January Renaissance 2010 Report

The latest Ren10 newsletter is out, and this one opens with an inspiring quote from new schools "chief" (new title?) Hosanna Mahaley Johnson.  There's also word that 2 more Ren10 designs were approved at the December Board meeting -- a performance school (Team Englewood) and a contract school (Prologue).  Check it out below. 

LETTER FROM THE CHIEF

 

Do We Really Mean What We Say?

 

Happy New Year!

 

As we embark upon a new year, we must ask ourselves -- Are we truly embracing our assignment to prepare every child in every school to compete globally? We have all accepted the responsibility to change lives, but do we really mean what we say? The distinguished anthropologist Margaret Mead once stated “Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” We are a small group of committed educators and now is the time to ask ourselves are we standing for change. Thank to those who have chosen to stand whether you are a school leader, authorizer, parent, educator, legislator, donors, community member and even a student. If we stand for nothing we will fall for anything.

 

Yours in Service,

 

Hosanna Mahaley Johnson

Office of New Schools, Chief Officer

 

 

REN10 TOP TEN

 

Top 10 Questions to Ask Elected Officials Regarding Where They Stand on Public Education

www.givekidsgoodschools.org

 

1. What are your top priorities for improving public education?

2. What will you do to improve the quality of public schools?

3. What is your plan to provide adequate funding for all public schools?

4. How will you support the goal of high achievement for every student?

5. How will you engage the community, and help schools engage the community, to improve our public schools?

6. What do you believe schools should do to better prepare students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in higher education, work and life?

7. What do you believe are the best ways to evaluate school and student performance?

8. What is your position on the federal No Child Left Behind Act?

9. How would you help schools recruit and retain highly qualified teachers?

10. What resources and services, beyond academics, do you believe schools and the community should provide to support student well-being and achievement?

 

 

EVENTS

 

Grant Proposal Writing Workshop | Northwestern University | February 7-9

 

The Grant Institute’s Grants 101: Professional Grant Proposal Writing Workshop will be held at Northwestern University on February 7-9, 2007. It is an intensive and detailed introduction to the process, structure, and skill of professional proposal writing. The three-day workshop consists of the following courses: Fundamentals of Program Planning, Professional Grant Writing, and Grant Research. Interested development professionals, researchers, faculty, and graduate students should register as soon as possible. All participants will receive certification in professional grant writing from the Institute. For more information call 888-824-4424 or visit The Grant Institute website at www.thegrantinstitute.com.

 

 

NEWS

 

Teach for America Alumna at Ren10 School Recognized

 

Currently a second grade teacher at Bronzeville Lighthouse Charter School, an art-infused curriculum based school located at 8 W. Root Street (previously Hartigan Elementary), Kristin Tilghman was highlighted in the Teach for America Alumni Profile. Ms. Tilghman stated she chose her school because when she relocated to Chicago, she chose to search for organizations that believed that all children deserved a quality education and could achieve at high levels. She heard about Lighthouse Academies and thought it was the perfect place to master her trade as an artist while directly guiding children. Lighthouse has shown her that art is more than necessary in the educational process and have reaffirmed her career goals. Congratulations to Ms. Tilghman and Bronzeville Lighthouse Charter Academy.

 

UNO Charter School Highlighted in National Study

 

Since the 1980s the United Neighborhood Organization (UNO) has created a voice in school reform and its dedication to community development. Recently, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) completed a study to illustrate Latinos in high-quality charter schools are exceeding performance of traditional public school Latino students. The study highlights the Octavio Paz Campus that was opened in 1998 and explains how its rocky start has shifted into sharp improvements which are visible in its 40 percentage point increase in students who are proficient on state test. Congratulations to UNO and Octavio Paz!

 

Urban Prep Receives National Recognition

 

Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men was recently featured in the December edition of Ebony Magazine. The article focuses on a nationwide movement to create predominantly African American, all-male academies in urban districts. By providing a new option to traditional public schools, these academies are hoping to offer Black boys a better chance to succeed by connecting them with role models the students can see themselves emulating. Don Steele, a teacher at Urban Prep stated “I’m here to be one of the best models these young men can have.” With only 45% of African American male students graduating high school in four years, being suspended and expelled more often, and continuing to be assigned to special education there is a demand to rescue these young men and parents are trying to find new options. These academies are providing more structure, smaller class sizes, less distractions, and more African American male role models. While there are some opponents of single sex education, recent studies are showing it is working and most importantly it is necessary. Congratulations to Urban Prep and its young men!

 

Students Receive Tremendous Musical Donation

 

Williams Elementary School was one of the three schools in the city to receive new instruments through a program organized by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Orchestra members were on hand as they donated 27 new instruments to the schools music program and showed them how to play. With 30 first through eighth grade students currently in orchestra, the school’s music teacher is expecting it to double soon and plans to start a marching band next year. A student stated “This is big stuff for us because everyone gets their own instrument now.” The $60,000 contribution was made possible the Music Activity Partnership program that provides concerts and music instruction in eight low-income Chicago schools.

