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 more than two decades of learning to deliver the training, coaching, and support teachers need to grow and meet their students’ unique needs
The AUSL Teacher Residency
AUSL’s teacher residency program 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
1,690
AUSL Teacher Residency Alumni
88%
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.
In the news
AUSL’s 2025 Impact Report
AUSL Friends and Supporters, Thanks to your unwavering support, 2025 was a year of meaningful growth and impact for AUSL. It was a joy to welcome a new…
Road to Graduation: Maria Pulido Discovers Purpose in the Classroom
The first time one of Maria Pulido’s students spoke to her without prompting, everything else in the room faded. The student, who is mostly nonverbal and typically only…
Road to Graduation: Maria Reflects on the New Year & Her Final Semester
As the new year begins, AUSL resident teacher Maria Pullido is stepping into her final semester of the AUSL Teacher Residency, ready to continue growing and excited for…
2025 AUSL Teacher of Excellence Award: Jasmyne Portee-Haywood
AUSL Teacher of Excellence Award Celebrating Mrs. Jasmyne Portee-Haywood, Class of 2013 During AUSL’s Annual Benefit Dinner, Dewey School of Excellence Principal Charlene Reynolds presented first grade teacher…
Road to Graduation: Maria Reflects on Her First Lead Teach
Just two months into the AUSL Teacher Residency, resident teacher Maria Pullido stepped into the classroom for her first Lead Teach experience — a milestone that asks resident…
Teaching for Transformation: Erika’s Mission to Change Lives Through Education
“I’ve always considered myself a bit of a disruptor,” said Chicago resident teacher Erika Oyinloe. “I get the opportunity to be a change maker in the classroom. I…
From Tech to Teaching: How an AUSL Alumna Discovered her Passion for the Classroom and Leadership
Principal Mauricia Estes has always had a passion for helping others grow – empowering students and colleagues alike to discover new ways of learning and to become confident,…
AUSL Trained, CPS Made: How One Alumna Became a Force for Change
The AUSL Teacher Residency has a growing alumni community of 1,549 teachers, school leaders, and administrators that lead classrooms, teachers, and school communities with a student-centered approach. AUSL…
Q&A: How AmeriCorps Made My Teacher Training Possible
AUSL’s partnership with AmeriCorps helps make it possible for resident teachers in the AUSL Teacher Residency to receive additional support as they train and complete the program. The…
Road to Graduation: Maria’s First Steps with her Mentor
Chicago resident teacher Maria Pulido is one step closer to making her dream come true as she meets new milestones with the AUSL Teacher Residency. The mentor teacher…
AUSL Teacher Residency Expands Support for Resident Teachers with New Associate Directors
The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) welcomes three new team members to the AUSL Teacher Residency team! Dia Bennett, Sam Migliaccio, and Latonia Reynolds have joined AUSL…
AUSL Launches into a Summer of Learning and Growth
The AUSL Teacher Residency Class of 2026 is off to a strong and purposeful start this summer. Following a successful orientation week, resident teachers began their summer coursework…
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.