Butler College Prep 

Dana La Rue was raised on the South Side of Chicago before moving to the suburbs in eighth grade. That transition quickly made her aware of disparities in educational and extracurricular programming between schools in different areas. For Dana, school was always a safe space where she thrived both academically and personally. During her junior year of high school, with encouragement from a teacher, she joined the track and field team—a life-changing experience that led to a full-ride scholarship to Western Illinois University. There, she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and became a Division I conference and school record holder in the weight throw, demonstrating discipline, resilience, and leadership—qualities that continue to shape her professional journey.  This spring, Dana graduated with her master’s degree in school counseling, driven by a passion for fostering equitable educational opportunities and holistic student support. She is committed to advocating for systems, programs, and opportunities that promote student achievement, well-being, and post-secondary success.  Outside of her professional work, Dana is a proud mother to two daughters, Londyn (5) and Madison (10 months). In her spare time, she enjoys music, cooking, and spending time with family. Dana is honored to join the DLF community and looks forward to driving meaningful change and collaborating with fellow leaders to reimagine possibilities for all students.