Principal Aundre Hayes recalls a memorable interaction when he was just starting out as the assistant principal of McKay Elementary School more than a decade ago. A former colleague recognized him at a fast food restaurant near the school and questioned what he was doing on the Southwest Side. After Mr. Hayes explained that he had accepted a new role as assistant principal at McKay, the former colleague asked him a straightforward question, “Why?”  The question reflected McKay’s reputation at the time, including the fact that it was on probation. But Mr. Hayes saw potential from the star ..read more

When Ms. Andrea Garner first started her career as a CPS teacher back in 1999, she had some lingering fears that caused her to question if she was truly ready to become an educator. All of the right pieces were there. She had grown up in Chicago, attended CPS schools, and had a deep desire to give back to the communities that shaped her academically and socially.  She pushed through her fears and now—more than two decades later and with three kids of her own—she continues to inspire her students. This year, she’s teaching sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade English Language Arts at Whistl ..read more

Even though her students are only in first grade, Ms. Janielle Henderson is always open to hearing their input. When a student let her know that her classroom website was not easily accessible from a mobile device, she went home and figured out a solution to ensure that her students and families wouldn’t miss out on the resources available.  Her tendency to go the extra mile stems from a few factors. First of all, she’s a CPS graduate herself, having attended Sutherland Elementary in Beverly. Second, she’s a proud product of the CPS Teacher Residency Program. And, third, her career path ..read more

Bryana is not the first of her siblings to attend Al Raby High School, following in the footsteps of her two older brothers, and she likely won’t be the last. She has five younger siblings who she wants to inspire to know they can accomplish anything.  While Bryana is developing her confidence after a good start to her freshman year, she entered high school a little nervous. Her elementary school experiences were marked by drama. But her high school experiences have centered on her academic and extracurricular interests.  “My favorite class is law because you get to learn stuff both ..read more

Ms. Daniela Soto’s first year in Chicago Public Schools shaped the trajectory of her life. She was 13 years old and in seventh grade at an elementary school on the Southwest Side. She had just immigrated to Chicago from Mexico and explains that, while her teacher did her best to support her, her teacher was ultimately unprepared because her school did not have a bilingual education program at the time.  So, she decided that she would become a teacher with a specific focus on language acquisition. She wanted to reach students as early as possible to provide them with a strong academic fou ..read more

Gage Park High School Principal Tamika Ball believes that all students should have well-rounded educational experiences at her school. Not only does she want her students to study hard and apply themselves in the classroom, but she also encourages them to prioritize joining clubs, making friends, and achieving a balance between studying and having fun. While most freshmen might need a bit of time to figure out how to succeed across all aspects of their time in high school, Bertin L. is off to a great start and has established himself as a great example for his peers. Get to know him more belo ..read more

By Moyakhe D., Freshman at South Shore International College Preparatory High School I’ve only been a high school student for a few weeks, but I already know what I see myself doing years from now—owning my own aerospace engineering company. I have a good idea of how I can reach that goal, and it all starts now.  I’m going to strive to take part in as many science programs as I can. I’m going to continue participating in the National Society of Black Engineers. When I get to college, I will aim to be an intern at a company like NASA or SpaceX. And then I will take the ideas I have about ..read more

Mrs. Yolanda Williams recalls a turning point early in her teaching career, one that has spanned more than 20 years and been entirely focused on serving students in Chicago’s Englewood community. After two years of teaching primary grades, her principal informed her that he wanted her to switch to sixth grade. While she admits that she cried at first about having to leave her comfort zone, she immediately received mentorship from two other middle school teachers.  One of those mentors is now her husband and the other is now her best friend. And she’s been thriving as a middle school scie ..read more

For the past 15 years, Annette Dowd has been serving as the assistant principal of Suder Montessori Magnet School, a place she describes as a “beautiful, diverse melting pot.” Thus, equity and inclusion are always on the top of her mind, especially when her school-based data has shown her that an achievement gap exists within her student population. So, this summer, she decided to try something new and participated in the Civil Rights in Action Tour, an experiential learning opportunity organized by the District’s Office of Student Protections and Title IX and Office of Social and Emotional L ..read more

Throughout the summer, 14 high school students from across the District have been hard at work on projects to help CPS better meet its students’ needs. They make up the Office of Student Health and Wellness’ first-ever Youth Advisory Council. Students were split into four groups, each tasked with developing a campaign to improve a specific facet of student well-being: mental health, sexual health education, school gardens, and LGBTQ+ support.  From stickers to videos to posters, the students let their creativity shine as they collaborated on outreach materials to educate school communiti ..read more