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 as Associate Directors for the AUSL Teacher Residency this school year. Dia, Sam, and Latonia are also alumni of the AUSL Teacher Residency!
Entering a school year with the largest residency cohort in the past decade and the launch of a new teacher residency program, AUSL is excited to add support for our resident teachers. The Associate Director position is an added support that makes the AUSL Teacher Residency unique, giving resident teachers access to another coach beyond their mentor teacher.
Associate Directors hold many responsibilities at AUSL, but their main focus is to provide long-term support for resident teachers to successfully complete the program, while ensuring short-term milestones are met throughout the year. They ensure resident teachers cross the finish line at graduation and have the resources and skills necessary to be the passionate, high-quality teachers in their own classrooms.
Dia Bennett is a Chicago native and alumni of the Chicago Teacher Residency Class of 2020. Dia holds a bachelor’s degree in African Studies from Howard University, a master’s degree in African American Studies from Georgia State University, and a master’s degree in Teaching Middle School English/Language Arts from National Louis University.
Before starting with AUSL, Dia was a full time English Language Arts (ELA) teacher with Chicago Public Schools. Dia is passionate about empowering students and teachers to receive the resources they need to be successful in and out of the classroom.
“All children deserve access to a high-quality education by any means necessary,” said Dia.
“Being an Associate Director with AUSL allows me to reach more students by leading our resident teachers to successfully complete the program and begin their teaching careers.”
Sam Migliaccio is an alumni of the Chicago Teacher Residency from the Class of 2019. Sam was born and raised in Texas and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in 2018 and moved to Chicago a week later to begin her residency. She earned her master’s degree from National Louis University in 2019.
During her residency year, Associate Director Jessica Kimbrough was her mentor teacher, who is now her colleague at AUSL! Sam was also a former mentor teacher for other resident teachers over the past two years and has kept in contact with AUSL since her graduation.
Sam was hired full-time as a special education teacher at Dvorack School of Excellence, where she trained during her residency year, and held multiple positions in her school community, but was ready for something different.
“Knowing the experience and history of what it takes to be a successful resident teacher really attracted me to join AUSL and support new resident teachers to have the necessary tools to reach their full potential,” said Sam.
Latonia Reynolds is also a proud Chicago native and alumni of the Chicago Teacher Residency Class of 2012. Latonia graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2010 and joined the AUSL Teacher Residency shortly after. She earned her master’s degree from National Louis University in 2012.
After graduation, Latonia was hired as a math and science teacher at Piccolo School of Excellence, where she also completed her teacher training during her residency year. With over a decade of teaching experience, Latonia brings a valuable perspective to support resident teachers as an Associate Director.
“I’m eager to bring my skillset to AUSL and support resident teachers to become the committed, driven, and passionate educators students deserve,” said Latonia.
As AUSL looks ahead to expansion with the AUSL Teacher Residency and Vision 2030, the organization is well positioned to bring more transformative impact with talented school leaders like Dia, Sam, and Latonia.
“Quality teachers are difficult to retain because the circumstances around teaching right now are heavy,” said Sam.
“If we are able to find people that are passionate about education and more importantly, stay as teachers, AUSL is doing its part in addressing the teacher vacancies that are impacting our most vulnerable communities and students.
”Learn more about the resources and direct lines of support AUSL provides resident teachers and apply today: https://www.auslchicago.org/about-the-chicago-teacher-residency/
