Central & Network Offices

Lead Citywide is CPS’ strategy for professional, career and leadership development services for Central and Network Office team members.
Lead Citywide is building leaders within CPS Central and Network Offices through a robust set of professional growth experiences. This new initiative is an investment in the development of CPS staff, offering free professional learning opportunities (and credits) to all team members, from emerging staff to the c-suite, through a variety of learning formats: in-person, virtually and online.

Explore current programs and opportunities below:

Our tiered approach is a curated set of cohorts, programs, and learning opportunities designed to build leadership effectiveness for all levels of CPS Central and Network Office staff. Interested in participating? Talk to your manager today. Note: Participation is currently limited as this new program scales up to serve all Central/Network Office staff. More space and cohort experiences will be offered throughout 2023 and 2024.

Tier 1

All Central Office/Network Team Members

  • In-person and online training including on-the-job training, online courses, professional development opportunities, LinkedIn Learning access, Lunch and Learn events, and career planning.
  • Professional Development SY2024 Catalog (see below)
  • LinkedIn Learning Online Classes and Resources- Instructions to access the platform
Tier 2

Managers and Directors (typically pay grades S08-S10)

Cohort experiences that teach specific skills to support operational leaders.

  • Professional Development SY2024 Catalog (see below)
  • Take the Lead – Director Cohort
  • LEAP (Leadership Essentials, Actions and Practices)- New Leader Cohort- Registration opens late summer 2024
Tier 3

Directors, Executive Directors and Above (typically pay grades S11 Above)

  • Professional Development SY2024 Catalog – (see below)
  • Center for Effective Government (CEG)- Coming in winter/spring 2024
  • LinkedIn Learning Online Classes and Resources- Instructions to access the platform

Fall 2023 Courses available for all Central and Network Office employees:

You can also explore the tabs below for LinkedIn Learning, External Partnerships and Programs, and Self-Paced Resources.

A robust list of learning opportunities in-person, virtual and e-learning that take place each year. 

Fall Courses:

Spring Courses:

Spring Cohort Experiences:

You can also explore the tabs below for LinkedIn Learning, External Partnerships and Programs, and Self-Paced Resources.

Fall Courses:

Spring Courses:

You can also explore the tabs below for LinkedIn Learning, External Partnerships and Programs, and Self-Paced Resources.

LinkedIn Learning is a premier online learning provider offering thousands of free video courses taught by industry experts in software, creative, and business skills. CPS Central Office and Network Employees have free access to the platform.

What would you like to learn today? Whether you want to brush up on your Project Management skills, prepare for a presentation, learn how to engage your teams or update your resume and sharpen your interviewing skills, LinkedIn Learning can help you get there.

Check out our new 2023 Playlists. Learn more and get started through the Job Aid to Access Portal.

Need a hand? Send us an email at leaderdevelopment@cps.edu we can consult with you to build a playlist that is customized for your development, or to help you play an active role in developing your employees’ leadership.

While we are proud of our new and expanded investments in professional development offered through CPS, we also have long-standing partnerships with leading external institutions to help grow your professional skillsets and connections. These programs have recently expanded eligibility, making it easier to participate. Plus, staff can apply for sponsorships to fund your participation.

Explore these programs below to find one that’s a great fit for you.

CPS program partners include:

Sponsorships are available, but to be considered for funding, your sponsorship request must be received internally before your external application is submitted.

Questions? Send us an email at leaderdevelopment@cps.edu

Included below are additional resources to explore and access at your own pace:
  • Book Reads: Shopping for a great leadership book or wondering what CPS’ top leaders are reading? Visit our Book Recommendations every month to see what’s new!
  • Free Self Assessments: A variety of online assessments are available to staff for free. To gain a better understanding of yourself, your strengths and skills, take more than one and compare results.
  • Plus, explore additional opportunities (programs, fellowships, mentorships, and more) offered through the Opportunity cards below.
ORGANIZATIONThe Chicago Urban League

IMPACT Leadership Development Program

Nine month-long fellowship for African American senior leaders (Senior Directors and above) where they can engage with and learn from successful highly experienced leaders through classroom sessions facilitated by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
DURATION9 months
APPLICATION WINDOW

The application window is NOW OPEN! if you meet the criteria outlined below and are interested in representing CPS, please complete this interest form.

