May 14, 2019
Education Grantees Provide Professional Learning for CPS Principals and Teachers
The Fry Foundation believes in the power of convening smart people to share and tackle common challenges. In February, we convened twelve Education grantees that work with school leaders and teachers to help improve the climate for learning in their schools. Together these organizations reach close to 350 CPS Schools. These grantees are helping principals advance their leadership skills and support their teachers; develop teacher leaders; and help principals and teachers work and learn together to improve instruction.
Grantees spent the morning hearing from two CPS leaders: CPS Chief for Teaching and Learning Anna Alvarado, and CPS Chief Equity Officer Maurice Swinney. Anna shared the District's vision for professional learning that is designed to meet the specific needs of individual schools and educators. Maurice is the first to take on the role of Chief Equity Officer. He discussed what drives his passion and the values he holds for approaching improving racial equity across the district. Dr. Camille Farrington from the Chicago Consortium on School Research led the group in a conversation about what we heard from Anna and Maurice and the opportunities and challenges presented by their approaches. In the afternoon, grantees met in small groups to discuss their own opportunities and dilemmas and to get feedback from their colleagues.
Organizations that participated in the convening include:
- The Academy for Urban School Leadership
- The Achievement Network
- Big Shoulder Fund
- The Chicago Public Education Fund
- Leap Innovations
- National Louis University
- Schools That Can
- Teach Plus
- UofC Network for College Success
- UofC STEM Education
- Leading Educators