CHICAGO 鈥� A unique survey confirms the vital role Local School Councils (LSC) play in preserving community-based decision-making, and identifies where continued investment could make it stronger. The 2025-26 LSC Engagement Survey, released by The 海角直播 (The Fund), included respondents from 64% of the 511 public schools in 海角直播with active LSCs 鈥� a critical anchor for school stability and community trust.

The Fund conducted the survey from August to November 2025 in partnership with the 海角直播 (CPS) Office of Local School Council Relations and Department of Principal Quality, with responses of 608 LSC members representing 325 public schools in Chicago. This research informs The Fund鈥檚 ongoing commitment to understanding what LSC members experience and what they need to strengthen relationships among principals, parents, teachers, and community members.

LSCs are school鈥慴ased governing bodies in CPS that typically comprise six parents, two community members, two teachers, one non鈥憈eaching school staff member, up to three students, and the principal. LSCs approve school budgets, select and evaluate principals, and oversee their schools鈥� Continuous Improvement Work Plans 鈥� three-year strategic plans that CPS requires every school to develop.

鈥淐hicago鈥檚 LSCs model is a national example of what community decision-making for public schools can look like,” said Heather Y. Anichini, Ed.D., president and CEO of The Fund. 鈥淭hese surveys clarify how we can invest in LSCs in ways that reflect their needs and strengthen local governance that is unique to Chicago鈥檚 public schools. The findings will continue to shape how we support LSC members and their school leaders going forward.鈥�

To complement the survey data, The Fund held five focus groups in early February 2026 with 36 LSC members representing 35 schools. The focus groups largely corroborated the survey findings

Top findings from the LSC Engagement Survey include:

• LSC members learn about their councils through school鈥慴ased and personal connections: 60% of respondents reported hearing about their LSC from school staff, current council members, or their principal.
• LSCs members see their councils as strong bridges between school and community: 75% of respondents said their council does a good job of connecting with community members and considering their input.
• Members generally have strong relationships with their principals: 83% of respondents agree that they work well with their current school leader.
• LSCs view themselves as strategic partners in their schools鈥� direction: Respondents ranked 鈥渕onitoring and approval of the CIWP鈥� and 鈥渁pproving budget decisions鈥� as the two top responsibilities of councils.聽
• Several factors leave Chicagoans hesitating to join their LSCs: When asked about reasons that made them or people they know hesitate to join their council, respondents cited the time commitment for being a member (64%), lack of knowledge about schools (38%), negative associations with a previous LSC (22%), and language accessibility (6%).聽
• LSC members feel prepared and supported, but a sizable minority think more training would be helpful: 86% reported feeling clear on their roles and responsibilities, and 79% know where to go for support, but a third (32%) thought more training would be beneficial. In open responses, members most often requested practical, hands-on training in several areas, including budget oversight, principal evaluation, and meeting management. Many also asked for clearer onboarding for new members; role-specific guidance for chairs and student representatives; and simplified, more accessible training formats.

In addition to the LSC Engagement Survey, The Fund provides programs to strengthen LSC effectiveness and relationships between principals and their councils. These include the LSC Working Group, which brings together parents and community members to design solutions to common challenges and develop tools that support the principal evaluation process.

In advance of the 2026 LSC elections on March 18, The Fund also held the LSC Election Accelerator Series 鈥� comprising virtual and in-person workshops 鈥� to help principals, assistant principals, parents, and community members reduce council vacancies and increase community engagement. More information about The Fund鈥檚 programs to support LSCs and school leaders is available in its 2025-26 Program Summary report.

鈥淥ver 20 years of research shows that principals have an outsized impact on student outcomes,鈥� said Anichini. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so important to ensure that LSCs function well and have collaborative, productive relationships with their school leaders.鈥�

About The 海角直播

The 海角直播 (The Fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves Chicago鈥檚 public schools by investing in the talented educators who lead them. Its data-driven strategies increase the number of strong leaders in Chicago鈥檚 public schools. The Fund鈥檚 program, policy, and partnership efforts are designed to meet school leaders where they are, to accelerate their growth, and to enable their retention.

