ON CLARK STREET Cynthia Asghar, former director of risk and benefits management, has been named deputy chief fiscal officer. … Veteran central office administrator Bruce Marchiafava has been appointed executive officer of the Chicago Academic Accountability Council, succeeding Karen Carlson, who now works in the Office of Intervention. Previously, Marchiafava has worked in the communications and budget offices. … Leonard C. Moody, an audit manager at Bank of America, has been named director of Internal Audit Services in the Office of the Chief of Staff. … Returning from six months as director of capitol at the Chicago Park District, Karen Burke has been appointed deputy chief operating officer. Burke’s former position in CPS was director of finance and administration.
MORE ON CLARK STREET Diane Zendejas, former principal at Horace Greeley, is now director of the Chicago Teachers Academy for Professional Development; she is also responsible for the Libraries and Information Services department. She succeeds Judith Foster, who is now director of instruction for reading, language arts and social sciences, a new department at CPS. Currently, Zendejas is working with Linda Ford to develop the National Teaching Academy of Chicago. Ford, former principal at Brownell Elementary, was brought on board to lead the project. For the past three years, she worked at the University of Chicago Center for School Improvement on school restructuring.
PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS Jonadab Omeke received a principal contract at West Pullman, where he was serving as interim principal. Gladys J. Pruitt, principal at Lewis Elementary, had her contract renewed. Larry C. Gartski, assistant principal of Brentano, is the new principal at Sauganash.
ELSIE AWARDS Parents United for Responsible Education (PURE) gave their fourth annual Elsie Awards to Finkl LSC members, the Chicago Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights and the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Parents from the State Pre-K Demonstration Center, which models high-quality programs, were recognized for their efforts in getting the board’s attention and a written promise for appropriate new space. Winners from previous years include LSC members from Zapata, Stowe and Gale.
CPS PARENT ACADEMY The new CPS Parent and Community Training Academy has opened at 3830 S. Cottage Grove. The academy will house programs to help parents aid in their children’s education. (773) 553-6600
ANOTHER ACRONYM Chicago Leadership Academies For Supporting Success (CLASS) is a new umbrella organization for the leadership development programs CPS offers in collaboration with the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association. CLASS includes Leadership Academy and Urban Network for Chicago (LAUNCH), for aspiring principals; Leadership Initiative for Transformation (LIFT), for new principals; Chicago Academy for School Leadership (CASL), for other principals, and Illinois Administrators Academy (IAA), for all administrators. More information can be obtained online at www.cpaa-class.org.
NEWCOMER SCHOOL The International Newcomer and Refugee High School Center opened its doors in October at Senn Metro Academy. The center is designed as a transition center to help students who have special needs that regular bilingual education classrooms do not meet. Students from various countries will be served, including Bangladesh, Iraq, Somalia and Sudan.