In 2005, Donna Santell Cote was ready for a well-earned retirement after 29 years in District 209, Proviso Township High Schools. Greater West Town Project’s then-Executive Director, Bill Leavy, gave her a call. Having gone to college with Bill, she welcomed the call.

“[Bill] asked me to come over to Greater West Town Project (GWTP) to help out with their West Town Academy (WTA).” Donna agreed, and for three years she worked part-time at GWTP to help establish WTA as a premier alternative school in Chicago. Donna helped to write curriculum and ensure all proper accreditation.

Once WTA became more established and resourced, Donna sought to secure a new part-time job to make her retirement more relaxing. In 2008, Donna started as an Assistant in Special Education at Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS), and 16 years later she is now the Director of Special Education at YCCS.

Donna made a donation to GWTP this past winter, and when asked about why, she said, “In my time at GWTP, I got to work with wonderful people, including [current GWTP Executive Director] Keisha Davis-Johnson who was a teacher then and Angie Gibson [current WTA Principal] who was then a student at WTA.” GWTP continues to benefit from the foundations that Donna helped to establish, in addition to her current financial contributions. Thank you Donna for all you do for our shared communities!