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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, […]

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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 […]

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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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AUSL Flag Football Kickoff with A Little Help from the Chicago Bears

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="6687" img_size="large"][vc_single_image image="6686" img_size="large"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="6685" img_size="large"][vc_single_image image="6684" img_size="large"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]AUSL kicked off its co-ed flag football program for 5th and 6th graders on October 17. Fifteen schools from across the network participated in a tournament made possible by Bears Care, the community outreach arm of the Chicago Bears. Together with the Chicago Bears, AUSL is proud to...

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Award-Winning Artist David Garibaldi Performs at Herzl SOE

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="6607" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_column_text]AUSL has partnered with Turnaround Arts to bring talented artists to network schools. Award-winning visual artist David Garibaldi performed for the students at Herzl School of Excellence. He painted two portraits: Chance the Rapper and Martin Luther King Jr. The students were so excited to see the paintings come to life, and even more excited when Garibaldi said the school could keep the painting![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Sherman SOE Students Visit Loop Exhibition on Field Trip

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="6578" img_size="full" add_caption="yes" alignment="center"][vc_column_text] Middle-school students at Sherman School of Excellence visited an exhibit downtown last week that explored the difficulties faced by refugees. The field trip was covered by the Chicago Sun-Times. They interviewed one student, Jayda Hartley. Hartley shared what she learned from the exhibit and how she can apply it to her own life: “Even though we have difficult stuff that’s going on right now, we need to make sure we put our heads together so we can learn from our mistakes...

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Grammy Winner Keb’ Mo’ visits Johnson SOE

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="6563" img_size="large" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]AUSL has partnered with Turnaround Arts to bring talented artists to network schools. Keb' Mo' visited students at Johnson School of Excellence this week. The Grammy award winner shared his talents and donated signed guitars. Thank you, Keb' Mo' and Turnaround Arts for bring your time and talent to AUSL schools![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Chicago Cub Recognizes AUSL as an Education Leader with Donation

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image="6559" img_size="full" alignment="center"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]Cole Hamels, Chicago Cubs pitcher and co-founder of the Hamels Foundation, recognized AUSL as a leader in education. He made a donation to AUSL to continue their work in their network schools. Thank you, Hamels Foundation![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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AUSL Partners with Chicago Symphony Orchestra to Bring Second Graders the Gift of Music

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="6545" img_size="full"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]AUSL has partnered with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Together, they will give every second grader in the AUSL network an enriching field trip opportunity. The field trip will bring students to the Orchestra for a live performance free of charge. The schools will be attending the Orchestra on the following days:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Friday, Nov 30th Friday, March 29 Friday May 17 Bradwell SOE Dvorak SOE McNair SOE Carter SOE Gresham SOE Morton SOE Casals...

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Barack Obama Visits Solorio Academy High School

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgUzvYF06Ok" el_aspect="43" align="center"][vc_column_text]Barack Obama and Mayor Rahm Emanuel paid students at Solorio Academy a surprise visit. He met with students in the One Summer Chicago program. This program teaches students how to code smartphone apps. Here is what Obama had to say: "Programs like this aren’t just helping Chicago’s youth gain skills for their own future, they're also strengthening the pipeline of talent right here on the South Side, the community of the future Obama Presidential Center." Read more...

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