Lia Noel Khan, southside Chicago native of the Beverly neighborhood, always had a lesson or skill to learn growing up. She was active in multiple extra curricular activities as a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) student including cheer, gymnastics, violin, piano, and dance.  Lia graduated from Southern Illinois University (SIU) in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a concentration in coaching. During her sophomore year on the college dance team, she broke her ankle, but proceeded to dance. After a year, she went to the doctor for an MRI scan and was informed her ankle...

The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) recently hosted its annual AUSL Teacher Residency Job Fair at National Teachers Academy in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood. Resident teachers from the Class of 2025 met with school administrators, leaders, and educators from 20 schools across Chicago to explore open positions for the upcoming school year. The AUSL Teacher Residency Job Fair serves as a professional development opportunity for resident teachers to network with school administrators and leaders before they officially begin their careers to search and interview for open...

Since 2015, AUSL’s Teacher Residency program has partnered with DePaul University’s College of Education to address the critical teacher shortages many schools across the country face, especially in high-need content areas. Together, we recruited and trained new teachers while increasing the number of student teaching hours in the classroom and investing in training experienced teachers as mentors who model and give continual feedback as Residents put theory into practice.Why Choose DePaul University? DePaul University is nationally ranked, renowned for its robust academic programs and...

Friends and Supporters, Thanks to your unwavering support, 2024 was a year of meaningful growth and impact for AUSL. Your generosity and dedication fuels our work to ensure that students in Chicago and across the country have a great teacher and a transformative educational experience. Thank you to all of our friends and partners for making this work possible for over 20 years. I invite you to read AUSL’s 2024 Impact Report, which captures the authentic stories and milestones that demonstrate how AUSL educators are unlocking student potential in Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods...

AUSL’s Advisory Services program, LiberatED Way, has partnered with The Carole Robertson Center for Learning since 2021. The partnership led to the creation of a student-centered vision for Kindergarten readiness and built the capacity of staff and faculty to engage and collaborate with families.  Through the work, LiberatED Way focused on strengthening family partnerships utilizing the Dual Capacity-Building Framework, a model developed by Dr. Karen Mapp to ensure effective collaboration between families and educational institutions. This framework is foundational to the Center’s mission...

The Danielson Framework for Teaching has become a cornerstone in educator preparation programs nationwide. Its data-supported structure and comprehensive approach to teaching effectiveness make it an invaluable tool for teacher development. At the Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL), we integrate the Danielson Framework into our Teacher Residency program to ensure Residents receive the reflective and meaningful teacher training to prepare them for a fulfilling career ahead. Understanding the Danielson Framework Developed by Charlotte Danielson, the Danielson Framework is widely...

Earlier this winter, AUSL hosted an Open House at Pablo Casals School of Excellence in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood bringing together current and former Residents, school leaders, and friends of the AUSL community. Attendees met AUSL Executive Director Adam Case, listened to a panel of current and former Residents, and witnessed the transformative impact of AUSL's teacher residency program firsthand by visiting classrooms at Casals. “This is why we are so focused on producing great teachers. We believe that is the agent of change for impacting students’ lives,” said Adam Case....

Growing up in a Military Family, service has always been important to William Melvin. After living in seven states and going to college, his desire to serve others called him to the classroom. William graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in finance and worked at several banks before making the career switch to education. He was a Client Relationship Consultant at U.S. Bank before starting his Residency program.“You can be good at something in life, but that doesn’t mean you’ll like to do it,” shared William. He gravitated to education because of his eagerness to connect with students and...