AUSL Blog
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Chicago’s Need for Special Education Teachers
If you’re considering a career as a teacher, you might find the most rewarding opportunities in special education. Over the past decade, Chicago and the nation have experienced a severe shortage of special education teachers. Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. In 2019–20, the number of students ages 3–21 who received special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was 7.3 million, or 14 percent of all public-school students. Data shows that black and brown and students are identified with a disability at a 40 percent higher rate. According to the most recent federal data available, just over 82 percent of special education teachers in public schools are white, while only about half of students receiving special education services are white, according to 2017-18 data. Yet teacher diversity matters: decades of research has shown that students often perform better academically when they are taught by teachers of the same race. All teachers need to be patient and understanding, but these traits are even more essential for special education teachers, as a teacher and student will often spend extra time and energy on a single task. […]
A Return to School Perspective from the Academy for Urban School Leadership
As Chicago Public Schools students head back to the classroom this month for their first full-time, in-person learning experience in 17 months, many will be grappling with significant learning and social emotional loss. After schools transitioned to remote learning in March 2020 and only partially reopened in spring 2021, an alarming number of students were absent from their classes and/or earned failing grades. Additionally, the isolation and stresses of stay-at-home protocols created gaps in their social-emotional skills. This is especially true in low-income communities on the South and West Sides. One analysis showed that the same public high schools with the highest rise in Fs and declines in attendance serve almost entirely low-income students and students of color. These students and their families experienced the traumas of illness and loss, as well as food, housing and economic insecurity at higher rates. The cumulative impact of these obstacles raises concern that students, especially low-income children of color and those with special needs, will face challenges reacclimating to in-person learning. The key to helping children regain their academic and social-emotional footing lies at the heart of the classroom – teachers. Well-trained, highly effective teachers not only bring academic rigor to classrooms, but […]
Twenty years of Transforming Lives in and out of the Classroom
AUSL is an equity-focused non-profit that works tirelessly with the belief that all students should have access to an excellent education. Since 2001, AUSL’s conviction for equity in education has impacted thousands of students and families who reside in under-resourced communities. This weekend the Chicago Teacher Residency celebrated the graduation of Diverse Learner, Elementary, and Middle School teachers. Hear from CTR graduate Amaziah Burton, class of 2021, on why she chose to become a resident in AUSL’s Chicago Teacher Residency. AUSL’s Chicago Teacher Residency has trained 1,218 teachers. Over 80% of our 2021 CTR class graduates are teachers of color, and 54% are special needs teachers. With your support, AUSL will continue to leverage our innovative expertise by training high-quality teachers to serve in schools with the greatest need and face higher levels of teacher turnover.
What Students Teach Us: Maria Pulido Completes Her Residency Year
At the start of the school year, Maria Pulido entered her classroom ready to teach. Now, as she prepares to graduate from her residency, she reflects on the lessons that shaped her along the way. Like many first-year educators, she focused on lesson plans, classroom management, and making sure she…
AUSL Graduation Celebration 2026
The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) hosted a graduation celebration at DePaul University on May 28 for the Chicago Teacher Residency and Lake County Teacher Residency Class of 2026, marking AUSL\'s largest graduating class in a decade and the graduation of the inaugural Lake County Teacher Residency cohort. Resident…
What Students Teach Us: Maria Pulido Completes Her Residency Year
At the start of the school year, Maria Pulido entered her classroom ready to teach. Now, as she prepares to graduate from her residency, she reflects on the lessons that shaped her along the way. Like many first-year educators, she focused on lesson plans, classroom management, and making sure she…
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 class of resident teachers, watch them grow into confident educators, and celebrate one of our largest graduating classes in over a decade.…
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 responds with support, spoke independently for the first time. “Ms. Pulido, my table is number 5.” It was a simple sentence. Easy…
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 graduation and her future classroom! As she crosses the halfway point, we caught up with Maria to ask her to reflect on…
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AUSL Annual Benefit Dinner Honors Champion Sponsors and Celebrates Legacy
The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) gathered with sponsors, supporters and friends for an evening of celebration on Tuesday, May 7th at the Four Seasons Hotel. Over two hundred guests were in attendance to honor the achievements of the last year and recognize the work of AUSL’s educators that empower students every day. Before the evening program, guests arrived and enjoyed a cocktail reception with one another that set the warm and cheerful tone that carried throughout the night. Ana Belaval, Journalist and WGN Morning News Feature Reporter, hosted the evening’s program.The...
Network 11 Schools Reveal New Portraits of a Graduate
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...
CTR Job Fair Connects Residents to New Opportunities
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...
Chicago Teacher Residency Names New Values Award Recipients
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...
Mentors Embody and Create Community for CTR Residents
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...
Chicago Teacher Residency hosts Partnership School Visit at The Chicago Academy Elementary School
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...
AUSL Attends CPS CEO Pedro Martinez’s Address to City Club
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...
The AUSL Team Convenes for Town Hall
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...
Chicago Teacher Residency hosts Partnership School Visit at Marquette School of Excellence
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...
Chicago Teacher Residency Names 10 Values Award Recipients
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 first awards of the year at October’s Professional Development meeting. These ten Residents were awarded a CTR Values Award before winter break: Rhonda Little (Courage to Persist) “Rhonda has demonstrated resilience throughout this program, including at Dulles Sschool of Excellence and in her DePaul courses. She’s alway eager to help and collaborate with her fellow residents....