Media Contact

Brooke Rayford
Senior Manager of Communications
brayford@thefundchicago.org
The 海角直播

CHICAGO 鈥� The 海角直播 (The Fund) recently announced the appointment of Dr. Julie Morita, president and CEO of the Joyce Foundation, to its Board of Directors. A nationally recognized leader in public health and philanthropy, Dr. Morita brings deep expertise in policy reform, racial equity, and cross-sector collaboration to The Fund鈥檚 mission of ensuring every 海角直播public school has a high-quality principal.

鈥淛ulie Morita is one of Chicago鈥檚 most effective and compassionate civic leaders, and we are incredibly proud to welcome her to the Board,鈥� said Heather Anichini, President and CEO of The Fund. 鈥淗er career has been defined by a relentless pursuit of equity 鈥� whether through health care or philanthropy. Julie understands that student success relies on strong systems and strong leaders. Her experience managing complex policy issues and large-scale investments will be invaluable as we work to support the educators leading our city鈥檚 schools.鈥�

At the Joyce Foundation, Dr. Morita oversees the annual charitable distribution of $65 million, aimed at advancing racial equity and economic mobility in the Great Lakes region. Previously, she served as executive vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, where she led programming that addressed systemic barriers to health.

Julie Morita, CEO of the Joyce Foundation

In her nearly two decades of service with the 海角直播Department of Public Health, including serving as commissioner from 2015 to 2019, she led the implementation of Healthy 海角直播2.0, a four-year plan focused on achieving health equity by addressing the conditions in which people live, learn, and work.

Born and raised in Chicago, Dr. Morita is a lifelong advocate for justice, deeply influenced by the experience of her parents, who were detained in Japanese American internment camps during World War II. She has served as an advisor to the White House, the CDC, and the National Academy of Medicine, and earned her medical degree from the University of Illinois Chicago鈥檚 College of Medicine.

鈥淚 have spent my career working to dismantle systemic barriers so that families and communities can thrive, and education is a fundamental pillar of that work,鈥� said Dr. Morita. 鈥淚 have long admired The 海角直播鈥檚 data-driven approach and its unwavering belief in the power of school leadership. As a 海角直播native, I look forward to working with the Board to ensure that our principals have the resources and support they need to help every student reach their full potential.鈥�

About The 海角直播

The 海角直播 (The Fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves Chicago鈥檚 public schools by investing in the talented educators who lead them. The Fund is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, underscoring its enduring commitment to collaborating with partners across Chicago鈥檚 education sector to redefine school leadership in the city.

Media Contact

Brooke Rayford
Senior Manager of Communications
brayford@thefundchicago.org
The 海角直播

CHICAGO 鈥� The 海角直播 (The Fund) recently announced the promotion of Mariel Laureano from senior director of educator supports to chief, innovation and continuous improvement. In this newly elevated role, Laureano will lead The Fund鈥檚 strategy to design, test, and scale innovative solutions that strengthen school leadership and improve student outcomes across the city.

鈥淢ariel is a builder, a listener, and a relentless problem-solver,鈥� said Dr. Heather Y. Anchini, The Fund鈥檚 president and CEO. 鈥淪he brings a rare combination of classroom insight, system-level experience, and operational discipline. As chief, innovation and continuous improvement, she will help The Fund and our partners move faster from promising ideas to measurable impact for Chicago鈥檚 students.鈥�

During her tenure as senior director of educator supports, Laureano led cross-partner initiatives that expanded access to high-quality professional learning for school leaders and their teams, improved data use in schools, and streamlined the process of surfacing and sharing promising practices across the city.

