LiberatED Way hosted an End-of-Year Community Showcase for their Chicago Public Schools Network 11 school partners on Saturday, May 4 at Kennedy-King College in Chicago’s Englewood community. Anna R. Langford Community Academy, Nicholson STEM Academy, and Stagg Elementary School brought their school pride and spirit to the showcase! Teamwork Englewood, Urban Initiatives, Englewood CAC, and Stay L.I.T. Community Youth Services also joined the showcase to highlight the important work they’re doing in partnership with Network 11 schools to support student outcomes. Educators, community...

National Teachers Academy in the South Loop neighborhood recently hosted a job fair for the current cohort of AUSL’s CTR Residents. School leaders and educators representing 20 schools across Chicago gathered to showcase their school pride, programs and job opportunities for the upcoming school year. “Events like this are helpful because we get an in-person feel for Residents and an early experience with speaking to them and possibly interviewing them on the spot,” said Shardai Bell, Personalized Learning Coordinator at Sherman Elementary. “I hope residents feel the intimacy of this...

Throughout the year, the Chicago Teacher Residency distributes CTR Values Awards to current Residents that embody three values: Student-Centered, Equity-Driven, and Courage to Persist. CTR staff celebrated the following award recipients at Professional Development meetings in February and March: Nicole McLean (Student-Centered)“I enthusiastically nominate Nicole McLean for the Student Center Award for her exceptional dedication and care toward students. Nicole is the definition of having a warm demeanor each day she arrives at NTA. Nicole consistently demonstrates a profound commitment to...

The Chicago Teacher Residency is (CTR) is a one-year teacher preparation program for individuals from all majors, fields, and professions. After completing a one-year residency program, individuals begin a rewarding career teaching in Chicago Public Schools. At the heart of the CTR program is the steadfast support and mentorship that CTR Residents receive through the entirety of their training year. CTR Residents are paired with a Mentor Teacher to receive a full year of in-class mentorship so they are prepared for any challenges they may face in or out of the classroom. The...

On February 13th, 2024, the Chicago Teacher Residency (CTR) hosted “Impact in Action: CTR Partnership School Visit,” which allowed attendees the opportunity to visit classrooms, hear from a panel of Mentor Teachers, and Residents, and witness the impact of the CTR firsthand! The event was graciously hosted by talented and passionate educators at The Chicago Academy (TCA). TCA is a perfect school to experience the impact of the CTR program because of its longstanding history with the program. TCA has been a CTR training site for 20 years. Over that time, 155 Residents have trained on-site...

On December 5th, AUSL supported CPS CEO Pedro Martinez's address to City Club through a half table sponsorship. The half table sponsorship was used to invite AUSL team members to the event alongside LSAC members Socorro Gaytan and Jaqueline Vargas. CEO Martinez's address focused on how Chicago’s students are seeing growth in their proficiency rates, especially when looking at early literacy rates among K-2 students. Among K-2 student literacy rates in school year 2022-2023, Chicago Public Schools reported: Proficiency quadrupled, going from 9% to 39% by the end of the year Students...

On November 7th, the AUSL team gathered at DePaul University to come together and foster a sense of unity and purpose at an in-person town hall meeting. This collaborative event provided a platform for team members to align around the organization's mission, vision, and values, cultivating a shared understanding and commitment across teams. Beyond reinforcing our collective identity, the town hall provided an opportunity for cross-departmental connections and programmatic insights, allowing team members to delve into AUSL's rich history and strategize on maximizing impact in the coming...

On Thursday, December 7th, the Chicago Teacher Residency (CTR) held "Impact in Action: CTR Partnership School Visit," providing attendees with a unique opportunity to witness the impactful outcomes of the CTR program in-person. The event brought together AUSL supporters, Partnership School Principals and Assistant Principals, Program Partners, and future Residents. Marquette School of Excellence and their tremendously passionate and talented teachers generously hosted the event. Marquette School of Excellence is a PK-8 school on Chicago’s Southwest side that serves over 1000 students, of...