About me
Saranja Hicks is a highly regarded educator, instructional leader, and advocate for student success with nearly 10 years of experience. Prior to entering education, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and worked in the financial industry before discovering her passion for teaching, through roles with a literacy consulting company, Scholastic, and Junior Achievement. After graduating from the University of Chicago with a Master of Arts in Teaching, Saranja began her classroom career with Chicago Public Schools, teaching gifted first grade. She then transitioned to teaching third grade in a south suburban school district, while also serving as Executive Director of the Lit Youth Foundation - a nonprofit organization that she founded. In the same south suburban school district in which she taught, Saranja transitioned out of the classroom to function as both a reading interventionist and instructional coach. She currently works as the ELA Curriculum Specialist for South Cook ISC4. Dedicated to continuous growth, Saranja has earned an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Curriculum and Instruction with Advanced Specialization in Reading from National-Louis University, and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership with Principal Licensure from Roosevelt University. Known for building strong relationships with students and families, Saranja has consistently been recognized for excellence in teaching and leadership.