鈥淚鈥檓 honored to serve Chicago鈥檚 educators in this new role and this next chapter,鈥� said Laureano. 鈥淥ur schools are full of creativity and urgency. My goal is to co-design with leaders and partners, test what works, and scale it. As always, our decisions will remain student-centered and continue to be guided by data.鈥�

Mariel Laureano, chief, innovation and continuous improvement, 2025

In her new role, Laureano will:

• Drive innovation pipelines that identify school- and network-level challenges and rapidly prototype solutions with practitioners.
• Strengthen continuous improvement systems to ensure that insights from pilots are translated into sustained, citywide practices.
• Deepen partnerships with 海角直播, charter and network partners, philanthropy, and community organizations to align resources to what works.
• Elevate educator voice to ensure the perspectives of principals, teachers, and students shape strategy from design through implementation.

About The 海角直播

The 海角直播 (鈥淭he Fund鈥�) is a nonprofit organization that accelerates student learning in 海角直播by investing in strong school leadership. In partnership with Chicago鈥檚 public schools and community, The Fund designs, tests, and scales solutions that help principals and their teams create the schools that students deserve. Learn more at thefundchicago.org.

Media Contact

Brooke Rayford
Senior Manager of Communications
brayford@thefundchicago.org
The 海角直播

Editor鈥檚 Note: This announcement is effective November 12, 2025. Quotes and descriptors can be customized with additional biographical details or partner acknowledgments upon request.

Principal Barton Dassinger of C茅sar E. Ch谩vez Multicultural Academic Center won the Growth Leader in Elementary Schools Award. Principal Brian Kelly of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. College Preparatory High School won the Growth Leader in High Schools Award.

The organization announced the awards at its annual Principal Storytelling Evening on October 16 at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Mayor Brandon Johnson and interim 海角直播 Superintendent/CEO Dr. Macquline King delivered remarks at the event before four principals told inspiring stories from their careers as leaders. The event is part of the Principal Appreciation Campaign, a citywide effort led by The Fund that celebrates school leaders every October.

鈥淭he Fund celebrates Chicago鈥檚 public school principals year-round,鈥� said Dr. Heather Y. Anichini, CEO of The 海角直播. 鈥淪ince 2015, our October appreciation campaign has inspired a coalition of organizations and communities to recognize the essential role principals play in shaping school culture and accelerating student learning citywide.鈥�

The awards celebrate principals who have achieved exemplary postpandemic growth in their schools. The Fund鈥檚 School Leader Celebrations Committee, which includes 海角直播school leaders and members of community organizations, selected Dassinger and Kelly from a pool of finalists, four in each category:

Finalists for Growth Leader in Elementary Schools Award

• Barton Dassinger, Ch谩vez Multicultural Academic Center
• Meghan Duffy, Audubon Elementary School
• Yalil Nieves, Peterson Elementary School
• Donnell Rader, Beasley Academic Center

Finalists for Growth Leader in High Schools Award

• William Hook, 海角直播High School for Agricultural Sciences
• Paul J. Karafiol, Lake View High School
• Brian Kelly, King College Prep
• Jennifer Sutton, Von Steuben High School

The finalists were identified by assessing multi-year performance metrics for every public school in Chicago. Each finalist then submitted supporting materials and staff endorsements. The committee used a detailed rubric to carefully evaluate the submitted materials and school data. Important considerations included:

• Improvements in student attendance
• Growth in Illinois Assessment of Readiness scores for elementary schools
• Rising graduation rates for high schools
• Growth in the Effective Leaders rating on the 5Essentials Survey

Barton Dassinger has been the principal of Ch谩vez Multicultural Academic Center for over 15 years and has 20 years of leadership experience in 海角直播. He recently received the Award of Excellence from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Under his leadership, Ch谩vez earned the Exemplary School designation from ISBE in 2024, the highest tier in the state. Among the many data points that impressed the committee, Barton has significantly reduced kindergarten through eighth-grade chronic absenteeism at Ch谩vez, lowering the percentage of students missing 18 or more days from 37% in 2022 to 6.3% in 2025.

