End of Week Message: A Month to Honor Our Exemplary School Leaders
05 October 2024
Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
Yesterday, we shared the news that the seven members who currently make up the Chicago Board of Education plan to resign their positions in the very near future. I thank these Board members for their dedicated service, and want to assure all families and staff that this change will not result in any disruption to the day-to-day operations of our schools.
Our academic calendar will continue as normal during this transition, with no interruption to student learning. And regardless of the makeup of the Board, my team and I will remain laser focused on our work, which is to provide all CPS students with a rigorous, joyful, and equitable experience that prepares them for success.
Celebrating our Dynamic School Leaders
October is one of my favorite months, because it’s four weeks devoted to honoring the professionals who are the heart and soul of our school communities. I’m of course talking about our District’s more than 600 principals!
To the teachers and support staff in their buildings, they are both sounding boards and dynamic instructional leaders. To our families, they are a wealth of information on everything from the curriculum in their children’s classroom to the social-emotional supports that meet each student where they are. And to our students themselves, principals are the foundation on which a thriving school community is built. They set the tone for a positive learning environment where every child feels safe and supported, and where there is a deep sense of belonging.
We know that in schools with strong principals, students achieve more, and teachers are more effective. This is why we were encouraged by results from the Chicago Public Education Fund’s 2024 Principal Engagement Survey, which shows that 64% of CPS principals are satisfied or very satisfied with their roles. This number has risen steadily since our return from the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are determined to keep that positive trend going.
Toward that end, CPS will continue providing our school leaders with the support they need to help their communities soar. This includes consistent communication, increased opportunities for professional growth, and a new budget model that provides many centrally-funded resources, including an assistant principal in every school.
We are supported in this work by the Principal Advisory Council—a diverse group of leaders representing every Network in our District. Elected by their peers, this talented team is a powerful voice for all CPS principals, lending their perspective to department initiatives and helping shape such critical policies as our new accountability system and Whole School Safety Plan.
I was excited to meet with our newest Principal Advisory Council members last month. Click here to see a list of these PAC members and their schools.
I urge everyone in our CPS community to take some time this month to let our school leaders know how much they are appreciated and how much their tireless effort makes a difference. Please take a moment to check out this Social Media Toolkit courtesy of our partners at The Chicago Fund for Public Education. It includes ready-to-use graphics, hashtags, and pre-written messages to help families celebrate Principal Appreciation Month. And be sure to stay tuned to our CPS Blog where we will be profiling principals all month long.
To our wonderful principals—thank you for all you do!
Sincerely,
Pedro Martinez
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Public Schools
Help Us Highlight Your School
We love highlighting the amazing things that are happening day-to-day in our schools, along with the people who are making them happen! Please share your stories with us using our Good News Form so that we can share them with the District!
A Look Around the District
CPS leaders joined the school community at Hamline Elementary this week for a special ribbon-cutting on a new outdoor play space. Located in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, Hamline is now home to a new soccer field, a new outdoor basketball court, and an updated playground where students can spend time learning and playing together.
Meanwhile, at Spry Elementary, the school community celebrated the spirit of freedom and culture at their Mexican Independence Day celebration. At the event, guests came together to enjoy vibrant performances and activities rooted in rich Mexican culture and heritage.
GoCPS Application Window Now Open
GoCPS applications are now being accepted for the 2025-26 school year. GoCPS is the District’s platform for helping students and families explore all available academic programs throughout the city. These include neighborhood schools, Magnet programs, Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities, and selective enrollment schools.
Submit your GoCPS application here by the deadline of Friday, November 15 at 5 p.m.
Celebrating Our Stellar CPS Custodians
This week, we were excited to celebrate our District’s 2,500 custodians on National Custodian Appreciation Day. These dedicated employees are responsible for preparing our buildings for the first day of school and maintaining them throughout the school year. They make sure that all of our schools are clean, healthy, and conducive to learning, which research shows is linked to better health and student outcomes. We thank our custodians for being the first ones in and the last ones out of our school buildings every day so that a comfortable learning environment is provided for students and staff.
