Closing the Achievement Gap and Building Leadership in Black and Latinx Students
ABOUT
Jaguar Scholars Leadership Program is a prestigious leadership group established to build the leadership capacity of its high-achieving African American and Latinx student members at Richard Montgomery High School. Founded in 2017 by Mr. Price, Jaguar Scholars are connected with local community members and exposed to high education opportunities through educational field trips. They also serve as tutors and mentors to the community's youngest generation of students.
Sponsors & Leaders
Mr. Price
Founder
Mr. Price is an assistant principal at Norwood HS. He is the founder and coordinator of The Jaguars Scholars Leadership Program. As a member of the school’s staff learning team, he creates spaces that facilitate conversations surrounding student voice and race within RMHS. He was honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution as the 2020 Outstanding Teacher of American History for Maryland and placed third nationally for the award. In 2020, Price was appointed by the Montgomery County Council to serve as a member of the Policing Advisory Commission. He was also nominated to serve on the American Bar Association Advisory Commission on Public Education. Follow him on Twitter @mrpricehistory.
Mrs. Strickler
Sponsor
Mrs. Strickler taught music in Ohio, then moved to Japan for 8 years. She then married her husband (left) from Rwanda and lived in Rwanda for 14 years. While living in Rwanda she founded a high school and non-profit, The Rwanda School Project. She then moved back to the United States and taught at Blake High School and now Richard Montgomery High School.
Officers
Jordy Villanueva
President
Jordy Villanueva(he/him) is currently a senior at RMHS. His hope for JSLP is to continue fostering a positive academic and social environment for the members of our community. Additionally, he would also love to form new bridges in an attempt to extend equal academic opportunity to all students in MCPS. He looks forward to working with the leadership and members as we move towards success.
Aya Soho
Executive Board Member
Aya (she/her) is a current senior at RM. Her goals that I strive to achieve for JSLP are to allow students to be assisted with their academic work, and for everyone to feel welcome within our community. She not only wants to give minority students a safe environment, but also wants to help them grow confidence in their ideas and themselves as individuals. Please feel free to ask her any questions you may have on the club!
Ruby Rojas
Vice President
Ruby(she/her) is a senior but once a seventh grader when she ebulliently applied to JSLP! She is ardent to continue JSLP’s long-lived legacy in our community through amplifying our outreach and allowing our members to grow as leaders and active, engaged citizens who are dedicated to making a difference. She is thrilled to collaborate with her dedicated team and community partners to make a lasting impact, close the opportunity gap, and create a more inclusive and equitable future for all! :)
Cia Onyedika
Executive Board Member
Cia(she/her) is a junior at RMHS. Her hope for this club is to continue to expand its agenda of promoting minority scholars not just RMHS alone but across Montgomery county schools. She is honored to be part of the leadership team who will work towards that goal this year. And she looks forward to knowing you all of you personally by name (fingers crossed) this year and the next.
Dorothy Dang
Executive Board Member
Dorothy (she/her) is a senior at RM. Her hope for JSLP is to continue our club’s growth and inclusivity for current and incoming minority scholars. She also hopes to expand similar programs to JSLP to other schools within MCPS. She looks forward to working with everyone to shine the spotlight on our minority scholars!
Dante Mayo, Jr.
Website Manager
Dante(he/him) is a current Senior at RM in his 4th year of JSLP. He hopes that we can continue to build a better community for students across Montgomery County. He is excited to serve as the website manager for JSLP this year!
Nicholas George
Co-Secretary
Nicholas George (he/him), is a senior here at RM. He hopes we can continue to improve the educational opportunities across Montgomery County and build on the work of previous years to provide support and tools for the academic success of all students. He looks forward to continuing to serve as the secretary, feel free to reach out with any questions about the club!
Jennifer Campano
Naomi Peter
Co-Secretary
Jennifer(she/her) is a Junior at RM. Her hope for JSLP is to continue creating a stronger legacy inspiring individuals to help create an impact on our society. Increasing greater numbers of inclusive and active members to organize a deeper community. As a team we can all dedicate ourselves to make a change, one step at a time. She looks forward to creating further memories with the environment JSLP has created for not just her but for future individuals!!
Social Media Manager
Naomi(She/Her) is a Senior at RM. Her hopes for JSLP is to reach out to more students about diversity, help others with inclusiveness, and grow stronger as a community as well as to become a society where we can share knowledge with each other. She looks forward to seeing and hearing more community engagement within the minorities at RM.