Zujaila Ornelas

2024-2025 Obama Foundation USA Leader

Headshot of Zujaila Ornelas, 2024-2025 Obama Foundation USA Leader

Program Manager for the English Learner and Migrant Education Services (ELMES), WestED

Litchfield Park, Arizona

Zujaila Ornelas is a program manager for the English Learner and Migrant Education Services at WestEd, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing educational outcomes and opportunities for all learners. In this role, Zujaila is committed to ensuring migratory students reach challenging academic standards that prepare them for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment. Prior to joining WestEd, she was the state director at the Arizona Department of Education, where she used a data-forward approach to build consensus for systems change among leaders across school districts, as well as parents and community members to meet the needs of migratory students.

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