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, […]
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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Resident Embraces School Community at Earle STEM Elementary in West Englewood
Growing up in a Military Family, service has always been important to William Melvin. After living in seven states and going to college, his desire to serve others called him to the classroom. William graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in finance and worked at several banks before making the career switch to education. He was a Client Relationship Consultant at U.S. Bank before starting his Residency program.“You can be good at something in life, but that doesn’t mean you’ll like to do it,” shared William. He gravitated to education because of his eagerness to connect with students and...
AUSL Welcomes New Board Members Arnie Rivera and Drew Beres
The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) is pleased to announce the addition of Arnie Rivera and Drew Beres to our Board of Directors. As dedicated leaders with extensive experience in education and community development, Arnie and Drew bring valuable perspectives to AUSL’s mission to improve educational outcomes for students and empower teachers and leaders in schools in Chicago and across the country.Arnie Rivera has a strong background in public service and education policy. His work in various leadership roles with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and in the Chicago community at...
“Teacher” Documentary Illustrates Current State of Education, Celebrates CTR Program
AUSL joined DePaul University’s College of Education for a special screening at Davis Theater in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood for the documentary film "Teacher" by Adam Gacka. The film follows Chicago Teacher Residency (CTR) alumni Chelsea Bennett and Nkanga Nsa at Curtis School of Excellence on the south side of Chicago. It highlights their daily routine as educators and brings to light some of the realities of being a teacher in an underserved school community. Nkanga changed her career to pursue education and was inspired from the COVID-19 pandemic, current world events and...
AUSL Residency Professional Development Supports Resident Success Across the Program
AUSL leads professional development sessions throughout the year for all members involved with the Chicago Teacher Residency (CTR) program including Residents, Mentors and Principals from our CTR Partnership School Training Sites. These sessions play a key role in building community and a strong professional network for educators and school leaders to learn new and effective strategies to apply in their relationships, classrooms and school communities. The ultimate goal is for Residents to successfully complete the CTR program and be fully prepared teachers in CPS. “It’s important for...
Chicago Teacher Residency Recognizes Ten Values Award Recipients
Throughout the year, the Chicago Teacher Residency distributes CTR Values Awards to current Residents that embody three values: Student-Centered, Community-Focused, and Tenacious Service. CTR staff celebrated the following award recipients in September and October during Residents’ Professional Development meetings. Congratulations to these well-deserving award recipients! Max Carroll (Community-Focused) "Max always makes a priority to thank the many communities for their service outside of the school grounds. Whether it’s a librarian, janitor, or a CTA conductor, he pays his respects. He...
Resident follows Passion for Teaching, Committed Life Learner
Andrea (Andy) Browning is many things, a southside Chicago native from the Beverly neighborhood, a single mother, and most recently, an incoming Resident of the 2025 Chicago Teacher Residency cohort. “How did I get here? It just took me to recognize my true calling and then act on it,” she said. Andy has worked in multiple industries and held many positions in her professional career before joining the CTR. Since her graduation from Chicago State University, she’s worked in a daycare attending to special-needs children, was a former manager at Hertz Rental Car, and also became a...
CTR Mentorship Model Shapes Residents and Mentor Teachers to Grow
The current class of Residents in the Chicago Teacher Residency (CTR) have completed their summer courses at DePaul and have started their teacher training experience at CTR Partnership School Training Sites across Chicago. Before the school year began, Residents and Mentors met at DePaul for the very first time, setting the foundation for the relationship they will cultivate throughout the school year. The mentor and mentee relationship is at the heart of the Chicago Teacher Residency as it provides steadfast support and mentorship to CTR Residents through the entirety of their training...
AUSL Announces Next Executive Director
After an extensive national search, The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) is pleased to introduce Adam Case as the organization's next Executive Director. The AUSL Board of Directors is confident that Adam is uniquely qualified to lead AUSL into an invigorating and innovative new chapter, continuing its legacy of fostering equitable educational experiences for students in Chicago and across the country. “Over the last 20 years, Adam has built a reputation as a strategic and innovative leader in both the public and private sectors,” said Cardelle Spangler, AUSL Board Chair. “He is...
AUSL’s 48 Hours of Giving Campaign Funds Community Resource to Support Residents
AUSL's 48 Hours of Giving Campaign directly benefits the Chicago Teacher Residency (CTR) Need-Based Fund. This CTR community resource helps Residents address unexpected challenges that have created hardship to successfully navigate and complete their residency by awarding financial assistance on a case-by-case basis. Life happens unexpectedly and barriers Residents experience include requiring assistance with extra learning support, transportation, housing and essential bills and classroom preparedness. This campaign helps expand AUSL's ability to help Residents cross the finish line,...
LiberatED Way’s Word on the Street Virtual Summit Focuses on Street Data and Empowers Student Voice
LiberatED Way hosted the inaugural Virtual Summit, Word on the Street, on Thursday, June 13, with educators, school leaders, community partners, and friends to explore the value of street data for school transformation. Word on the Street began with keynote speaker Marlon Styles, who engaged attendees with his personal story of being a former educator and superintendent of Middletown City Schools. Styles spoke about his strategic approach to collecting street data, how he engaged multiple groups from the school community, and reflected on the value of his findings to make progress and...