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Written by Darrious Hilmon
11 September 2018

Chicago, Illinois (September 11, 2018) - ���ǹٷ���ҳ (CICS) has launched an Open Call for applications for the next cohort of its Education Entrepreneur Fellowship program. CICS’ flagship innovation and incubation program, the Fellowship, supports education innovators by providing them with the tools, networks, and resources necessary to bring their innovative classroom and school model concepts from ideation to transformational impact. Launched in January 2018, the Fellowship has resulted in the successful launches of the school transformation ventures, ChicagoRise and Empowered Community Schools, and the micro-lab ventures, Boy’s Lab and the Civitas Community Impact Experience.

 CICS Launches Open Call for Next Cohort of Education Entrepreneur Fellows

Chicago, Illinois (September 11, 2018) - ���ǹٷ���ҳ (CICS) has launched an Open Call for applications for the next cohort of its Education Entrepreneur Fellowship program. CICS’ flagship innovation and incubation program, the Fellowship, supports education innovators by providing them with the tools, networks, and resources necessary to bring their innovative classroom and school model concepts from ideation to transformational impact. Launched in January 2018, the Fellowship has resulted in the successful launches of the school transformation ventures, ChicagoRise and Empowered Community Schools, and the micro-lab ventures, Boy’s Lab and the Civitas Community Impact Experience.

The Education Entrepreneur Fellowship Open Call closes on Thursday, November 1, 2018. Up to six Fellows will be selected for the Winter 2019 cohort. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online at.

“We believe that educators -- equipped with the right combination of inspiration, coaching and support -- can design and lead the types of schools our city deserves and the future demands,” said Elizabeth Shaw, CEO at CICS. “The Education Entrepreneur Fellowship program aims to inspire and identify education talent, actively invest in them, and champion their success as education entrepreneurs.”

During the nine- to 18-month cohort, selected Fellows will participate in a school venture process that leverages a research-based rubric for effective school and executive leadership. Additionally, Fellows will develop a personalized learning plan, a “dream canvas” that communicates an ambitious vision for their breakthrough education model to stakeholders and an innovation and change management plan designed to effectively bring their new school model to fruition.

Partnering with CICS, Fellows receive dedicated and structured support from an organization with a 20-year track record of delivering results across the K-12 continuum and a demonstrated commitment to education innovation in service of student success. CICS currently operates 14 campuses and two micro-labs, serving more than 8,000 students from kindergarten through high school across Chicago.  

“CICS’ unique portfolio network of diverse learning models provides an ideal vehicle for empowering talented entrepreneurial educators and supporting their vision for how to redesign school to meet the demands of the 21st century,” said Shaw. “We are looking for education innovators to build on our platform by testing, refining and implementing new approaches to teaching and learning.”

Successful candidates for the Education Entrepreneur Fellowship will come from a variety of backgrounds, bringing qualifications and experiences directly related to the venture (e.g. fresh start, transformation, micro-lab) they seek to launch. Key mindsets, competencies and abilities of Fellows include, an innovative disposition, a compelling vision for a school or classroom of the future, a deep understanding of effective instructional design and delivery, the ability to maintain a student-centered school culture and exceptionally high expectation for student success.

“We are seeking individuals (or teams) that are dissatisfied with the status quo in public education and want to imagine and build better ways of ensuring students reach their full potential,” said Eric Lavin, Chief of Innovation at CICS. “Our hope and expectation is that this Open Call surfaces innovative ideas for the future of school and yields excellent candidates for our Education Entrepreneur Fellowship that exhibit high potential in our key selection competencies.”

To learn more about the Education Entrepreneur Fellowship visit: /join-our-team/education-entrepreneur-fellowship.

About ���ǹٷ���ҳ

���ǹٷ���ҳ is a vibrant network of diverse Chicago Charter schools that enable students to thrive every day, puts them on a path to success in college and life, and empowers entrepreneurial educators to pursue excellence through innovation.

About Global Leaders Initiative 

A micro-lab incubated by CICS Education Entrepreneur Fellow Aiyeshia Wong and Michael Bota, Global Leaders Initiative (GLI) provides a personalized middle school experience that cultivates global citizens and prepares students for a successful transition to high-performing schools. Every changemaker at GLI will end their 8th grade year with the academic and social skills to chart their own path, excel in high school and view the world with global eyes. 

About Boy’s Lab

A micro-lab incubated by CICS Education Entrepreneur Fellow Ricard Glass, Boy’s Lab  is designed to serve boys of color (4th – 7th grade cohorts), empowering them to close the achievement gap through positive relationships amongst their peers and teachers, and to create an academic environment that promotes a safe, joyful and engaging learning community. Boy’s Lab is co-housed on the CICS Loomis-Longwood campus.

About Civitas Community Impact Experience

A micro-lab incubated by CICS Education Entrepreneur Fellow LeeAndra Khan, the Civitas Community Impact Experience provides students with the chance to discover their unique talents and passions through real-world learning via authentic community projects, problems, and opportunities. The purpose of the program is to engage teams of Chicago Quest seniors in 6-10 week-long projects that address authentic issues, tasks and topics proposed by sponsors and community partners.  These projects reflect every sector of the economy and workforce: large corporations, new entrepreneurial ventures, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.

About ChicagoRise

A transformation school venture incubated by CICS Education Entrepreneur Fellow Stephanie Crosier, ChicagoRise is a bold school model that integrates an identity-affirming pedagogy with a rigorous, arts-infused curriculum. ChicagoRise aims to empower, affirm, and promote positive self-image, helping students develop a deeper sense of self and their ancestry and excavating the innate potential, which society has silenced. ChicagoRise manages CICS Lloyd Bond.