鈥淚 felt overwhelmed with pride for our school community when I received this award,鈥� said Principal Dassinger. 鈥淥ur students鈥� outstanding growth is a result of their sustained hard work and that of their parents and all of our staff members.鈥�

Dr. Brian Kelly is in his seventh year as principal of King College Prep, where he has expanded dual-credit access, strengthened supports for students with disabilities, and sustained high Freshman On-Track performance while increasing graduation rates. A 2025 Cahn Distinguished Fellow, 2024 Golden Apple Award recipient, 2023 ISBE Administrator of Excellence, Dr. Kelly also coaches leaders as the founder of Fullbody Leadership and mentors emerging principals through the 海角直播Leadership Collaborative and the Golden Apple Foundation. In recent years, he has driven a 20% gain in ninth- and 10th-grade reading and math performance and increased seniors鈥� scholarship offers from $1.9 million to over $33 million, two of many outcomes that impressed the selection committee.

鈥淚 feel deep gratitude for our staff, students, and families. Their trust makes bold work possible, and this honor belongs to King College Prep,鈥� Dr. Kelly said. 鈥淭his award affirms that equity-driven, student-centered leadership changes lives, and I am proud of our Jaguars and the educators who make that promise real every day.鈥�

鈥淐hicago鈥檚 strongest principals are curious, committed leaders who use data to spot opportunities others might overlook,鈥� said Dr. Anichini. 鈥淏arton, Brian, and all of this year鈥檚 Growth Leader Award finalists provide tangible examples of transforming numbers into stronger student experiences. At a time when we might be collectively struggling to find clear instances of what鈥檚 working, they show us what excellence looks like 鈥� constantly innovating to ensure students are in school and learning every day.鈥�

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About the Principal Appreciation Campaign

For 10 years, The Fund has proudly led Chicago鈥檚 citywide Principal Appreciation Campaign, a collaborative effort with 海角直播, the city of Chicago, and valued partners like Aon, BMO, the Field Museum, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Intersection, Northern Trust, and William Blair. As part of Principal Appreciation Month every October, this campaign celebrates the exceptional work of Chicago鈥檚 school leaders and their positive impact on students, teachers, and communities.

About The 海角直播

The 海角直播 (The Fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves Chicago鈥檚 public schools by investing in the talented educators who lead them. The Fund is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, underscoring its enduring commitment to collaborating with partners across Chicago鈥檚 education sector to redefine school leadership in the city.

Media Contact
Zach Jacobs
zjacobs@thefundchicago.org

This year, The Fund will invest $2.2 million to support the growth of more than 400 current and aspiring principals across Chicago. These leaders are the backbone of Chicago鈥檚 schools 鈥� and the organization鈥檚 belief in them is rooted in both data and experience: Behind every great public school is a strong school leadership team.

鈥淪upporting school leaders is at the heart of what The Fund does, and it鈥檚 more important than ever,鈥� said CEO Dr. Heather Y. Anichini. 鈥淧rincipals and assistant principals have provided stability through years of disruption 鈥� from a pandemic to today鈥檚 rapid changes in education. Now is the time for bold investment in the leadership our schools and our city need.鈥�

The Fund鈥檚 programming offers Chicago鈥檚 principals and aspiring leaders the professional development, coaching, and peer networks they need to thrive, at no cost to them or their schools. These opportunities are designed with educators, for educators, and reach leaders who serve more than half of Chicago鈥檚 public school students.

For leaders like Principal Marie Garza of Albany Park Multicultural Academy, the impact is both professional and personal: 鈥淭he Fund has been an invaluable resource and partner in my development as a school leader. Their programs have both helped me grow and given me opportunities to share my experience with colleagues across the city.鈥�

The Fund鈥檚 programming is informed by its annual Principal and Assistant Principal Engagement Surveys, which it conducts in partnership with 海角直播 and the National Business Research Institute. The surveys gauge school leaders’ experiences during the previous year, helping to understand the needs of principals and assistant principals citywide.

鈥淧rincipals have an outsized impact on student achievement,鈥� said Anichini. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to partner with 海角直播 and so many others across 海角直播to ensure the educators who lead our schools have the support and autonomy they need to provide the learning experiences every student deserves.鈥�

As 海角直播faces a pivotal moment in public education, The Fund is living its belief out loud: strong schools start with strong principals, and investing in those leaders is the surest path to joyful communities of learning for students and their families.

