miguel Juarez Middle School

Schools of Distinction Profile

Miguel Juarez Middle School was recognized in 2024 as an AMLE School of Distinction. One of the goals of the program is to foster a network of schools that share promising practices positively impacting young adolescents. The below profile provides highlights a few of Miguel Juarez Middle School’s exemplary practices aligned with the 18 Characteristics of Successful Middle Schools.

Connect with Miguel Juarez Leadership Team

Demographic Information

Location: Waukegan, Illinois
School Setting: Urban
Grade Configuration: 6-8
School Enrollment: 660

Leadership

Nelson Campos, Principal
Anissa Hamilton, Assistant Principal
James Sarther, Assistant Principal
Merced Garcia, Culture and Climate Specialist

Key Practices

  • Restorative Practices
  • SEL implementation
  • PBIS implementation
  • Family Engagement
  • Student Co-Curricular Opportunities

Highlights of Exemplary Practices Aligned with the 18 Characteristics of Successful Middle Schools

Essential Attribute: Empowering

Characteristic 2: The school environment is welcoming, inclusive, and affirming for all.

Miguel Juarez Middle School empowers its students by providing various avenues for self-expression and leadership development. Through initiatives like the student council, multiple varsity sports teams, choir, band, and orchestra, students are encouraged to explore their interests and talents. These opportunities not only foster personal growth but also instill a sense of responsibility and accountability. In essence, Miguel Juarez Middle School empowers students by providing them with the resources and platforms to take ownership of their learning journey and make a positive impact on the world around them.

Essential Attribute: Equitable

Characteristic 1: Educators respect and value young adolescents.

Characteristic 2: The school environment is welcoming, inclusive, and affirming for all.

Characteristic 5: Comprehensive counseling and support services meet the needs of young adolescents.

Characteristic 18: Organizational structures foster purposeful learning and meaningful relationships.

Our school-wide assemblies are created to include everyone in our school community, from our adult staff to our diverse learners. All staff have been receiving training on culturally responsive teaching and restorative practices, including respect agreements, which allow students to be inclusive in their decision-making in the classroom. Our staff and students build relationships to understand our continuum of services and address students' social and emotional needs. We offer counseling and support services to address the underlying factors contributing to student misbehavior. Trained counselors provide individual and group counseling sessions to students facing social, emotional, or behavioral challenges. Regardless of talents and abilities, all students are being challenged to excel.

Essential Attribute: Engaging

Characteristic 6: The school engages families as valued partners.

We have been bringing community into our school through several events. Some events include Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Live Museum, Math Night, Literacy Night, and musical performances. Our greatest goal is to bring our community together in various ways, including participating in creating our vegetable and flower courtyard. Once the garden is in bloom, we will have the community come together and share the vegetables. We believe in communicating weekly with our families, and our weekly “Tiger Times” showcases our student achievements and school events.