AUSL blog
Featured blog posts
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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Elementary Schools Receive Backpacks from Cradles to Crayons and Back2School Kits from Back2School Illinois
Cradles to Crayons donated 13,000 backpacks for all of our elementary schools at their 2019 Backpack-a-thon event at Daley Plaza on August 21. We have received donations from Cradles to Crayons in the past and are so grateful that they gave us enough backpacks for ALL of our elementary students filled with school supplies. Back2School Illinois donated 1,000 Back2School Kits for our schools in the Austin neighborhood. We are grateful for these continued partnerships that support our students in the communities that need them the most. Supplies were delivered with the help of Aaron's...
AUSL Associates Board Fundraiser
The AUSL Associates Board hosted a fundraiser for the organization, a Happy Hour Boat Cruise on the Anita Dee I. Associate Board Founder and President, Charlie Waddell, welcomed guests and thanked the board event committee for organizing the event. Our Executive Director, Dr. Feinstein, stressed the importance of our work supporting students in some of the most under resourced communities. Two current CTR Residents also spoke about their experiences in the residency program so far. The event was sold out and raised $1,300 to support our network schools. Event Committee: Jessica Banas, Sam...
NTA Principal Isaac Castelaz Honored as Game Changer at CPS Admin Summit
Principal of National Teachers Academy Isaac Castelaz was recognized at the Chicago Public Schools Administrator Summit as a Game Changer. Administrators got to hear from Mayor Lori Lightfoot, CPS CEO Janice Jackson, and students on the impacts of equity and inequity. All saw performances from school music and dancing groups.
Recent Grads from the Network Shop for College at Target Thanks to Lefkofsky Family Foundation
The Lefkofksy Family Foundation sponsored a trip to Target for recently graduated AUSL students for its third year as a Success Bound Initiative. Students from Orr, Solorio, Phillips, and Collins each got 300 dollars to spend on college essentials. They were joined by Liz Lefkofsky, Foundation Co-Founder and AUSL Board member, who came to meet students and help them shop. The students were ecstatic to shop at the two-story Target for dorm room essentials and school supplies to help them transition to college...
Student Success: Jordyn A. Dean
[vc_row][vc_column][stm_title subtitle_enable="true" title="Jordyn A. Dean"] Chicago Academy High School, 2019 Graduate Central Michigan University Major: Physical Therapy (Nutrition or Early Childhood Minor) [/stm_title][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][stm_separator][vc_single_image image="7697" img_size="400x400" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Chicago Academy High School graduate Jordyn A. Dean is attending Central Michigan University, her top college pick since her sophomore year in high school, to study Physical Therapy with a...
Student Success: Sabrina Akbar
[vc_row][vc_column][stm_title subtitle_enable="true" title="Sabrina Akbar"] Chicago Academy High School, 2019 Graduate Connecticut College Major: Environmental Studies [/stm_title][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][stm_separator][vc_single_image image="7640" img_size="500x500" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Sabrina Akbar of Chicago Academy High School is headed to college as a Posse Chicago Scholar. She will be attending Connecticut College in New London, CT and is looking forward to the plethora of interesting areas of study and the...
Student Success: Emily Rivera-Paura
[vc_row][vc_column][stm_title subtitle_enable="true" title="Emily Rivera-Paura"] Solorio Academy High School, 2019 Graduate University of Wisconsin, Madison Major: Economics (Sociology Minor) [/stm_title][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][stm_separator][vc_single_image image="7639" img_size="500x500" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Emily Rivera-Paura is very excited to attend her dream school, University of Wisconsin-Madison, as a part of the school’s Banner Program for out-of-state, low-income students with an excellent academic...
Student Success: Leonard Smith, Jr.
[vc_row][vc_column][stm_title subtitle_enable="true" title="Leonard Smith, Jr."] Phillips Academy, 2019 Graduate University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Major: Computer Engineering [/stm_title][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][stm_separator][vc_single_image image="7642" img_size="400x500" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Leonard Smith, Jr. was motivated to pursue engineering after taking a calculus class his senior year at Phillips Academy High School. He will be pursuing his computer engineering degree at the University of Illinois at...
Student Success: Sean Waight
[vc_row][vc_column][stm_title subtitle_enable="true" title="Sean Waight"] Phillips Academy, 2019 Graduate University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Major: Mechanical Engineering [/stm_title][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][stm_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Phillips Academy graduate Sean Waight is headed to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study mechanical engineering. He said he was inspired to go to college and study engineering after participating in the annual AUSL STEAM Fair and winning. ...
Student Success: Adrienne Toney
[vc_row][vc_column][stm_title subtitle_enable="true" title="Adrienne Toney"] Chicago Academy High School, 2019 Graduate Olivet Nazarene University Major: Criminal Justice [/stm_title][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][stm_separator][vc_single_image image="7695" img_size="300x400" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1565807955268{margin-bottom: 40px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_column_text] Chicago Academy High School graduate Adrienne Toney is attending Olivet Nazarene University, where she will be able to integrate her faith with her collegiate studies. ...
