The Chicago Teacher Residency class of 2019 graduated in June. The CTR is committed to recruiting, training, and staffing high-need schools with a diverse population of resident teachers who are well versed in culturally competent teaching and can provide appropriate social-emotional support for students. In the last two years, over 60% of the resident class have been teachers of color -- well above the national average where only 20%of practitioners are racially diverse.

Team TACTICS was awarded a Youth Impact Award from Chicago Public Schools and the Obama Foundation. The Civic Engagement Awards were meant to recognize school and community groups dedicated to improving civic engagement in their communities and provided $2,000 grants to winners to support their projects. The group was started by students from Phillips Academy High School to addresses school disciplinary practices and is working to strengthen the relationship between the community and law enforcement by developing workshops and a curriculum for the...

Solorio Academy High School Student Alejandra became a Cubs Scholar! The program offers mentoring for disadvantaged Chicago high schoolers through Cubs College Prep and a $20,000 scholarship upon enrollment in college. We have previously had scholars from Solorio, Orr, and Phillips Academy (past scholars with Alejandra pictured right). More information on Cubs Scholars.

New teachers to the network participated in a three-day new teacher orientation event. This included different teaching workshops and team-building activities with teachers, school administrators, and our staff. The three-day orientation included an introduction of AUSL by our Executive Director, Dr. Feinstein, cultural sensitivity programming, strategy and team-building with school teams, and social emotional learning programming. Our new teachers are so excited to meet their new students this year!  

Cradles to Crayons donated 13,000 backpacks for all of our elementary schools at their 2019 Backpack-a-thon event at Daley Plaza on August 21. We have received donations from Cradles to Crayons in the past and are so grateful that they gave us enough backpacks for ALL of our elementary students filled with school supplies. Back2School Illinois donated 1,000 Back2School Kits for our schools in the Austin neighborhood. We are grateful for these continued partnerships that support our students in the communities that need them the most. Supplies were delivered with the help of Aaron's...

The AUSL Associates Board hosted a fundraiser for the organization, a Happy Hour Boat Cruise on the Anita Dee I. Associate Board Founder and President, Charlie Waddell, welcomed guests and thanked the board event committee for organizing the event. Our Executive Director, Dr. Feinstein, stressed the importance of our work supporting students in some of the most under resourced communities. Two current CTR Residents also spoke about their experiences in the residency program so far. The event was sold out and raised $1,300 to support our network schools. Event Committee: Jessica Banas, Sam...

Principal of National Teachers Academy Isaac Castelaz was recognized at the Chicago Public Schools Administrator Summit as a Game Changer. Administrators got to hear from Mayor Lori Lightfoot, CPS CEO Janice Jackson, and students on the impacts of equity and inequity. All saw performances from school music and dancing groups.

The Lefkofksy Family Foundation sponsored a trip to Target for recently graduated AUSL students for its third year as a Success Bound Initiative. Students from Orr, Solorio, Phillips, and Collins each got 300 dollars to spend on college essentials. They were joined by Liz Lefkofsky, Foundation Co-Founder and AUSL Board member, who came to meet students and help them shop. The students were ecstatic to shop at the two-story Target for dorm room essentials and school supplies to help them transition to college...