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About The 海角直播

The 海角直播 (The Fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves Chicago鈥檚 public schools by investing in the talented educators who lead them. The Fund is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, underscoring its enduring commitment to collaborating with partners across Chicago鈥檚 education sector to redefine school leadership in the city.

Media Contact
Zach Jacobs
zjacobs@thefundchicago.org

June 16, 2025

CHICAGO 鈥� A new survey of nearly 900 海角直播 (CPS) principals and assistant principals shows a notable rebound in job satisfaction 鈥� but also reveals a troubling drop in the number of school leaders who feel adequately supported to do their jobs. The 2025 Principal and Assistant Principal Engagement Surveys, released last Friday by The 海角直播 (The Fund), reached a 72% participation rate among district principals and have already been shared with CPS leadership to inform planning for the year ahead.

Overall, 70% of principals now report being satisfied in their roles, a six-point increase from the previous year and a strong recovery from post-pandemic lows. But the data also offers a clear warning signal: Only 52% of principals said they have the resources and support they need to succeed 鈥� a sharp 11-point drop from last year, and likely a reflection of the growing complexity of the role amid shifting district conditions.

鈥淭his year鈥檚 results are a call to both celebrate and act,鈥� said Heather Y. Anichini, Ed.D., president and CEO of The Fund. 鈥淪chool leaders are showing renewed optimism, but they鈥檙e also sounding the alarm. If we don鈥檛 address their need for real, responsive support, we risk losing the very people driving progress in our schools.鈥�

Additional findings include:

• Strong network relationships: 86% of principals say they receive feedback from their network chiefs and deputies.
• Instructional time is under pressure: Over half of school leaders said that more time for instructional leadership would significantly improve their satisfaction.
• Chronic absenteeism is a widespread concern: 60% of principals and 51% of assistant principals report that absenteeism is significantly affecting their school communities.

The Fund has already briefed CPS leadership on the survey findings, including CEO Pedro Martinez and members of the interim executive team. Discussions are underway to identify ways the data can help guide resource decisions, professional learning, and leader development.

In response to the findings, The Fund is:

• Launching a second cohort of the Malott Educator Fellowship, which includes a focus on combating chronic absenteeism.
• Expanding Professional Learning Community supports and resource coaching.
• Equipping school leaders with new tools to strengthen Local School Council engagement.

鈥淭hese results underscore what school leaders have been telling us for months: Their jobs are getting harder, not easier,鈥� said Anichini. 鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to making sure this data drives tangible change, not just conversation.鈥�

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About the Principal and Assistant Principal Engagement Surveys

Since 2014, The Fund has invited all of Chicago鈥檚 public school principals to participate in its annual Principal Engagement Survey. The survey, which is available for any 海角直播public school principal to complete, gauges principal experience during the previous school year to better understand principals鈥� needs citywide. The Fund then uses the survey results to inform its program and policy work to support Chicago鈥檚 school leaders.

In 2022, The Fund introduced the Assistant Principal Engagement Survey. The survey similarly seeks to understand the experiences and needs of all of Chicago’s public school assistant principals. The findings help inform the organization鈥檚 current programming and improve the supports it provides to assistant principals throughout the year. The survey results also shape The Fund鈥檚 aspiring principal pipeline strategy.

The Fund commissions the surveys as the lead collaborator of The 海角直播Principal Partnership, a collective that includes CPS, principals, nonprofit organizations, funders, universities, parents, and community members who are committed to strong school leadership. The National Business Research Institute independently administers the surveys. , The 海角直播Principal Partnership鈥檚 online portal, houses a selection of the data from the surveys that is publicly available.

About The 海角直播

The 海角直播 (The Fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves Chicago鈥檚 public schools by investing in the talented educators who lead them. The Fund is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, underscoring its enduring commitment to collaborating with partners across Chicago鈥檚 education sector to redefine school leadership in the city.

Media contact: Nelson Gerew, ngerew@thefundchicago.org.