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

 

2 New Schools Approved to Open in 2007

 

One Wednesday, December 20, 2006 the Chicago Public Schools approved 2 new Renaissance 2010 schools. The schools are listed below:

 

1 high school approved for CPS site:

� TEAM Englewood Community Academy

Approved Year:���� 2007

Location:�������������� 6201 S. Stewart

Type:�������������������� Performance School

 

1 high school approved for an independent site:

� Prologue Early College

Approved Year:���� 2007

Location:�������������� 640 W. Irving Park

Type:�������������������� Contract School

 

Congratulations to the recently approved Design Teams!

 

CICS Students Make Stellar Accomplishment with Posse Foundations

 

Five of Chicago International Charter School (CICS) Northtown Campus’ students were recently awarded the nationally recognized Posse Foundation full-tuition scholarships worth over $600,000. In addition four of Chicago International Charter School (CICS) Longwood Campus’ students were awarded the same scholarship bringing the CICS total to 9!

 

With approximately 1,300 students nominated for the award, 70 winners were chosen. Each year the Posse selects promising students to become part of a 10-member team to attend college together. The team, also known as posse, works together like a family to support each other academically and emotionally to excel in college. Each of the awardees passed a three-stage process of interviews and group activities. Below is a list of the recipients along with their college of choice:

 

Northtown:

� Lisa Ayala (Carleton College)

� Beatriz Ca�as (University of Wisconsin at Madison)

� Ashley Dinzey (Carleton College in Minnesota)

� Jasmine McGhee (Denison University in Ohio)

� Yesenia Saavedra (University of Wisconsin at Madison)

 

Longwood:

� Conei Coleman (University of Wisconsin at Madison)

� Yudine LeJeune (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

� Michael Pace (DePauw University)

� Terrance Richardson (Oberlin College)

 

In addition to CICS, several other new schools students received Posse Scholarships. The students are listed below by their respective schools:

 

North Lawndale College Preparatory Charter High School:

� Apriel Campbell (University of Wisconsin at Madison)

� Arthur Holman (Carleton College)

� Victoria Roberts (Denison University at Ohio)

 

Perspectives Charter School:

� Quishaun Moore (Carleton College)

 

Noble Street Charter School:

� Laurence Pommells (Pomona College in California)

 

Congratulations to all of the Posse scholarship recipients!

 

84% of YWLCS Graduates Are In College

 

Young Women’s Leadership Charter School (YWLCS) inspires urban girls to engage in rigorous college preparatory learning in a small school focused on math, science and technology that nurtures their self-confidence and challenges them to achieve. After opening in the fall of 2000 with 150 young women in 6^th and 9^th grade, they currently have three graduating classes in college. It is with great pride that they share the news that 84% of those women are still in college! This is a remarkable achievement especially when compared to data released by the University of Chicago that indicates only 6% of students graduating from CPS go on to graduate from college. Congratulations to all of the staff, board members, and trailblazing alumnae of YWLCS!

Comments

This raises again the eternal question: why don't we just hire cheerleaders to fill CPS administrative openings. This does seem to be the primary qualification for the job.

I think this is a refreshing, unmbiguous statement. Bureaucrats don't usually behave like this. Hosanna deserves credit, not criticism. Even if Margret Mead had dubious ethnographic habits.

Sad would seem to be a better assessment of the Johnson statement. Her central question presented is: "Are we truly embracing our assignment to prepare every child in every school to compete globally?" Since when is it the "assignment" of CPS to become a producer of warriors in global commpetition? How about producing literate citizens who can make democratic decisions about the extent we as a nation should participate in global competition and at what cost to our standard of living. Oh, I forgot if we do not compete we will all just starve here, or so goes the logic of corporate America.

Is producing globally competitive workers the central mission of the Office of New Schools? No doubt our students will take on the Chinese and defeat them under the leadership of Hosanna Mahaley Johnson. This will be achieved by these students becoming adult workers who recieve starvation wages, but have good reading and math skills. I for one simply can not wait until this New Schools Office vision of the brave new world comes to pass.

Long Live the Chief Officer of the Office of New Schools, Long Live CEO Duncan, Forward to defeat the running dog Chinese capitalists

Is this the same administration that is overcrowding schools all over the Southside. They are really botching their assignment. But then again, they could just blame the fallout on teachers.

No Hosanna, the purpose of PUBLIC education isn't one of making every child a competitor in the global market place. And no, you aren't part of a small group of people working for change. Rather you are one of the leaders of a massive bureaucracy of thousands who suck up people's money and act as the gate keepers.