About 

WholeED Systems builds educational systems and processes that are equitable and sustainable, with a focus on supporting multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Our goal is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn, belong and thrive. Years of experience have shown us that when systems become more inclusive, every student benefits.

Our Vision and Values

We envision schools where inclusivity and equity are not add-ons — they are the foundation of every decision, every classroom, and every relationship. We work with our partners to create collaborative, culturally responsive practices and systems that help educators feel supported and empower students to succeed.

We value:

  • Equity: centering multilingual learners and students with disabilities in every decision

  • Collaboration: building authentic partnerships with educators, leaders and families

  • Sustainability: creating systems that last beyond a single initiative or school year

  • Authenticity: leading with integrity, transparency and a learner-first mindset

  • Innovation: designing research-informed solutions that work in real classrooms

Our Founder

WholeED Systems was created by Valerie Peña-Hernandez, a bilingual educator and advocate with a deeply held passion for inclusivity. During her 15-year career in education, Peña-Hernandez served in several roles—paraprofessional, teacher, family engagement coordinator, school board vice president and more—giving her unique insight into today’s classrooms and communities.

As she saw firsthand how multilingual learners and students with disabilities were expected to adapt to systems that weren’t designed for them, Peña-Hernandez’s commitment to inclusion grew stronger. Now, through WholeEd Systems, she is able to extend her expert guidance to even more educators, schools and districts, helping them empower teachers and support all learners.

    • Northern Illinois University, DeKalb

      • Ed.D. Educational Leadership and Policy (expected 2027)

    • Aurora University (AU), Aurora, Illinois

      • Master of Social Work, emphasis in Nonprofit Leadership

      • Master of Business Administration

      • Bachelor of Arts, emphasis in Bilingual Special Education

    • Spanish

    • Special Education

    • Standards-Based Measurement of Proficiency (STAMP – Bilingual Certification)

    • Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Certification 

    • Active Parenting of Teens (APOT) and Crossroads of Parenting and Divorce Certificate

    • De-Escalating Skills and Techniques Certificate

    • Crisis Stabilization Certificate

    • Basic Clinical Interviewing Certificate

    • IM-CANS (Illinois Medicaid CANS Lifespan) Certificate

    • Stop the Bleed, American College of Surgeons

    • CSSRS – Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale

    • EBFAC (Bilingual Fluency Assessment for Mental Health)

    • Licensed Social Work (LSW), Illinois