Danira Fernandez-Flores | YWCA Women of Excellence
Danira Fernandez-Flores
Director of Secondary Education
Seaman Schools | USD 345
Danira oversees curriculum, instruction, assessment, evaluation, professional development and compliance requirements for our secondary programming. Prior to this assignment, she was an assistant principal at Seaman High School and was responsible for curriculum planning, professional learning, student discipline, teacher evaluations, CTE leadership, and career pathways. Prior to coming to Seaman USD 345, Danira taught 6-12 dual languages and mathematics in Lawrence Public Schools for 22 years. In 2013, she became the Lawrence district curriculum specialist for secondary mathematics and world languages.
Danira received her Bachelors of Science in Spanish and Math Education and her Masters in Education from the University of Kansas. She is currently writing her doctoral dissertation as the culminating project for her Doctorate in Educational Policy and Leadership, also from the University of Kansas.
TK: What inspires you?
DANIRA: My mother has always said “hay que vivid para servir o de que sirve vivir”. Loosely translated, "life is for service otherwise what is the purpose of life." The education field offers an opportunity to serve and serve where it can make the most impact. I believe in public education as the the means to help people change their future and those of their future generations. There in no other world institution as impactful as the mission of the United States public school system.
TK: What advice do you have for others?
DANIRA: We lead productive lives when our work influences others peoples lives.
TK: What is the greatest lesson you have learned on your journey?
DANIRA: Investing time and energy in young people will always pay off, it may not be immediate but it will be lasting.
The YWCA is on a mission to empower women at all stages in their careers. Diversity in leadership is particularly vital to our vibrant business community in the Greater Topeka Area.
The YWCA is celebrating 31 years of recognizing Women of Excellence in our community with the theme “Dare to be Powerful.” We dare to be powerful, despite whatever obstacles may present themselves along the way.
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
- Audre Lorde
