WE ARE 401: Elm Middle School's Jazzy Soto — a dedication to figure skating

In our latest "WE ARE 401" video we meet Jazzy Soto, a 7th grader at Elm Middle School. Jazzy's dedication to figure skating has earned her a place on the Starlights, one of the top synchronized skating teams in the country. She and her teammates recently placed third in the Juvenile Division of the U.S. Synchronized Skating Midwestern Sectionals in Wichita, Kan. This qualified the team for the 2024 Nationals in Las Vegas, where they will compete on Feb. 23.

Becoming a national-caliber figure skater while still in middle school is no easy feat! For Jazzy, the road to excellence requires daily practice and a disciplined balancing of the demands of both school and skating. Join us as we follow Jazzy during a typical morning practice session at the Franklin Park Ice Arena. Along the way, we'll hear from Jazzy's freestyle coach, Anne Raucci; Jazzy's parents, Maria and Will Soto; and her older sister, Sofia Soto, whose example inspired Jazzy to put on a pair of ice skates in the first place.

We'll also meet Jazzy's math teacher, Ruby Rodriguez, who just happened to be a dedicated figure skater herself while growing up in Elmwood Park and attending District 401 schools! Ms. Rodriguez, a 2017 graduate of EPHS, continued to skate in college, competing as a member of Penn State's figure skating team. She knows firsthand the challenges of balancing school and skating, and she offers a fascinating perspective on Jazzy's accomplishments. And, of course, we'll hear from Jazzy herself!

"WE ARE 401" is a video series highlighting people of all ages who have a connection with Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401, past or present, and whose stories help illustrate who we are.