JuDonne Hemmingway

Dear Parents and Families,

Words can’t begin to describe how honored I am to join this community and serve as your next principal. As we look forward to the upcoming school year, I am eager to get to know each one of you. I am ready to take in all the feedback you have offered and to create more spaces for you to come alongside and help shape the future of Gary Comer. Our school must be a place where your voices are welcomed and heard and I am committed to ensuring that this continues under my leadership.

A little about me and my hopes for Gary Comer:

I’m a proud Chicagoan – born and raised in Roseland where I live today. There is innate brilliance and beauty in communities like Roseland and Grand-Crossing. I believe our communities are the heartbeat of this city.

I’m a product of CPS and know intimately what K-12 educational opportunities in this city can both afford and deny our scholars.

I’m a parent of a college freshman and a high school sophomore both of whom are navigating what it means to be a young person in today’s world. I leverage my experiences as a mom to be a more responsive and empathetic leader.

I lead and live with my whole heart – deliberately, passionately, and unapologetically. Love and humility fuel how I DO and BE. I have the head and heart necessary to continue the legacy of leadership at Gary Comer.

I’m a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practitioner and coach by trade. In the last 15 years, I’ve helped hundreds of educators pursue DEI In their classrooms, schools, and organizations.

I’m a former Noble teacher, grade level lead, Dean of Instruction, and Assistant Principal. I have a deep affinity for Noble and am grateful to be back home.

I’ve always wanted to be a principal and have built my capacity to lead in ways that remove instead of create barriers for staff, students, and parents.