Dori J. Collins

President
District Outreach Initiatives

With over 30 years of experience in Parent Advocacy and Parent Leadership Development, Dori Collins has empowered more than 3,000 parents to serve on Parent and Community Boards, collaborating with school administrators, community stakeholders, and parents. Serving as change agents and policy influencers, these parents confidently lead in their schools and communities, fostering increased parent involvement, enhancing school relations, and shaping a positive climate and culture that contributes to heightened student achievement.

Dori’s impactful initiatives include spearheading community outreach with 20 forums and garnering 2,500 signatures to support an $85 million RFP for the first new High School in Englewood in over 40 years. Her efforts resulted in Englewood being awarded $100 million to build the new Englewood STEM High School, which saw its inaugural graduating class in June 2023.

Continuing her commitment, Dori trains parents to volunteer in classrooms, guiding them to earn professional certification as paraprofessionals and teachers. She remains an ISBE Parent Surrogate, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and the Professional Women’s Network of Chicago. Ms. Collins is dedicated to empowering parents as change agents, one school and community at a time, fostering youth empowerment for a brighter future in the City of Chicago.