Poll also shows broad interest in engaging in CPS CEO search process; demonstrates strong support for local decision-making in schools.

FULL RESULTS HERE

May 28, 2025

CHICAGO 鈥� Survey findings commissioned by The 海角直播 highlight voters鈥� views on how 海角直播 (CPS) should manage a budget shortfall initially projected at over $500 million. The poll reveals a clear reluctance to pursue cuts or reimburse the city for legacy pension costs.

Key findings on CPS鈥� budget include:

• Only 25% of voters say CPS should reimburse the city for Municipal Employee Annuity Benefit Fund (MEABF) pension payments, while 48% say it should not. Voters disapprove of borrowing as a solution to the budget gap. Only 8% of respondents would pursue borrowing as a solution.
• Voters want government officials to identify new revenue streams where they can. 53% of respondents advocate additional state revenue, and 32% say CPS should seek more revenue from the city of Chicago.
• If budget adjustments need to be made, voters want decisions to be made at the local level, not by CPS Central Office or the 海角直播Board of Education. More than 75% of respondents answered “yes” when asked if Chicago’s principals should be able to hire, budget, and adjust programs for their schools.

鈥淭hese results show that while voters expect accountability, they also recognize the urgent need for sustainable funding in our public schools,鈥� said Heather Y. Anichini, Ed.D., CEO of The 海角直播. 鈥淐hicagoans want smart budgeting 鈥� but not at the expense of educators or students. If cuts are inevitable 鈥� and they might be for this year 鈥� they want principals working with their communities to ensure student experience is protected at the local level.鈥�

Additional key poll findings include:

• Voters generally pay attention to what is happening in Chicago’s public schools: 77% of respondents at least somewhat closely monitor CPS news.
• Parents believe that schools鈥� primary objective is to prepare students for college, more than preparing students to be good citizens or preparing students for a good job. This differs slightly from non-parents, whose top choice is preparing students to be good citizens.
• Most voters do not know who their elected school board members are or have an opinion about them. Eighty percent of voters do not know who their two elected district representatives are.
• Almost three in four voters (73%) want to be involved in the search for the next permanent CPS CEO, favoring public meetings (45%) and online surveys (41%) as the best ways to make their voices heard.
• When it comes to evaluating CEO candidates, voters rate experience in student learning and development, a track record of improving student outcomes, and experience managing large organizations and budgets as more important than experience in CPS. Voters are looking for a leader who understands students (43%), has a strong track record of improving outcomes (37%), and can manage a large budget (33%). Experience within CPS itself was cited by just 18% of voters.

Methodology

This survey was conducted by Embold Research from April 18-23, 2025, among 1,126 registered voters in Chicago. Respondents were recruited using dynamic online sampling and stratified to reflect the city鈥檚 demographics. Post-stratification was performed on age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, region, and 2020 presidential vote. The modeled margin of error is 卤3.1%.

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About The 海角直播

The 海角直播 (The Fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves Chicago鈥檚 public schools by investing in the talented educators who lead them. The Fund is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, underscoring its enduring commitment to collaborating with partners across Chicago鈥檚 education sector to redefine school leadership in the city.

Media contact: Nelson Gerew, ngerew@thefundchicago.org.

January 16, 2025

CHICAGO 鈥� The 海角直播 (The Fund) today announced that Sheri Hawkins of Northern Trust, Lauren Patnaude of BDT & MSD Partners, and Mark Rodriguez of the Lohengrin Foundation have joined other business, civic, and philanthropic leaders on its Board of Directors.

