The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) proudly celebrates 25 years of impact – marking a quarter-century of unwavering commitment to excellence in education.
Since 2001, AUSL has become a national leader in training high-quality, passionate teachers to become successful educators in hard-to-fill subject areas in underserved communities throughout Chicago.
Over 25 years, AUSL has recruited, trained, and supported 1,549 new teachers with the AUSL Teacher Residency, our premier teacher training program.
The Chicago Teacher Residency Class of 2025 successfully graduated 105 resident teachers, AUSL’s largest cohort in the past decade.
Over 25 years, AUSL has stood firm on three guiding values of tenacious service, student-centered learning, and community-focused principles.
This school year, the AUSL Teacher Residency welcomed a total of 164 new resident teachers across the Chicago Teacher Residency and the Lake County Teacher Residency cohorts.
AUSL began with an idea to create an innovative model of teacher training. Explore our 25-year journey of growth and impact below and see how our history continues to shape our legacy.
2020/2021
LiberatED Way, AUSL’s Advisory Service team, is launched. The AUSL Teacher Residency is fully remote and develops a new remote coaching system.
2023/2024
AUSL successfully completes transitioning schools back to their geographic Chicago Public School networks.
2024/2025
AUSL’s founding Executive Director Dr. Donald Feinstein retires after 23 years of dedicated service. AUSL welcomes new Executive Director, Adam Case, to lead AUSL into an invigorating and innovative new chapter. The AUSL Teacher Residency recruits its largest class in nine years and graduates 105 resident teachers.
2025/2026
AUSL celebrates its 25th anniversary. AUSL welcomes 164 resident teachers. The Lake County Teacher Residency launches.
2000/2001
In 2001, Martin Koldyke worked with Arne Duncan and Dr. Donald Feinstein to develop the Chicago Teacher Residency, an innovative model of teacher training. This program provided Chicago Public Schools with high-quality teachers prepared to succeed within the demanding conditions of under-invested schools.
2001/2002
AUSL opens the first training academy, The Chicago Academy
2002/2003
First class of 31 resident teachers graduate at The Chicago Academy.
2003/2004
AUSL opens a second training academy, Dodge Renaissance Academy, where 56 resident teachers graduate.
2004/2005
AUSL opens its first high school training academy, Chicago Academy High School, where 34 resident teachers graduate.
2005/2006
AUSL opens its fourth training academy, Tarkington School of Excellence, where 43 resident teachers graduate. In 2006, to better serve the needs of Chicago’s students, AUSL expanded its operations to include school management. While AUSL no longer manages schools, we continue to recruit and train highly effective educators and have evolved in the ways we support teachers and schools.
2006/2007
AUSL opens its first turnaround school, Sherman School of Excellence, where 35 resident teachers graduate.
2007/2008
AUSL opens more schools including Harvard School of Excellence, Collins Academy High School, and National Teachers Academy. 44 resident teachers graduate.
2008/2009
Three more schools join AUSL including Orr Academy High School, Morton School of Excellence, and Howe School of Excellence. 69 resident teachers graduate.
2009/2010
Three new schools join AUSL including Bethune School of Excellence, James Weldon Johnson School of Excellence, and Dulles Schools of Excellence. 56 resident teachers graduate.
2010/2011
Four new schools join AUSL: Bradwell School of Excellence, Curtis School of Excellence and Deneen School of Excellence and Wendell Phillips Academy High School. 69 resident teachers graduate.
2011/2012
Morton School of Excellence and Howe School of Excellence become teacher training sites; 500th resident teacher graduates.
2012/2013
Six new schools join AUSL: Casals School of Excellence, James Farmer Jr. Elementary School, Herzl School of Excellence, Marquette School of Excellence, Piccolo School of Excellence, and Stagg Schools of Excellence. Bradwell School of Excellence, Curtis School of Excellence, Dulles School of Excellence, James Weldon Johnson School of Excellence, Orr Academy High School and Wendell Phillips Academy High School become teacher training sites; 149 resident teachers graduate.
2013/2014
Five new schools join AUSL: Carter School of Excellence, Chalmers STEAM Elementary School, Dewey School of Excellence, Lewis School of Excellence, and O’Keeffe School Of Excellence. Deneen School of Excellence and Marquette School of Excellence become teacher training sites; Dodge co-locates with Morton School of Excellence; Bethune School of Excellence closes; 111 resident teachers graduate.
2015/2016
AUSL celebrates its 15th anniversary year; 69 resident teachers graduate.
2016/2017
Dewey School of Excellence becomes teacher training site; Dodge consolidates with Morton School of Excellence; 55 resident teachers graduate.
2017/2018
AUSL celebrates over 1,000 graduates. AUSL was spotlighted as Innovation Zone by Bridgespan Group. Launched a new brand identity: Better Schools. Brighter Futures.
2018/2019
How Schools Work by Arne Duncan is published, spotlighting AUSL’s work with Lewis School of Excellence. Fast Start Working Group for Advisory Services established to increase student impact and revenue for organization.
2019/2020
Awarded NSI grant from Gates Foundation to create coordinated student supports from MS to HS and further develop AUSL Way.
2020/2021
LiberatED Way, AUSL’s Advisory Service team, is launched. The AUSL Teacher Residency is fully remote and develops a new remote coaching system.
2023/2024
AUSL successfully completes transitioning schools back to their geographic Chicago Public School networks.
2024/2025
AUSL’s founding Executive Director Dr. Donald Feinstein retires after 23 years of dedicated service. AUSL welcomes new Executive Director, Adam Case, to lead AUSL into an invigorating and innovative new chapter. The AUSL Teacher Residency recruits its largest class in nine years and graduates 105 resident teachers.
2025/2026
AUSL celebrates its 25th anniversary. AUSL welcomes 164 resident teachers. The Lake County Teacher Residency launches.
2000/2001
In 2001, Martin Koldyke worked with Arne Duncan and Dr. Donald Feinstein to develop the Chicago Teacher Residency, an innovative model of teacher training. This program provided Chicago Public Schools with high-quality teachers prepared to succeed within the demanding conditions of under-invested schools.
2001/2002
AUSL opens the first training academy, The Chicago Academy
2002/2003
First class of 31 resident teachers graduate at The Chicago Academy.
2003/2004
AUSL opens a second training academy, Dodge Renaissance Academy, where 56 resident teachers graduate.
As we celebrate 25 years of igniting change, we eagerly anticipate the next chapter. Under the leadership of Executive Director Adam Case, AUSL continues its mission to empower students through transformative educational experiences and strengthen our legacy through the success of the AUSL Teacher Residency.
The nationwide teacher shortage remains one of education’s most urgent challenges today, with deeper consequences in underserved communities.
Guided by AUSL’s Vision 2030 strategic plan, we’re scaling our impact to meet this growing need to bring our expertise to the forefront of the national teacher shortage.
We are committed to training over 500 highly skilled teachers each year to reach more students across the country, impacted directly from teacher vacancies.
By 2030, our AUSL Teacher Residency graduates will reach over 1.5 million students in our most deserving communities, amplifying opportunity and excellence where it matters most.
Thank you to every teacher, student, family, partner, and supporter who has been part of this incredible journey. Here’s to the next 25 years – filled with innovation, impact, and inspired learning!
