1
People go into education for all sorts of reasons. For Alfonso Carmona, it was a stop on what he thought would be his journey into corporate America. For Tara Shelton, it was the career that seemed to best compliment what she calls her “bossy nature.” And for Chad Weiden, it was to prevent other children from experiencing the bullying that plagued him when he was in school. Today, these three fine educators are among the 21 outstanding principals selected as part of the first-ever Chicago Public Schools Principal Fellowship Program.
It is my firm belief that the key to a great school is a great principal. That is why we have made principal
recruitment, development and retention a top priority, and why we have partnered with Northwestern University to provide advanced training to those who lead our schools. Beginning this year, the 12-month Principal Fellowship will provide at least 20 high-performing principals with an unparalleled professional development experience – a platform for identifying best practices, flagging challenges, and adapting programs to better serve our leaders, and through them our students and school communities. In return, Principal Fellows commit to remaining in CPS leadership roles for at least three years.
Our inaugural cohort of fellows represents a wide variety of neighborhoods and school types, the majority of which include significant minority and low-income populations. I thank them for their desire to be the best educators they can be, regardless of the successes they have already achieved. I also thank our partners, the Crown Family and the Chicago Public Education Fund, whose financial investments in the future of our children is what has made the Principal Fellowship possible. Each principal who was selected for this year’s program has a unique and inspiring story. To learn more about these leaders and the positive impact they have had on our schools, click here.
From
the
desk
of the
CEO
OCTOBER 2014,
ISSUE NO. 14
IN THIS ISSUE:
Headlines
:
1.) Introducing the
Principal Fellowship
Program
2.) New Opportunity
for STAR Students
Standing Sections:
§
Employee
Spotlight (p.2)
§
Pillar Spotlight
(p.3)
§
Honoring
Excellence (p. 3)
§
What’s
Happening Around the
District (3-6)
2
|Bradley Parker,
IB Coordinator at Locke Elementary
OCTOBER 2014, ISSUE NO. 14New Opportunity for STAR Students
Our relationship with the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) has long been a source of pride for the District. Through their Dual Enrollment Program, thousands of our students have been able to earn college credits for free while still in high school. Now, they are taking their commitment to Chicago’s youth one step further, providing qualified students with the opportunity to earn an Associate’s Degree for free.
Beginning in 2015, CPS students who graduate with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, test into college-level Math and English, and enroll in one of CCC’s Pathways Programs will be eligible for the STAR Scholarship – a waiver of tuition, books and fees that allows students to complete their first two years of college for no out-of-pocket cost. The scholarship is good for up to three years and is available only after students have received their financial aid award.
This is a tremendous opportunity for our students,
particularly those for whom the cost of college is a significant barrier. The STAR Scholarship is also open to our
undocumented students, who often struggle to find their place in the world of higher education. So as our high school seniors begin contemplating their post-secondary plans, I urge all principals, teachers and counselors to make sure students are aware of this exciting option. More information on the STAR Scholarship is available at
www.ccc.edu/starscholarship.
Employee Spotlight
Brad Parker embodies what I mean when I speak about high standards and powerful instruction. As the IB Middle Years Coordinator at Locke Elementary, his recent accomplishments include securing a School Garden Grant, being one of a handful of teachers in the world selected to create the first-ever standardized test for IB, and traveling to Japan with the Fulbright Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program so he could better teach students about balancing human and economic wellbeing with cultural traditions and respect for the Earth’s natural resources.
This remarkable educator has been a part of the CPS family for nearly a decade. He entered Locke as a student teacher, and they have never let him leave. After seven years in the classroom, he became Locke’s IB MYP Coordinator, where it is his mission to coach and encourage teachers as they work to implement a holistic, student-centered IB curriculum that engages students and gets them excited about learning.
What sets Brad apart is his refusal to be satisfied. For example – he earned two Master’s Degrees in Education, then followed it up with National Board Certification. He traveled to Costa Rica in 2009 to study global conservation, then used that experience to take the Locke Green Team, which was previously involved in simple recycling, to a new level. Brad recently secured this student organization a School Garden Grant from Openlands – a local nonprofit that specializes in replacing concrete with green space. This spring, the Green Team, along with the rest of the IB students from Locke, will plant a new garden complete with a natural seating space that will be used as both an outdoor classroom and a respite for members of the community. Brad has even arranged to survey parents about what they think should be included in the garden when they come to pick up student report cards next month.
