Leading with Love: Yadira Bernadac’s Journey from Teacher to Principal

Yadira Bernadac (‘16 Tulsa)

Yadira Bernadac (‘16 Tulsa) embodies the power of resilience and mentorship in education. Originally from Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and now serving as the proud principal of Pilsen Community Academy in Chicago, Yadira’s path reflects a deep commitment to her values and a passion for fostering strong school communities. From her early days with Teach For America in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to her current role as a principal in one of Chicago’s vibrant neighborhoods, Yadira has leveraged opportunities, mentorship, and her own determination to lead with empathy and purpose. Her story illustrates how TFA has contributed to transforming educators into impactful leaders.

From Nebraska to Tulsa: Yadira’s Early Journey

Yadira’s educational journey began at the University of Nebraska, where she studied elementary education. A pivotal student teaching experience in Houston, Texas, ignited her desire to teach in urban settings, which ultimately led her to join Teach For America in 2016. While she initially dreamed of teaching in Chicago, Yadira embraced her placement in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she taught at Tulsa Legacy Charter School.

During her time in Tulsa, Yadira valued the mentorship and support TFA offered. Weekly meetings with mentors helped her refine her teaching strategies and build meaningful relationships with other corps members from across the country. These experiences, paired with her background in education, set the foundation for her career and leadership aspirations.

Finding a Home in Chicago and Pilsen Community Academy

After her TFA tenure in Tulsa, Yadira followed her dream of moving to Chicago, joining Pilsen Community Academy, where she worked for four years. There, she discovered a passion for coaching and mentoring adults, leading to opportunities to spearhead initiatives like the school’s bilingual program and culture and climate team. These experiences, coupled with encouragement from her mentor, Dr. Juarez, inspired her to explore leadership roles.

The TFA Greater Chicago–Northwest Indiana Aspire Fellowship, a 10-month program that supports teachers of color seeking to enter a principal certification program in the next two years, became a transformative experience for Yadira. Through this program, she identified her core values and honed her leadership skills. “Aspire helped me ground myself,” she shared. “It reminded me every day to ask, ‘What are my values? Why am I doing this work? How are the decisions I’m making aligned to my values?’”

Her work in Aspire focused on increasing parent engagement in the aftermath of the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting families to the school community. This experience cemented her belief that strong relationships between schools and families are essential for student success.

Her Path to Principalship

Yadira’s leadership journey included mentorship, rigorous training, and significant milestones. After completing a residency at North Grand High School through the Chicago Leadership Collaborative, she accepted an assistant principal role there. However, when an administrative opening arose at Pilsen Community Academy, Yadira felt a calling to return “home.” In August 2024, she officially became the principal of Pilsen Community Academy.

Yadira credits her success to mentors like Dr. Juarez and programs like the Aspire Fellowship and UIC’s Urban Education Leadership doctoral program, which provided her with critical tools and mentorship to thrive. “I humbly say that I wouldn’t be here without the guidance of those who saw potential in me and encouraged me to take that leap of faith,” she shared.

Representation Matters: Leading as a Latina Principal

For Yadira, representation in leadership is deeply personal. While nearly half of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students identify as Latino, less than 19% of principals share this identity. As a Latina leader, Yadira strives to be a role model for her students and community. “Representation matters,” she explained. “I love walking into my school and seeing my Pandas see someone who looks like them. It shows them that they are capable, smart, and deserving of these spaces.”

Yadira also emphasized the importance of increasing pathways for Latino educators to pursue leadership roles. She highlighted financial barriers as a significant challenge and urged aspiring leaders to seek opportunities like scholarships through TFA, the Diverse Leadership Pipeline, and other programs that provide financial and professional development support.

Leading with Love and Vision

At the heart of Yadira’s leadership is love—a superpower she uses to create a sense of family and belonging at Pilsen Community Academy. “We are grounded in familia,” she said, describing how the school fosters a culture of support, accountability, and partnership with families.

Under her leadership, Pilsen Community Academy is flourishing as a hub of collaboration between students, families, and educators. Yadira’s journey from aspiring teacher to principal demonstrates the transformative power of mentorship, values-driven leadership, and unwavering love for her school community.

For aspiring educators and leaders, Yadira’s story offers a reminder: with the right support, belief in yourself, and a commitment to community, anything is possible.