Partner Donates 10 Millionth Book to CPS Students
A huge thank you to our partners at Bernie’s Book Bank, who celebrated Literacy Month by donating a series of books to children at Armstrong Elementary School earlier this week. This marked the ten millionth book to be donated to CPS students by the organization, which was founded in 2009 with the mission of making books accessible to all children. By distributing engaging, culturally relevant books to children around Chicago, Bernie’s Book Bank is succeeding in building book ownership among students and improving literacy growth.
Paris Olympian Welcomed Home to CPS Alma Mater
Earlier today, Lindblom Math and Science Academy welcomed back Olympic Gold Medalist and former student-athlete Shamier Little with a special assembly celebrating her win at the 2024 Paris Olympics 4x400 relay race. The school community honored Little with student performances, words from school leadership, and a gift thanking her for the legacy she’s created at Lindblom.
Attention Students: Register Now for Teen Fallapalooza
All Chicago youth ages 14-19 are invited to celebrate the start of fall at the 2024 Teen Fallapalooza event on Friday, October 18! Join My CHI. My Future. at the Winter Garden in Harold Washington Library from 5-8 pm for an evening filled with music, games, food, and fun activities. Click here to register or contact MyCHIMyFuture@cityofchicago.org for questions or accommodations.
Enjoy Halloween in the Parks
From pumpkin patches and Fall Harvest Fests to haunted houses, parties, and more, there is something for everyone this Halloween season in the parks. Come celebrate this spooktacular time of year with the Chicago Park District! See complete details here.
Budget Forum for Teens: Oct. 10
Teens, what do you want to see in your neighborhood parks? Share your ideas with Chicago Park District leaders at the Online Teen Budget Forum on Thursday, October 10 at 6:30 pm. Learn more here.
CPS Staff: Resources for World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is coming up on October 10, and the CPS Office of Student Health and Wellness (OSHW) has compiled a helpful collection of resources to stress the importance of maintaining good mental health amongst staff and students.
- In addition to the Suicide Prevention Training in SafeSchools, staff can find supplemental training detailing the components of Mental Health Literacy from our partner, Erika’s Lighthouse.
- OSHW is also offering free Youth Mental Health First Aid training opportunities for all staff via Learning Hub (Course Code 70692). For group/team training requests, please email mentalhealth@cps.edu.
- The CPS Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free, anonymous resource to support the mental health of staff members. Counselors are available 24/7. Employees and their dependents can access these benefits by calling 800-890-1213 or visiting GuidanceResources.com.
- For more resources such as hotlines, flyers for students and staff, or general information on substance use and mental health, please visit cps.edu/mentalhealth.
Help Develop the New CPS Arts Education Plan
Don’t miss your chance to share thoughts and ideas around our District’s new plan to advance accessible, equitable, and high-quality arts education..
Join us for a roundtable discussion to share your experiences and aspirations for the future of arts education at CPS. Learn more here.
Below are the dates, times, and locations for our upcoming roundtables:
- Monday, October 7
5:30–7:30 p.m. | In-person
Truman College
1145 W. Wilson Ave. - Tuesday, October 8
5:30–7:30 p.m. | In-person
Schurz High School
3601 N. Milwaukee Ave - Wednesday, October 9
12–2 p.m. | Virtual (Link to be sent after registration)
Your participation and insights will help us create a vibrant and inclusive arts education environment for all students in Chicago. If you are interested, please RSVP to secure your spot. We look forward to seeing you at one of the sessions!
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- Monday, October 14: CPS schools and offices are closed in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day; no classes for CPS students.
- Wednesday, October 16: Board of Education Agenda Review Committee Meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Thursday, October 24: Board of Education meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Friday, October 25: End of quarter 1.