2014 Annual Report - Chicago International Charter School

2014
ANNUAL REPORT
July 1, 2013 – June 31, 2014
01 Welcome p 2
02 Where We Are p 3
03 Who We Are p 4
04 Committed to Greatness p 5
05 Advocacy in Action p 6
06 Academic Performance p 8
07 Financial Highlights p 14
08 Progress Through Giving p 16
09 Our Supporters p 18
01 90+V Welcome
10+
Dear Friends,
On behalf of Chicago International Charter School (CICS), I would like to
thank you for your continued partnership, commitment, and support.
In this report, our team is proud to share with you some of the
outstanding accomplishments of CICS during the 2013-2014 school year.
In accordance with our mission, CICS has continued to provide a high
quality, college preparatory public K-12 education to 9,222 students
across 16 campuses in Chicago and Rockford, Illinois. We did so with
a focus on closing the “college-readiness gap” rather than just the
“achievement gap”. This change in focus came about as a result of our
recent strategic work and an increased understanding of the skills,
content knowledge, and experiences our scholars need to graduate
from college.
I believe that CICS sits at the most pivotal juncture in our 17-year history.
Over the last two years, CICS and our school management partners —
Charter Schools USA; Quest Management, LLC; Civitas Schools; Distinctive
Schools; and Victory Education Partners — have committed to the belief
that what was once good is no longer good enough — better must
become best. We have made key strides this past year that are reflected
in the quality of our campuses and in our scholars’ academic outcomes.
Despite operating in some of the district’s most complex neighborhoods,
CICS elementary students have closed the achievement gap and have
outperformed their peers nationally. Similarly, our high schools have
demonstrated tremendous graduation and college acceptance rates, and
have significantly outperformed the other neighborhood options. Using the
Illinois State Board of Education school report card data and methodology,
the five-year weighted average graduation rate for CICS scholars is 93%
compared to 84% for Chicago Public Schools overall. In addition, 88% of
2013 CICS graduates who applied to college were accepted.
Along with our outstanding academic results, CICS continued to advocate
on behalf of charter students statewide. In order to ensure that our
scholars are treated equitably and that their families’ right to choose a
high quality public education is protected, CICS championed work that led
to an increase in categorical funds in perpetuity. While this increase —
over $380 a year per student — was monumental, there is still significant
work to be done to achieve fair funding for our scholars.
2
Despite achieving major successes in the past year, we recognize that
more philanthropic resources are necessary to support our heightened
vision of 100% college-readiness networkwide. Though our original
approach was to operate CICS campuses solely on the public dollar,
historic underfunding coupled with the extensive needs of our scholars
has challenged CICS in fulfilling our promise to every student.
In the year to come, we will commit our time and resources to ensure
college-readiness for every child, every day. In order to achieve this goal,
we will use our enhanced data system to drive decisions, monitor the
alignment of best practices in teaching and learning across our network,
and close the funding gap.
Thank you to our parents, teachers, funders, and partners for their work
during the 2013-2014 school year. I look forward to collaborating with our
broad network of supporters during this coming year as we get closer to
our goal of closing the college-readiness gap.
Warm Regards,
Elizabeth D. Purvis, Ed.D., Chief Executive Officer
Chicago International Charter School
What was once good is no
longer good enough — better
must become best.