EligibilitySenior leaders (currently a Deputy Chief or above) – Black professional between the ages of 30-45 years old (must be born after September 13, 1978) – Bachelor’s degree – 7+ years of work experience in the public, private or nonprofit sectors – 3+ years of public, private or nonprofit experience in a leadership or management position – Track record of volunteerism/civic engagement in the community – Ability to participate for the duration of the nine-month program – High performing leaders (RISE rating of “proficient” or above) – No active disciplinary action (e.g., no CAP, PIP, Warning Resolutions, etc.). – Your supervisor must endorse and support your participation (i.e., time to attend programming, alignment with your professional goals, etc.). – At least one year of service with CPS- full-time. – Have not received a Lead with CPS sponsorship in the last year (i.e., anytime after March 22, 2023). – Must be able to pay the participant contribution fee of $500 if accepted into the program. This donation is paid directly to the IMPACT program.
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ORGANIZATIONIllinois Digital Educatators Alliance

IDEAcon Presenter

Presenters plan and deliver a professional development session to educators, administrators, and support staff at a Midwest conference.
DURATION1 day
APPLICATION WINDOW

Application opens June 2024

Deadline: August 31, 2024

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ORGANIZATIONHarvard GSE

Harvard GSE Certificate in Management and Leadership

CSML is designed to provide preK-12 school leaders at all stages of their careers with frameworks, skills, and knowledge to drive change and to lead high-performing schools. It is an online program composed of four courses that cover leading change, schools, people, and learning.
DURATIONVaries based on number of courses
APPLICATION WINDOW

Rolling

EligibilityPrincipals looking to deepen their knowledge of leadership and management in schools.
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ORGANIZATIONHispanic Alliance Career Enhancement

HACE’s Elevando Latino Leadership Program (ELLP) for Managers and Directors

HACE intends to increase the competencies and skills of emerging non-profit professional leaders that are committed to serving Latinx and diverse communities, by building their capacity, develop leadership pipelines and develop local support networks. There are both Spring and Fall cohorts.
DURATION17 weeks
APPLICATION WINDOW

The application for this program is now closed. Please complete this interest form to receive information on the 2024-25 cohort when it becomes available.

EligibilityPARTICIPANT PROFILE ■ Managers & Directors ■ High Potential ERG Leaders ■ Bachelor’s degree or higher ■ 5-10+ years of professional experience (or higher and seeking culturally-relevant leadership development)
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ORGANIZATIONThe Mujeres de HACE Program (MdH)

HACE: “Mujeres de HACE” Leadership Program

"Mujeres de HACE" is a women’s leadership program geared to empower high-potential Latina professionals, to succeed professionally and thrive personally by providing insight, access and professional development in an effective manner.
DURATION16 weeks
APPLICATION WINDOW

The application for this program is now closed. Please complete this interest form to receive information on the 2024-25 cohort when it becomes available.

EligibilityLatina Leaders High Potential Individual Contributors 0-5 years professional experience Employed at CPS for one year (full-time) Has the capacity to complete the program and can attend the all session dates Has the capacity to participate in a virtual learning experience
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ORGANIZATIONChicago Public Schools, Office of Equity

Great Expectations Mentoring (GEM) Mentor

The‌ ‌Great‌ ‌Expectations‌ ‌Mentoring‌ ‌(GEM)‌ ‌Program‌ ‌exists‌ ‌as‌ ‌a‌ ‌pipeline‌ ‌for‌ ‌equipping‌ ‌and‌ ‌advancing‌ ‌African‌ ‌American‌ ‌male‌ ‌and‌ ‌Latinx‌ education ‌leaders‌ ‌in‌ ‌Chicago‌ ‌Public‌ ‌Schools‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌next‌ ‌stage‌ ‌of ‌their‌ ‌leadership‌ ‌and‌ ‌equity‌ ‌journey. GEM Mentors are crucial in the work, to advance the engagement with these leaders to continue the work of equity and achievement within the district.
DURATIONyear long program
APPLICATION WINDOW

Coming Soon

EligibilityAfrican-American males and Latinx who are CPS Principals, Assistant Principals, Central Office Chiefs and Directors, and retired CPS Chiefs and/or Principals and; – Have the capacity to participate and complete the program’s monthly time commitment; – Have a desire to use their voice and influence to make positive change within the CPS environment; – Consistently demonstrates Lead with CPS competencies; – Have a track record for advancing equity; – Successfully led teams and/or projects at scale to support the CPS Vision – Knowledge of the CPS Equity Framework and CPS Equity Toolkit; – Experienced success in equity-centered leadership, cycles of inquiry, communities of practice, differentiated coaching; – Executed and monitored Continuous Improvement (CI) or Continuous Improvement Work Plans (CIWP) successfully; – Have successfully modeled, led, trained and motivated multiple levels of personnel to be excellent at problem solving; – Are committed to an asset and strength based approach to leadership development. “
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ORGANIZATIONCPS, Office of Equity

