MOVING IN / ON Elizabeth Evans, former director of government and community affairs at the Illinois Facilities Fund, a nonprofit real estate corporation, has been named executive director of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. …The Steans Family Foundation has hired two new education program officers: Chris Brown, previously director of schools and communities for Cross City Campaign; and Mariame Kaba, formerly of Friends of Battered Women and Their Children. Kaba, who will also handle grant making for youth development, replaces Susan Yanun, who has joined the Logan Square Neighborhood Association as a program director. … Debby Pope, former director of communications for the Chicago Teachers Union, has joined Gage Park High School as a social studies teacher. Former CTU President Deborah Lynch also works there.
AT CLARK STREET Audrey Cooper-Stanton, area 17 instructional officer, is now heading the Office of Literacy. Replacing her as AIO is Delena Little, the former principal of Drake Elementary. … Area 5 instructional officer Flavia Hernandez was named deputy chief instruction officer in the Office of Instruction and School Management. Deborah Esparza, former principal of Stockton Elementary, was tapped as the new area 5 AIO. … CPS has two new high school area science coaches: Pamela Sherley in area 24 and Victor Simon in area 22. Area science coaches provide support and guidance to high school science teachers under the district’s math and science initiative.
PRINCIPAL CONTRACTS The following interim principals have been awarded contracts: Zoila Garcia, Whittier; Michelle Smith, Marconi; and Carol Y. Perry, Attucks. … Ida Stewart, contract principal at Carver Middle, had her contract renewed for four years. … Shirley Talley Smith, Bouchet; William Johnson, Fenger; and Janice Jones, Yale, are new interim principals. Smith, Johnson and Jones are replacing Robert Earl Lewis, Phyllis Hodges and Stephen Jones, respectively. Paulette J. Boston, is the new contract principal at Brown, replacing Connie Thomas, who retired. … Johnella McKinnor, the assistant principal at Stockton, is now the acting principal.
AWARD Charles Hall, a special education teacher at Beidler Elementary, was one of 100 teachers nationwide honored with a Milken National Educator Award. Hall, a graduate of Beidler, received $25,000 for being what the Milken Family Foundation considers one of the nation’s best educators. Recipients of the award are recommended by a state committee but do not know that they have been nominated. Hall worked in radio and television production before he was hired at Beidler as a substitute teacher.
STUDENTS GET POLITICAL Mikva Challenge, a nonprofit group that works to get youth actively involved in democracy, has trained more than 500 CPS high school students from 30 schools to work as Election Day judges. Students from the group have also registered some 5,000 student voters for the upcoming elections.
PRINCIPAL ARRESTED John Lewis, principal of Libby Elementary, was arrested Oct. 9 when 61 illegal handguns were found in his home. Lewis has been temporarily removed from Libby, and his future status may depend upon the outcome of a police investigation, according to a CPS spokesman.
ON STRIKE Cook County College Teachers Union (CCCTU) went on strike Oct. 19, primarily to protest the stagnant salaries and increasing costs of health care benefits, according to union President Perry Buckley. The walkout includes some 750 faculty and staff of the City Colleges of Chicago, a system comprised of seven campuses and 60,000 students. The CCCTU’s last contract expired July 15, and union officials declared an impasse after negotiations and mediation sessions with a team representing the City Colleges administration failed to produce a new agreement. Some classes were held, however, since part-time faculty did not strike.
FTBs LET GO In June, the School Board handed honorable discharges to 320 full-time basis substitutes (FTBs) who failed to complete state certification requirements despite repeated warnings. Two years ago, the board issued first warnings to 416 FTBs. Of those, 66 received or are about to receive certification, and 30 resigned, retired or were dismissed or displaced by school closings before June 30.
BOARD TIGHTENS RESIDENCY POLICY The Board of Education decision to tighten enforcement of its residency policy will force principals and other schools officials to verify that new employees live in Chicago. Employees caught living outside the city will be fired if they don’t move within two months. The Chicago Teachers Union sought to have the residency rule eased during contract negotiations last year, but Mayor Richard M. Daley has long opposed the idea. CTU President Marilyn Stewart said tougher enforcement will make teacher shortages worse at a time when half of all new teachers leave the profession within five years. Stewart noted that other major cities—including Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, Cleveland and Detroit—have lifted their residency requirements.