Are you curious about Chicago’s shift to an elected school board? Thinking about running, supporting a candidate, or simply want to better understand how CPS is governed? No matter where you are on your journey, this event is for you! Come join us and get informed, inspired, and involved. 

Coffee with Bridget Lee, Executive Director of ALL Chicago on June 4 from 5:30-7:30pm at Little Black Pearl located at 1060 E.47th St, Chicago, IL 60653.

Please RSVP here by Friday, May 30. 

You're invited to the Dominican University Benefit Gala!
Join TFA alum Melissa Connelly and fellow supporters on the evening of Thursday, May 8, at Dominican’s picturesque campus in River Forest for an unforgettable night of music, performances, and great food—all in support of student scholarships.

This year’s special guest is Broadway’s own Alexander Hamilton, Miguel Cervantes!
Get your tickets now and be part of this inspiring evening.
📅 Date: Thursday, May 8
📍 Location: Dominican University, River Forest
🎟 Tickets & Info: dom.edu/benefit
We hope to see you there!

Teach Plus Illinois is thrilled to announce five different fellowships for educators this fall: 

• the Chicago Change Agent Fellowship (due April 21),

• the K-12 Policy Fellowship (due April 7),

• the Early Childhood Educator Policy Fellowship (due April 7),  

• the Affinity Group Facilitator Fellowship (due May 16)

• Project Connect Plus (due May 16), a new, free professional learning opportunity for kindergarten teachers 

Teach Plus Illinois’ programs are highly selective leadership opportunities for outstanding teachers looking to expand their influence without leaving the classroom. They span the 2025-26 school year and offer selected teachers a generous stipend for their time and effort. 

The Change Agent Fellowship supports Chicago teachers who see a problem they want to address at their school, the Policy Fellowships are for teachers throughout Illinois who want to advocate for policy change on behalf of their students, and the Affinity Group Fellowship is for teachers who want to facilitate supportive environments for teachers of color. Lastly, Project Connect Plus provides professional development to kindergarten teachers about how to conduct formative assessment to guide your instruction, using powerful and playful Instructional Routines that support children’s language, literacy, and early mathematics. Grow as a teacher leader by exploring one of these five opportunities! 

For all programs, Teach Plus Illinois is seeking cohorts of excellent educators who reflect the cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity of our students. Additionally, applicants: 

• Are teachers with at least two (2) full years of teaching experience by August 2025
  (not required for Project Connect Plus)

• Have a track record of success teaching students

• Are ready to dedicate time and passion to their fellowship

For more information on any of the five, please contact Kimberly Nguyen at knguyen@teachplus.org. Applications are due between April 7 and May 16, 2025, depending on the program.

Join Advance Illinois and over 30 partner organizations for the 2025 Legislator Education Forum on March 5, 2025, in Springfield, IL. The event will feature Dr. Teresa Ramos, Secretary of the Illinois Department of Early Childhood, and Dr. Lisa Roy, Executive Director of Colorado's Department of Early Childhood, discussing challenges and opportunities in early childhood education. Register here by February 28.

You’re already making an impact in your career, curious how you can grow?

Join the TFA Alumni Career Design Fellowship, a flexible online program that will give you the support, clarity, confidence, and plan you need to figure out what comes next for your career and how you can grow your impact. Enroll by February 1, 2025 to save $50. Limited spots available. Learn more: https://www.missioncollaborative.com/tfafellowship

Applications are LIVE for LEE’s 2025 Policy and Advocacy Summer Fellowship. Learn more about this eight week, paid opportunity and how to submit your application now through January 31. Learn more

Join us and Leading Educators on December 12 at 5:30pm ET for a FREE workshop on using coaching to nurture instructional success! Learn how multi-layer coaching connected to high-leverage instructional practices can promote leader and teacher growth over time in pursuit of great opportunities for students. Share with a friend or colleague! Open to Teach For America alum and non-alum. Register at bit.ly/powerhours2425.

Attend an Aspire Fellowship Info Session

Jointly run by TFA and UIC's EdD program in Urban Education Leadership, The Aspire Fellowship is a 10-month program that prepares teachers of color to enter principal certification programs in the next two years. The Fellowship is free to participants and Fellows receive ongoing support after completing the Fellowship, including scholarship and career coaching opportunities. Prospective applicants and those looking to support teachers of color in their school or network are encouraged to join a virtual Info Session on November 13th, February 5th, or April 2nd to learn more.

PowerHours Monthly Workshop - AI Literacy

Join us and ISTE + ASCD on October 23 at 6pm ET for a FREE workshop on cultivating AI literacy for students! Come ready to engage, experiment, and leave with practical approaches and resources to make AI an integral yet balanced part of student learning.

Register here.

The Multilingual Knowledge Cafe is a yearlong professional learning series hosted virtually by National Louis University’s Office of Teacher Development. This series supports pre-service educators, veteran teachers, faculty, and other key education stakeholders in building a collaborative community of practice.

We focus on a theme shaped by student and community feedback each year. This year’s theme, Multilingual, Multiliteracy, and Multicultural Knowledge Café, addresses the increasing need for support as more immigrant children and families arrive in Illinois. Many educators will be welcoming newcomer students for the first time.

Our goal is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful impact in their students' lives. Whether it's enhancing teaching strategies for equitable outcomes or building advocacy skills for these students and their families, this series offers valuable resources and practical tools that can be applied immediately in the classroom.

Why Attend?

Earn 1 hour of PD and/or Gateways Professional Development credit per session.

Participate in 8 engaging sessions, one each month from October through May. All sessions are optional.

Build a supportive network of peers and experts who are passionate about multilingual education.

First Session: October 15th, 6-7 pm CST. Our opening session, Welcoming Newcomer Students, will provide resources and strategies to support newcomer students’ educational journeys.

RSVP Form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/78d57f6509b5461abfbfbe6e7028f1be

Full Program Calendar: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z8cgFm_Nw8mZtZ6zc7k-gQXr_DWOrKKrD1jt2R8STk4/edit?usp=sharing

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) sponsors the Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year program to honor educators who have made significant contributions to our state's public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools. Awards are presented in seven categories:

Classroom teachers (teachers with 5-plus years of experience)

Early career educators (teachers with 1-4 years of experience)

School administrators

Student support personnel

Educational service personnel

Community volunteers

Teams​

ISBE announces the Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awardees in February. All awardees are honored at an annual banquet in the spring. The tentative date for the 2025 Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year banquet is Saturday, May 17. Send a message to awards@isbe.net if you have questions about the program requirements or application materials. ​