Perhaps the most exciting of Brad’s recent accomplishments is his role in collaborating on the new IB Middle Years Programe’s eAssessment. As one of only two IB teachers in North America selected for this project, he will travel to Cardiff, Wales this winter to develop an online assessment centering around the IB Middle Years Programme. When complete, this exam will be piloted around the globe in eight different languages.
By embracing the benefits of lifelong learning, Brad is constantly expanding his knowledge, thereby providing the school community at Locke with new content, ideas and strategies for effective teaching. He attributes his achievements to high expectations, an open mind, and the good fortune of having the right people on his team – people who dream big and get things done.
3
Pillar Spotlight
Strategic Pillar 1
| High Standards, Rigorous Curriculum and Powerful Instruction
Expanding Access to AP Courses
Pillar 1 of our Action Plan calls for a rigorous curriculum and high standards for all students. Our continued investments in IB, STEM, and Dual Enrollment Programs follow through on our commitment to those standards, as does the growing access to Advanced Placement opportunities in our schools.
Over the past three years, the number of CPS high school students enrolling in AP courses has grown by 25 percent, with 30 percent more students passing their AP exams and earning college credit. Lane Technical High School offers more AP exams than any school in the state of Illinois (approximately 5,000) and has a student pass rate of 72 percent, which is well above the national average. A handful of our schools have even begun offering the prestigious AP Capstone Diploma – an advanced certificate from the College Board authenticating that a graduating senior has enrolled in and passed multiple AP courses.
One of the most exciting aspects of our AP expansion is the demographic data. The growth in students earning college credit through AP is largest among African-American and Hispanic students, and over the past three years, we have increased participation in AP among these students at a higher rate than any other large urban school district in the country. We lead the nation in African-American students enrolled in AP courses, and many of our principals have made opportunities in AP the cornerstone of their instructional models.
I am proud to say that we offer 34 AP courses throughout the District, and that we provide our AP teachers with the professional development they need to teach these classes effectively. Providing our students with such consistent, high-quality options speaks to our larger commitment to ensuring that by the time they graduate, they are fully prepared for success in college, career and life.
OCTOBER 2014, ISSUE NO. 14
æ
Honoring Excellence
During the past several weeks, our schools embraced the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. In classrooms, and through musical performances and cultural events, we honored the countless contributions of Latinos to history, literature and the arts. Six students in particular stood out from the rest, being among the winners of the statewide essay contest sponsored by the Hispanic Heritage Organization.
In their essays, students from throughout Illinois were asked to reflect on this question – “How can Latinos be more involved in the betterment of their communities?” Our winning students wrote about their families, whose commitment to their neighborhoods has helped inspire a new generation of service among our city’s youth. They wrote about the power of education to change lives, and about how important it is that they support the underprivileged in their communities.
The winners of the essay contest were Hugo Blancas (Grealy Elementary), Adheli Gonzalez (Whitney Young), Ruth Lopez (Peirce School of International Studies), William Moreno (Davis Elementary), Ernesto Ortiz (Washington Elementary), and Daniela Quinonez (ProsserCareer Academy). I commend them all, both for the effort they put into the writing of their essays and for their heartfelt commitment to the betterment of our city.
4 OCTOBER 2014, ISSUE NO. 14
æ
Announcing
Be Creative: The Campaign for Creative Schools
Angel Diaz, a senior at Curie High School, was officially welcomed to the Chicago Board of Education on October 22. Thrilled as we were to have him, this was not the first time we had seen Angel at a Board meeting. So deep is his interest in education policy, that Angel has attended Board meetings before, just to see how the process works.
Service to his school, and to the larger CPS community, is the norm for this impressive young man. He has been a member of my Student Advisory Council since last January, and serves as the student representative on the Local School Council at Curie. Angel has also served as President of the Chicago District Association of Student Councils.
