The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) recruits, trains, and supports new teachers in underserved communities to ensure every student has a great teacher and a transformative education.
Great classrooms begin with passionate, highly effective teachers
Our programs leverage two decades of learning to deliver the training, coaching, and support teachers need to grow and meet their students’ unique needs
The Chicago Teacher Residency
AUSL’s flagship teacher residency program, The Chicago Teacher Residency, recruits and trains the next generation of high-quality teachers through a one-year teacher training program, preparing Residents to be placed in underserved, hard-to-staff positions in Chicago and Lake County.
Fast facts
90%
Residency graduates are still teaching after 4 years
1,549
Chicago Teacher Residency Alumni
78.7%
Residents train in hard-to-staff content areas
“I’m a huge, huge fan of who you are (CTR), what you are going to do, and the AUSL family. There’s nothing more important that we can do than put great teachers into the classrooms of our children across Chicago, particularly in our most underserved communities.
Our students are going to need teachers who believe in them, who see their potential, who can help them through the stress and trauma to envision a set of possibilities way beyond what the day to day reality might feel like.
Your collective commitment and courage inspire me.”
– Arne Duncan, former Secretary of Education and CEO of Chicago Public Schools, speaking at graduation on the power of the CTR to transform educational outcomes for students

Events at AUSL
AUSL improves outcomes for students through our AUSL Residency, school supports, and advisory services. Learn more or see our work in action at an upcoming event.
AUSL Lake County Teacher Residency Information Session
The AUSL Teacher Residency Recruitment and Admissions team will be hosting an Information Session about our Teacher Residency program in Lake County on Wednesday, March 11 at 4 PM. In this session, we’ll discuss: ✅ AUSL’s mission ✅ The program in Lake County ✅ The residency year experience ✅ The application process ✅ Over $34,000 in […]
AUSL Teacher Residency Information Session
Have you been thinking about joining AUSL but want to know more? Join AUSL’s Recruitment and Admissions team for an Information Session on April 8 from 4-5 PM CT. During this session, you’ll learn about: ✅ AUSL’s mission and impact ✅ What to expect during your residency year ✅ The application process ✅ Financial assistance opportunities […]
AUSL’s 25th Anniversary Benefit Dinner
AUSL’s 25th Anniversary Benefit Dinner brings together champions of AUSL’s mission to celebrate 25 years of recruiting, training, and supporting great teachers in underserved communities. This signature event advances AUSL’s mission to prepare exceptional educators to ensure that every student has access to a high-quality education. Whether you’ve been a supporter for 25 years or […]
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In the news
Read more about AUSL’s impact in action!
Donors like you allow us to provide Residents with critical supports that make their year of training possible
Public-private partnerships allow Residents to access the financial assistance, health care, and child care assistance that allow them to become effective educators committed to serving our most at-risk students.

