Great Expectations Mentoring (GEM) Fellow

The‌ ‌Great‌ ‌Expectations‌ ‌Mentoring‌ ‌(GEM)‌ ‌Program‌ ‌exists‌ ‌as‌ ‌a‌ ‌pipeline‌ ‌for‌ ‌equipping‌ ‌and‌ ‌advancing‌ ‌African‌ ‌American‌ ‌male‌ ‌and‌ ‌Latinx‌ ‌leaders‌ ‌in‌ ‌Chicago‌ ‌Public‌ ‌Schools‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌next‌ ‌stage‌ ‌of ‌their‌ ‌leadership‌ ‌and‌ ‌equity‌ ‌journey.
DURATIONyear long program
APPLICATION WINDOW

TBD

EligibilityAfrican-American males and Latinx employees that are CPS Principals, Assistant Principals, and Central or Network Office managers and Directors, has the capacity to participate and complete the program’s monthly time commitment and have; – Successfully led teams and/or projects at scale to support the CPS Vision/CPS Blueprint; – Knowledge of the CPS Equity Framework and CPS Equity Toolkit; – Successfully executed and monitored Continuous Improvement (CI) or Continuous Improvement Work Plans (CIWP); – Successfully modeled, led, trained and motivated multiple levels of personnel to be excellent at problem solving
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ORGANIZATIONThe Field Museum

Field Ambassador

Field Ambassadors gain access to resources and educational programs to develop initiatives designed to integrate Field Museum resources on a larger scale.
DURATIONOne year
APPLICATION WINDOW

Deadline August 2023

EligibilityOpen to all Science Teachers.
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ORGANIZATIONTeach Plus

Early Childhood Educator Policy Fellow

Highly selective leadership opportunity for Illinois educators of students aged 0-8 looking to deepen their knowledge of education policy and gain a voice in decisions that affect students and the teaching profession.
DURATIONOne year
APPLICATION WINDOW

Deadline: April 21, 2024

EligibilityTwo years of teaching experience required by June 2024. Teach Plus includes teaching assistants, early interventionists, special education service providers, and other roles working directly with children birth through 2nd grade in our definition of educator. No prior policy experience required.
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ORGANIZATIONChicago Public Schools

CPS Cooperating Teacher

Shape the next generation of CPS teachers by hosting a student-teacher. Share your teaching strategies and expertise in an in-depth mentorship.
DURATION8 weeks to one school year
APPLICATION WINDOW

Ongoing

EligibilityLicensed and qualified to teach in the content-area, 3 years of teaching experience, received a proficient or above performance rating in most recent REACH evaluation.
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ORGANIZATIONChicago Public Schools Educator Effectiveness Team

Consulting Educator

Consulting Educators (CEs) provide coaching and feedback to CPS educators as part of the Remediation Plan.
DURATION18 weeks
APPLICATION WINDOW

April 2023 – June 2023

EligibilityTenured with five years of experience at CPS, with a most recent REACH rating of Excellent.
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ORGANIZATIONUniversity of Chicago

Civic Leadership Academy (CLA)

Leadership development program for emerging and high potential leaders in nonprofit organizations and local government within the City of Chicago and Cook County.
DURATIONSix months
APPLICATION WINDOW

Applications for this program are now closed. To receive information when the application opens for the 2025-26 program, please complete this interest form.

Eligibility– Full-time employee of a Chicago nonprofit organization – Demonstrate a strong track record of leadership, innovation, and high performance – Minimum of five years of work experience in the civic sector – Be nominated by a supervisor and provide one additional letter of recommendation – Be intellectually curious, reflective, ambitious, innovative, collaborative, and committed to positive change – CPS Leader (Pay Grade S08 – S16) – No active discipline issues at CPS (e.g., CAP, PIP, Warning Resolution, etc.). – At least one year of service with CPS (full-time as of 8/1/2023) – Have not received a Lead with CPS sponsorship in the last year (i.e., anytime after August 1, 2023).
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Tiffany TaylorExecutive Director of HR Partnership, Talent
 
Evangelina (Eva) CovarrubiasExecutive Director, Office of Equity
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