All three bring unique perspectives and experiences to The Fund鈥檚 Board that will advance its mission of ensuring every 海角直播public school has a high-quality principal. As an advocate for education, Hawkins is deeply interested in The Fund鈥檚 work and will continue the organization鈥檚 longstanding relationship with Northern Trust, previously represented by Board member Kim Evans. As a partner at BDT & MSD, Patnaude brings a strategic lens to supporting The Fund鈥檚 work and a passion for improving educational outcomes. Rodriguez鈥檚 experience as the CEO of the Lohengrin Foundation brings deep knowledge of the 海角直播education and nonprofit sectors that will support The Fund鈥檚 work in the broader space. Patnaude and Rodriguez also both have experience serving on The Fund鈥檚 Leadership Council that they will leverage in their new roles.聽

鈥淲e are incredibly proud and excited to welcome Lauren, Mark, and Sheri to our Board of Directors,鈥� President and CEO Dr. Heather Anichini said. 鈥淭hey are all deeply committed to our mission, and we look forward to their perspectives and expertise as we continue to make 海角直播the best city in the country to lead a public school.鈥�

The Fund鈥檚 Board, which now comprises 23 members, is deeply involved at every stage of the organization鈥檚 work 鈥� from developing the programs it provides for school leaders to the data it collects and analyzes to the education policy issues with which it engages. Fund Directors put their time and resources into the belief that strategic investments can positively impact outcomes for students in Chicago鈥檚 public schools.

Sheri Hawkins is executive vice president and head of Investment Platform Services with Northern Trust Asset Management. She is responsible for investment governance and leads four of the firm鈥檚 investment teams, including its Sustainable Investing and Stewardship efforts. Hawkins has also served as global head of product and asset management chief financial officer. Sheri is a CFA庐 charterholder, received a B.B.A in finance from the University of Notre Dame and an M.S. in financial markets and trading from Illinois Institute of Technology鈥檚 Stuart School of Business.

鈥淎s a proud product of 海角直播 elementary education, I am both humbled and excited to serve on The 海角直播鈥檚 Board,鈥� said Hawkins. 鈥淭he Fund鈥檚 unwavering commitment to investing in the talented educators who lead our schools is essential to unlocking brighter futures for all 海角直播students, and I look forward to contributing to this vital work.鈥�

Lauren Patnaude is a partner at BDT & MSD, responsible for the execution of both investments and advisory assignments. Her previous experience includes corporate strategy at The Boston Consulting Group and investment banking at Goldman Sachs, and she began her career at UBS. Patnaude is a director of Balcan Innovations, a Board member of the Pulitzer Center and the Yale College Alumni Fund, and a member of the Steering Committee for the 海角直播chapter of WiMA, a national network for women in M&A. Lauren received a B.A. in economics and history from Yale University and an MBA from The University of 海角直播Booth School of Business.

鈥淚 am honored to support The 海角直播 and its important work in enhancing educational outcomes in Chicago’s public schools through investing in strong leadership,鈥� said Patnaude. 鈥淭he Fund鈥檚 focus on leadership has an incredible amplifying effect on improving student outcomes across the city, and I look forward to partnering with this impressive Board to continue advancing this mission.鈥�

Mark Rodriguez serves as the CEO of the Lohengrin Foundation. He leads the Foundation鈥檚 overall grantmaking strategy and directly guides its efforts to support School Leadership and Learning funding initiatives in 海角直播and Boston. Prior to this role, he served as the chief operating officer for Heartland Alliance International. Earlier in his career, Mark was also instrumental in supporting the launch and development of the New Leaders principal fellowship program in 海角直播and nationally. Mark graduated from Roosevelt University with a Bachelor of Arts in communications and holds advanced certifications in philanthropy management from Loyola University, nonprofit management and human resources from Roosevelt University, and education and literacy best practices from National Louis University.

“I鈥檓 delighted to join the Board of The 海角直播 and deepen our focus on supporting school leaders to strengthen academic outcomes for all students,鈥� Rodriguez said. 鈥淭he Fund鈥檚 impactful history, use of data, and collaborative approach to supporting and strengthening school leaders is impressive and a guiding light to ensuring every 海角直播student can reach high levels of academic and personal success.鈥澛犅�

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About The 海角直播

The 海角直播 (The Fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves Chicago鈥檚 public schools by investing in the talented educators who lead them. The Fund is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, underscoring its enduring commitment to collaborating with partners across Chicago鈥檚 education sector to redefine school leadership in the city.

