National Louis University to help equip candidates for Chicago Public Schools board with tools to lead
The countdown is on for interested individuals to declare their candidacy for the Chicago Public Schools board before the June 1 filing deadline.
While a lot of speculation continues to swirl around the impact of a 21-member elected Chicago Public Schools board, one local institution, nationally recognized for its strong history of innovation in K-12 education, is stepping up to ensure successful candidates are prepared for the difficult decisions that lie ahead.
National Louis University is establishing a pre-candidate fellowship — Academy for Local Leadership (ALL) Chicago — open to all aspiring elected school board members and education advocates.
Scheduled to launch with its first cohort of participants in March, the ALL Chicago fellowship aims to unite diverse individuals who are passionate about equity in education and Chicago’s public schools and prepare them with the knowledge and skills to drive systems-level change.
“Chicago’s transition to an elected school board has far-reaching governance and policy implications that will directly impact student outcomes and serve as a flashpoint for larger cultural issues and debates within our city,” said Nivine Megahed, president of NLU, which graduates more Chicago teachers and educators than any other university, public or private.
“This isn’t about politics; it’s about the future of Chicago’s children,” Megahed continued. “We’re recruiting fellows from various backgrounds, who are politically, ideologically, and demographically representative of the diverse student population of Chicago, and equipping these individuals with the tools they need to lead.”
The seven-month ALL Chicago fellowship program will utilize a hybrid virtual and in-person learning model, based on a curriculum developed by Cincinnati-based School Board School.
Customized to address the complexity and nuance of educational governance in Chicago, the program will help participants learn how a school board operates, and how board members can most effectively interact with each other, the district, and the community, channeling their talents, experiences, and values into meaningful progress. Fellows will engage in site visits, glean diverse insights from experts in the field, and virtually attend CPS board meetings.
“We’re focusing on interactive learning experiences designed to create a community of engaged citizens who believe in a collective responsibility to build and support school systems that allow every young person in Chicago to thrive,” said Bridget Lee, director of ALL Chicago. “To be effective in this work, school board members must be grounded in racial equity, share a strong sense of purpose, and have a deep understanding of the most important issues affecting students in their community.”
ALL Chicago has already secured more than $1 million in funding to support its mission from like-minded entities, including Crown Family Philanthropies, the Joyce Foundation, The Robert R. McCormick Foundation, and Vivo Foundation. Among the program’s advisory board are: Chicago Board of Education member Rudy Lozano, Jr., Executive Director of Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Chicago Beyond Chief Innovation Officer Maurice Swinney, EdD, former Interim Chief Education Officer for CPS; Tamara Prather, Liberatory Coach and Consultant, and former Executive Director, Chicago of the Surge Institute, and NLU Deputy Provost Ignacio Lopez, and current member of the Illinois District 73 East Prairie School Board.
For additional information or to apply for the ALL Chicago fellowship program, visit nl.edu/academy-for-local-leadership/#.