School improvement is hard. It requires courage, vulnerability and a willingness to confront structural racism and one’s own internal biases. But patience with the process brings rewards.
Author: Maureen Kelleher
When It Comes to Pride in Their Neighborhood, Third Graders at Chavez Elementary Say It Loud!
At Chavez Elementary, third-grade teachers Ashley McCall and Lindsey Singer and their students capped the year with a joint project: the online magazine Dilo Fuerte/Say It Loud. The magazine, written in Spanish and English, features book reviews, poetry, stories and interviews from leaders and activists in Back of the Yards, across the South and Southwest Sides of Chicago, and around…
Chicago Board of Ed Will Post Agenda One Month in Advance, Translate Meetings into Spanish and Vote in Public
For years, Chicago parents and community groups have complained that the Chicago Board of Education makes decisions in secret, withholds information from the public and shuts out community participation and input. Today, the newly-appointed board, led by Miguel del Valle, announced a set of sweeping changes that will give communities more knowledge and possible input into policy. It’s a huge…
“Hard Work Is Paying Off” for Shoesmith and Principal Sabrina Gates
Sabrina Gates’ long career as a reading coach prepared her well for the work of leading Shoesmith Elementary.
Principal Lindsey Robinson of CICS Avalon Wins Ryan Award for Closing Achievement Gaps
On Monday, Lindsey Robinson, K-4 Principal at Chicago International Charter School Avalon/South Shore, received the Accelerate Institute’s Ryan Award for exceptional school leadership. Robinson’s recognition comes with a $25,000 honorarium and the opportunity to share the secrets of her success with other school leaders. At CICS Avalon-South Shore, students have outperformed city and state averages on PARCC reading and math…
How Ryder Elementary Went “From the Bottom to the Top”
A commitment to supporting his teachers with everything he’s got has helped Aaron Rucker take Ryder Elementary to remarkable heights of student achievement.
Time for A Deeper Look at Personalized Learning
Chalkbeat Chicago recently published this article on personalized learning in CPS. For folks who aren’t familiar with the topic, it was a good starting point. It gave a sense of the footprint personalized learning efforts have built in Chicago–about 100 of the district’s 600 schools are experimenting with it in some way–and noted the costs, challenges to conventional teaching practice…
City Clerk’s Office Features CPS Student “Wall of Hope Not Hate”
CPS students created an art show on countering gun violence and anti-immigrant hatred. This week, the City Clerk’s Office hosts the Student Wall of Hope.