For media requests, please use our contact form.

January 8, 2025

CHICAGO 鈥� The 海角直播 (The Fund) today announced that longtime nonprofit leader Geoffrey Nagle started as the organization鈥檚 new chief operating officer on January 1, 2025. He will advance The Fund鈥檚 organizational priorities, including fundraising and culture goals.

鈥淚 am incredibly excited to join an organization that has been devoted to improving public education in 海角直播for 25 years,鈥� Dr. Nagle said. 鈥淚 look forward to working with The Fund鈥檚 passionate and innovative team as we support principals across the city.鈥�

Dr. Nagle鈥檚 previous experience as the CEO of the Erikson Institute makes him uniquely qualified to work with the organization and its partners. Erikson is a nationally respected leader in early childhood development and education, focused on preparing professionals and conducting research to improve outcomes for young children and their families. Under Dr. Nagle鈥檚 leadership, Erikson bridged gaps in early childhood development by uniting data, policy, and practice, similar to The Fund鈥檚 approach to PreK-12 public education in Chicago.

Many leaders in the education sector know and trust Dr. Nagle as a senior executive and policy expert. He also brings experience that will strengthen and unify The Fund鈥檚 human resources, operations, fundraising, and finance work, building on the robust operational backbone that has supported the organization鈥檚 mission-driven work over the past several years.

鈥淲e are delighted to welcome Geoff and value the strengths he will bring to The Fund鈥檚 team,鈥� CEO Dr. Heather Anichini said. 鈥淗is experience in nonprofit leadership will support the organization as we pursue our ambitious goals to support Chicago鈥檚 school leaders in our 25th year.鈥�

Dr. Nagle joins a robust senior leadership team, including Chief Public Affairs Officer Nelson Gerew, who has supported the organization鈥檚 mission throughout his 15-year career at The Fund; Director of Partnership and Innovation Julie Burnett, a former senior director of education policy in the 海角直播Mayor鈥檚 Office; and Director of Educator Supports Mariel Laureano, a former CPS principal and a chief education officer in the charter school sector.

Before leading the Erikson Institute, Dr. Nagle was an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Tulane University. He received his bachelor鈥檚 in political science from Duke University, his master鈥檚 in public health and social work, and a doctorate in mental health policy research from Tulane University.

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About The 海角直播

The 海角直播 (The Fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves Chicago鈥檚 public schools by investing in the talented educators who lead them. The Fund is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, underscoring its enduring commitment to collaborating with partners across Chicago鈥檚 education sector to redefine school leadership in the city.聽

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December 19, 2024

CHICAGO 鈥� At The Fund, we frequently support school-level transitions when principals step out of their roles. This process takes time, deliberate planning, and extensive communication with the impacted communities. We invest the time and energy required to facilitate those transitions because when they are not planned well, leadership changes can . These negative effects can last for over two years after the transition.

Leadership change at the top of a school district impacts all students, schools, and communities in that system. That is why, over the last several months, hundreds of school leaders have expressed their reservations with a leadership transition at this time. The 320,000 students in 海角直播 (CPS) deserve a thoughtful, well-planned, and well-communicated transition. That cannot happen in a situation where meetings are called with little notice and in ways that make communication with affected communities difficult.

In the last 25 years, The Fund has supported the CPS community through 10 CEO transitions, each of which has impacted schools and school leaders. It is harder to lead in schools when a transition at the top of the system is destabilizing and distracting. Given the negative effects a decision under these circumstances could have on principals, students, and school communities, we urge the 海角直播Board of Education to postpone the consideration of CPS CEO Pedro Martinez鈥檚 employment status until it has engaged in a more thorough and transparent process of community engagement and stakeholder input. Students鈥� educational outcomes depend on this.

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About The 海角直播

The 海角直播 (The Fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves Chicago鈥檚 public schools by investing in the talented educators who lead them. The Fund is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, underscoring its enduring commitment to collaborating with partners across Chicago鈥檚 education sector to redefine school leadership in the city.

For media requests, please use our contact form.