Dr. Yvette Edghill Spano

Dr. Yvette Edghill Spano earned her Ph.D. at the now Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences (formerly the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey) from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Her research interests focused on various aspects of vaccines and therapeutics for human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV/SIV) as well as other infectious diseases. She has authored and co-authored over 21 publications affording her the opportunity to serve as an HIV Awareness Advocate. Over the years, Dr. Edghill Spano has been noted as a community leader and advocate for the rights of students as noted below and is a mentor for The FCPS Curriculum Diversity Women Solve Group.

Activities:

  • HIV and Education Awareness Speaker – Presented in numerous workshops regarding HIV education, education, and discipline – capacity of facilitator, workshop/seminar leader, and subject matter expert.
  • Board of Directors Member, Montgomery County Council for Children, Youth and Families – Chair: Youth Development; reviewer of grant applications; organized directions for afterschool programs county-wide.
  • Parent-Teacher-Student Association – Vice-president of Operations; organized parent-related workshops, panel discussions for Board of Education candidates; advocated for students at state and local hearings.
  • Parent Advocacy – assisting students and parents with education issues; provided guidance on the rights and responsibilities of students and parents; intermediary for parent conferences/meetings.
  • Education Expert – OWL Ventures, Inc.: Develop and present workshops for education issues
  • Parent Council Leader, Montgomery County – Representative for 10 schools (cluster), parent training, workshops, Career Days, developed communication platform
  • NAACP, Montgomery County Chapter, Chair for Education – Worked collaboratively with the public school systems to develop policies for diversity, a representative on focus groups for equitable education, and presented at Board of Education meetings on behalf of parents/students for their rights
  • Partnerships for Education Policy – Vice-president; collaborated with local education leaders for education reform/
  • Science Fair Judge for middle and high schools

Hobbies: Loving grandkids and family, dancing, listening to mystery audiobooks, and travel!

Personal Thought: You can start late, look different, be uncertain…..and still succeed! -Misty Copeland, First African American Principal Ballerina with the American Ballet Theatre in 75 years