Moorpark Unified Welcomes Juana Villa Granados as Program Coordinator for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Secondary Multilingual Learners

(Moorpark, California) July 20, 2023—Moorpark Unified School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Juana Villa Granados as the program coordinator for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Secondary Multilingual Learners.

Ms. Villa Granados's passion for education and dedication to supporting students and teachers motivated her decision to join Moorpark Unified. She and her husband, Yousef Jafari, have long desired to be part of a small, family-oriented community, where they can make a meaningful impact.

Having come to the U.S. from Mexico, Coahuila, to Las Vegas at age 4, Ms. Villa Granados aims to inspire and empower students, particularly those from diverse backgrounds, to succeed academically and personally.

“My parents migrated to this country in search for a better future for my sister and I and they ingrained in us the significance of education and how it is the key to unlocking limitless possibilities,” Mrs. Villa Granados said. “I am a living testament to their belief, which is why I have chosen to dedicate myself to spreading the value of education through my work, aiming to empower others and help them unlock their full potential.”

In this role, Ms. Villa Granados will provide leadership and vision in planning, implementing, developing and evaluating programs related to DEI and secondary (middle and high schools) multilingual learners in the Instructional Services Department.

She will also coordinate instructional and student service programs, oversee the Multilingual Learner reclassification process and serve as the secondary English Language Development Liaison for the district.

“MUSD warmly welcomes Ms. Villa Granados and looks forward to benefiting from her expertise, dedication and passion for fostering diversity, equity and inclusion among students and educators,” Superintendent Dr. Kelli Hays said. “We are confident that her expertise and insight will have a positive impact on our students, teachers and the entire Moorpark community."

Reporting directly to Dr. Jane Wagmeister, assistant superintendent for Instructional Services, Ms. Villa Granados will represent MUSD in meetings and conferences focused on multilingual learners and DEI, contributing her expertise and insights to further enhance the district's initiatives in these areas.

As a Latina woman in a leadership position, Ms. Villa Granados hopes to serve as a role model and demonstrate that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible. She understands the difficulties of learning a second language and aims to support multilingual learners in their educational journey.

Juana Villa Granados brings a wealth of experience and education to her new role. She holds two master's degrees from the University of Las Vegas-Nevada: one in English Language Learning and another in school administration. Additionally, Ms. Villa Granados possesses a bachelor's degree in biological science and secondary education from Nevada State College.

Ms. Villa Granados firmly believes in the transformative power of education and strives to provide students with the opportunities they need to thrive.