I know that Angel is eager to represent his fellow students on the Board of Education, and we will welcome his input, particularly with regard to restorative justice and classroom technology, both of which are among his passions. My hope is that this experience will help prepare Angel to pursue his dreams, which include becoming an education lawyer and one day running for public office.
æ
What’s Happening Around the District?
Amidst the creative genius of cellist Yo-Yo Ma, opera singer Renee Fleming, and several other renowned artists, we recently launched Be Creative: The Campaign for Creative Schools – an initiative aimed at raising $38 million in private donations to help fund our Arts Education Plan.
When we released this plan two years ago, it was considered a groundbreaking strategy. But to me, it seems like a natural component to the robust, well-rounded education that we have committed to providing for all of our students. An education that will prepare them for success in a world that requires creativity, no matter what the career field.
I am excited to report that we have already raised $10 million toward our goal. Now, I am calling on our city’s business, civic, cultural and philanthropic leaders to help take us the rest of the way to providing all CPS students with an arts education experience that will deepen and enrich their learning.
To see a video of the amazing concert that was the backdrop to this event, click here.
5
Fall High School Fair A Huge Success
More than 18,000 students attended this month’s Chicago School Fair – an opportunity for our children to explore the many high-quality high school options our District has to offer. From STEM and IB to Military, CTE and Selective Enrollment, CPS has a school to suit the unique needs of every student. Yet the size of our District can make
navigating those options a challenge for our families. For that reason, we worked with Parent Power Chicago to gather every CPS high school in one place.
I thank our high schools for sending representatives to the fair – staff and students who spoke with knowledge and enthusiasm about the programs that make their schools unique. Your insight was of enormous benefit to our prospective high school students, as was the presence of experts from our various departments, including ODLSS, Language and Cultural Education, and College and Career Services. By guiding our youth through their options, everyone involved helped ensure that our next generation of high school students will choose the academic environment that is best for them, which is critical to their future success.
City’s South Side to Receive Selective-Enrollment High School
Our families and community leaders have long been
asking for more high-quality school options on the city’s
southwest side. In response to that need, John Hancock
College Prep will transition to a Selective Enrollment and
CTE high school beginning in SY 15-16.
The rigorous experience offered by Hancock will
include not only the Selective Enrollment curriculum, but
CTE paths in such exciting fields as Law and
Pre-Engineering. Pending the outcome of a public hearing, the
programs will be phased in one class at a time until they
serve approximately 840 students, with those living in the
surrounding neighborhoods given preference for the CTE
program. Current Hancock students will have spots held for
them until they graduate, and will be able to benefit from the
increased AP offerings at the school.
I am proud of our decision to offer families another
top-tier academic option, especially in a part of the city that
has been without access to a Selective Enrollment school. I
believe that a revitalized Hancock High School will serve this
community well for years to come.
OCTOBER 2014, ISSUE NO. 14
International Walk-to-School Day
On October 7, hundreds of students and staff set out for school on foot as part of International Walk-to-School Day.
6 OCTOBER 2014, ISSUE NO. 14
æ
Community Partnerships Enhance Student Experience
Whether through automakers,
professional athletes or retail
corporations, our schools are
constantly being supported by
community partners.
This month, Chicago Bulls players
and COUNTRY Financial visited
Brown Elementary, teaching
students about being green and
providing supplies to help support
the school’s environmental
initiatives. Meanwhile, Ford
Motor Company was in six of our high schools to promote its Driving Dreams program – an initiative that provides
Latino students with financial support, college readiness tools and motivational experiences meant to boost college
enrollment. And at Boone Elementary, TARGET and the Heart of America Foundation created a school library packed
with updated resources, including iPads, interactive white boards, and 2,000 new books.
These are just a few of the partners who make a dramatic and lasting difference in the lives of our students. I thank them
for their generosity, and for understanding that successfully educating a child means involving that child’s entire
community.
A Special Homecoming On October 21, Air Force Technical Sergeant Michael Melone returned home after serving in Bahrain since spring 2014. He surprised his three children, all students at Portage Park Elementary, by reuniting the family at school. Click here to see a video of this touching reunion.
