Monique Walton, Principal of Cesar Chavez Middle School in Hayward has enjoyed teaching, coaching, and leading school communities in the East Bay for 20 years. A native of SanFrancisco, California, Monique attended Catholic schools for her K-12 experience and grew up studying various types of dance including tap, jazz and ballet. A standout basketball athlete, she was awarded a full scholarship to play basketball at Delaware State University and is a proud graduate of this HBCU with a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education. Her teaching career started in Dover, DE before returning home to the Bay Area and landed in Hayward Unified, where she has taught PE, Leadership, and Health. As Director of Student Activities, Monique found her calling nurturing positive school climates through equitable and inclusive student leadership programs. After 15 years of teaching, Monique transitioned to administration where she continues to lead through a lens of equity, inclusion, and engagement with an intentional focus on improving educational experiences for Black and Brown communities. In her spare time, Monique is a member of the California Association of Director of Activities (CADA) where she has coordinated student leadership conferences and has facilitated workshops for students, teachers, and administrators about race, equity and creating humanizing learning environments