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Written by º£½Ç¹Ù·½Ê×Ò³
12 July 2024

[Chicago, IL] – [August 1, 2024] – º£½Ç¹Ù·½Ê×Ò³ (CICS) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Beth Purvis, Ed.D. as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2024. Returning to CICS, where she previously led for over a decade, Dr. Purvis is set to guide the organization into an exciting new phase of growth and impact.

With more than three decades of experience in education, Dr. Purvis brings a wealth of expertise and a deep commitment to CICS’ mission of providing a high-quality, impactful education for the 7,000 students who attend CICS schools each year. Beth’s strategic leadership and vision, paired with her understanding of the organization and demonstrated commitment to improving educational outcomes, make her the ideal choice to lead CICS into a bright future.

Evan Sharp, Chair of the CICS Board of Directors, expressed enthusiasm for Beth's appointment, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Beth back to CICS as our new CEO. Beth’s extensive experience in education and charter schools, paired with her strategic vision and unwavering commitment to our mission, make her uniquely qualified to lead us forward. With Beth at the helm, we are confident that CICS will continue to thrive and make a meaningful impact for the thousands of young people, staff, and educators who are a part of our CICS family."

Beth expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying, "I am honored to return to CICS as CEO. This organization holds a special place in my heart, and I am committed to building upon the incredible work of my predecessors. Together with our dedicated team and supporters, I am excited to chart a course for CICS that advances our mission and creates positive change across our schools and our city."

Beth succeeds Kris Cheung, who has led the organization since 2021. During his tenure, Kris strategically restructured the organization to focus on its portfolio model and successfully navigated the network through its charter renewal with the Chicago Board of Education. The CICS Board of Directors extends its heartfelt gratitude to Kris for his leadership and contributions.

For media inquiries or interview requests with Beth Purvis, Ed.D., please contact:

Meaghan Jennings

º£½Ç¹Ù·½Ê×Ò³

617-791-5721

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About º£½Ç¹Ù·½Ê×Ò³

In 1997, º£½Ç¹Ù·½Ê×Ò³ (CICS) - founded by a group of business and civic leaders concerned by the lack of high-quality schools across the city - became one of the first charter networks in Illinois. Over the last 27 years, CICS has grown into one of the largest charter networks in Chicago, and the only one to operate a portfolio model. The portfolio model deviates from the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to education as it allows for diverse educational models to operate under the same charter. Today, the 3 unique organizations within CICS’ portfolio - Meridian Charter Schools, Distinctive Schools, and ReGeneration Schools - operate 13 tuition-free, public charter schools that enroll nearly 7,000 students across Chicago. To learn more, please visit .