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 graduation and her future classroom! As she crosses the halfway point, we caught up with Maria to ask her to reflect on how far she’s come and what she’s most excited for as she completes her residency training year:What feels like your biggest area of growth so far? Maria: “Classroom management and really building relationships.” At the start of the year, Maria admits she sometimes felt intimidated standing in front of...

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 Jasmyne Portee-Haywood with AUSL’s inaugural Teacher of Excellence Award. A CTR alumna, mentor teacher, and leader on Dewey’s Instructional Leadership Team, Mrs. Portee-Haywood brings over a decade of teaching experience and boundless joy to her first grade classroom. From daily affirmations in the mirror to using Mickey Mouse ears as a classroom tool, she creates a positive,...

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 teachers to plan, deliver, and manage a full day of instruction on their own. For Maria, it was a moment she had been quietly building toward since the first day she met her students. “I felt in charge for the first time,” she shared. “In the end, instead of feeling nervous, I felt really confident.” That confidence came from preparation, trust, and the relationships she had been building with each student since...

“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 just want to make sure that as long as I’m in the room, the student with the least amount of resources will get what they need.” Growing up in Chicago, Erika felt very lucky being surrounded by educators who believed in her, poured into her, and made school a safe place throughout her K-12 experience. “When I think about my childhood and background, school kept me on a positive trajectory,” she said. “I really owe my...

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, informed members of their communities.  She is just two months into her principalship at Ludwig Van Beethoven Elementary, but has built momentum throughout the various experiences in her career that prepared her for her first complete school leadership role. Before she cemented her career in education, Principal Estes was set to follow a path in the tech industry after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in computer...

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 is proud to launch a new alumni series spotlighting former resident teachers and their inspiring career journeys — showcasing how AUSL alumni go on to become teacher leaders.  Growing up with a mom who was an administrator and teacher, Principal Trevino-Terronez has been in schools a majority of her life. She began volunteering as a teenager for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and...

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 partnership provides resident teachers with the Segal Education Award (tuition credit), childcare assistance, and free healthcare. These services help remove significant barriers for participation and make it possible for resident teachers to graduate.  AUSL alumna Christy Dotson from the Chicago Teacher Residency Class of 2025 joined us for a Q&A interview sharing her experience with being an AmeriCorps...

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 and resident teacher relationship is one component that makes the AUSL teacher residency program unique compared to traditional teacher preparation programs. Mentor teachers are experienced, passionate teachers that guide and push resident teachers forward. They are truly special teacher leaders who care about making a difference and training the next generation of educators. Resident teachers patiently wait until the end of...

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...

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 with DePaul University, marking the official launch of their learning journey into the teaching profession. As resident teachers progress through the summer quarter, the AUSL Teacher Residency team designs and leads professional development sessions that center on key teaching competencies for the Chicago and Lake County cohorts.These sessions play a key role in building community for each cohort as they...