My passion has always been to make a positive impact on the lives of children by improving school systems, cultures, and infrastructures. My focus has always been on driving outcomes through targeted instruction while building positive and supportive relationships. I’ve worked with students of all academic abilities, from those at-risk to those accelerated, and have developed a repertoire of strategies for both mentoring these students and for influencing adults to support them appropriately.

CURRENT ROLE

Principal – Chicago Public Schools, LaSalle Language Academy – Chicago, IL

Fellow – Chicago Council on Global Affairs Emerging Leaders Program

PRIOR EXPERIENCE

Assistant Principal, Curie High School, Henry Elementary School, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL

K-8 Elementary Music Teacher – Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL

‘Rebound’ Alternative Education Teacher – Bartholomew County Schools, Columbus, IN

Director of Bands – Sumter County Schools, Sumter, SC

PRESENTATIONS, PUBLICATIONS, AND COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP

2017. “Becoming a Certified Supportive School: The CPS School Climate Standards.” Chicago Public Schools Leadership Institute, Chicago, IL.
2017. “Redefining Discipline: Illinois and Other States’ Responses to Negative Impact.” Education Law Association Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.
2018. “The Turn from Zero Tolerance: Implementation of SB100 at the District, Network, and School Levels.” Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, Chicago, IL.
2018. “Does v. Southeast Delco Sch. Dist., 272 F.Supp.3d 656 (E.D. Pa. 2017) – Students sexually abused by teacher sue district and administrators,” School Law Reporter Brief:  60(4): 47-48.
2019. “Redefining School Discipline: Illinois and Other States’ Responses to Negative Impact” AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice: 16(1): 20-47.
2019. “ Strategies, Structures, and Interventions Used to Build a Supportive, Inclusive Culture in Diverse, Urban Schools: Case Studies.” International Bullying Prevention Association, Chicago, IL.
2021. “PRINCIPAL VOICE: Returning students to school safely is top priority, but let’s not forget to treat them fairly.” Hechinger Report, https://hechingerreport.org/author/chris-graves/, February 18, 2021.
2021. “Analyzing and Visualizing Data.” Chicago Public Schools Leadership Institute, Chicago, IL.
2021, 2022. “Time Saving Technical Tips.” Chicago Public Schools Leadership Institute, Chicago, IL.
2021-23. Leading a Professional Learning Community: Responsive Supports Using Assessment Programs
2020-23. Ingenuity Arts Leadership Advisory Council appointed member.