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.
During the year-long program, GEM fellows work closely with district leaders to practice leadership skills, develop equity lenses, and connect with GEM mentors and other innovators in order to operationalize their own leadership transformation in relation to their school and district work. The mentoring program connects fellows with leaders internal and external to the district that can help them test ideas, reflect on their own practices, model and affirm practices and approach, and navigate challenging situations ultimately building the fellows leadership capacity.
GEM Mentors are intentionally matched with GEM Fellows to deliver thought partnership and guidance around a focused set of practice or competency areas as mutually determined by mentor, mentee and GEM program staff. Through this structure, GEM Mentors share their experience and knowledge of best practices for improving student achievement, and education management and leadership to support GEM Fellows in expanding their capacity as education leaders.
Fellow Role Criteria:
Successfully led teams and/or projects at scale to support the CPS Vision
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
Great Expectations Mentoring (GEM): Fellow Role
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
Competency AlignmentAdapts and Shows Resilience Fosters Trusting Relationships Influences Others Strategizes and Drives for Results
ORGANIZATIONChicago Public Schools, Office of Equity
DURATION1 year
TIME COMMITMENTMonthly meetings
APPLICATION WINDOW
The application window for this program has closed. Reach out to gemprogram@cps.edu with questions or to express an interest in the next cohort.
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