©2014 Chicago International Charter School | 11 East Adams Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60603 | www.chicagointl.org
20+80+V
02 Where We Are
CICS
Rogers
Park
Edison
Park
1
2
CICS Avalon (K-8)
AVALON PARK
West Ridge
Forest Glen
Norwood Park
CICS Basil (K-8)
11
3
4
CICS ChicagoQuest (6-10)
Jefferson Park
5
CICS Irving Park (K-8)
6
CICS Jackson (K-8)
7
CICS Larry Hawkins (7-12)
8
CICS Lloyd Bond (K-6)
9
CICS Longwood (3-12)
10
CICS Loomis Primary (K-2)
11
CICS Northtown Academy (9-12)
IRVING PARK
Lincoln
Square
Albany Park
Portage Park
LOGAN SQUARE (BUCKTOWN)
LINCOLN PARK
Edgewater
North Park
WEST ENGLEWOOD
CICS Bucktown (K-8)
5
6
Uptown
Irving Park
Rockford, IL
North
Center
Dunning
Lakeview
Avondale
Montclare
2014 Annual Report
15
Logan Square
Belmont Cragin
Lincoln Park
3
Hermosa
4
ROCKFORD, IL
Austin
RIVERDALE (ALTGELD GARDENS)
Humboldt Park
East
Garfield
Park
West
Garfield
Park
RIVERDALE (ALTGELD GARDENS)
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS (LONGWOOD MANOR)
West Town
Loop
Near West Side
North Lawndale
13
CICS Ralph Ellison (9-12)
14
CICS Washington Park (K-8)
15
CICS West Belden (K-8)
16
CICS Wrightwood (K-8)
Bridgeport
South Lawndale
NORTH PARK (PETERSON PARK)
CICS Prairie (K-8)
Near
South
Side
Lower West Side
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS (LONGWOOD MANOR)
12
Near North Side
WEST PULLMAN
Archer
Heights
Brighton
Park
Oakland
New City
Fuller
Park
AUBURN GRESHAM (GRESHAM)
WASHINGTON PARK
Garfield Ridge
West
Elsdon
Douglas
Armour
Square
McKinley
Park
Englewood
BELMONT CRAGIN (BELMONT CENTRAL)
West Lawn
Chicago
Lawn
Woodlawn
2
Greater
Grand
Crossing
South Shore
1
Auburn Gresham
Ashburn
13
Chatham
Avalon Park
Washington
Heights
9
Burnside
10
– Luke C
Teacher, CICS ChicagoQuest
South Chicago
Calumet
Heights
Pullman
Beverly
“Charter schools were originally
designed to be places of
experimentation... a place
where you innovate and test
things out…. We’re trying to do
something that nobody else is
doing, and if it works, it could
take off and be applied in
other places.”
Hyde
Park
14
West
Englewood
ASHBURN (WRIGHTWOOD)
16
Kenwood
Washington
Park
Gage Park
Clearing
Grand
Boulevard
East
Side
Roseland
Mount
Greenwood
Morgan
Park
South Deering
West Pullman
12
7
8
Riverdale
Hegewisch
3
03 70+V Who We Are
30+
9,222
547
STUDENTS
16
TEACHERS
CAMPUSES
ASIAN 2%
HISPANIC 25%
DEMOGRAPHICS
670+250+40+20+20
AFRICAN AMERICAN 67%
WHITE 4%
OTHER 2%
Our Mission
To provide, through innovation and choice, an attractive and rigorous
college-preparatory education that meets the needs of today’s students.
6%
MORE THAN
10 MILLION
IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
9 10
OUT
OF
16:1
CICS
STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO
4
ELL
ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
LEARNERS
13%
LOW INCOME
FAMILIES
SPED
SPECIAL EDUCATION POPULATION
VS
20:1
CPS
S
7
+
93
93%
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RATE
40+60+V
04 Committed to Greatness
Hi! My name is Yadira Alonzo and I am 18 years
old. I graduated from CICS Northtown Academy
in 2014, and I am currently a full-time student at
Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU). I grew up
in Mexico, then moved to Albany Park in 2007.
Though I had my ups and downs, my
experience at CICS Northtown Academy was
unforgettable. I remember not knowing anyone
on my first day of school. I was terrified I might
be isolated because I struggled with speaking
English. However, my advisors Jennifer
Bender and Dawn Navejas reached out and
made me feel comfortable in my English as
a Second Language program. Dawn Navejas
was one of the best teachers I had during my
freshman year because she cared about all
of her students. Another one of my favorite
experiences was winning our championship
soccer game against our rival, Cristo Rey Jesuit
High School. I remember that during the game
it started to rain after the first half, which
made it even more intense for the coaches
and players.
CICS
2014 Annual Report
Later, when I was placed in honors courses,
it was a real challenge for me since I was not
yet accustomed to the language and the school
culture. The teachers were really great — I used
to stay after school getting help for writing,
and math problems. The challenging classes
at CICS Northtown Academy prepared me well
enough to face college work. Throughout my
four years of high school, I would say I changed
a lot. I remember myself as a quiet and timid
young girl, but I am now a social, and open
minded girl.
I liked the fact that CICS Northtown Academy
is a small school because everyone knew each
other, and the teachers knew you by name.
Also, the school’s diversity helped students
meet people from different backgrounds, which
has made my college experience and meeting
new people easier. I tell everyone at NEIU
that who I am now is thanks to CICS
Northtown Academy.
Alumni
Spotlight on
Yadira Alonzo
CICS Northtown Academy / Class of 2014
Northeastern Illinois University / Class of 2018
Throughout my four years of high school, I would say I changed a lot.
I remember myself as a quiet and timid young girl, but I am now a
social, and open minded girl. I tell everyone at NEIU that who I am now
is thanks to CICS Northtown Academy.
5
05Academic
05 50+V AdvocacyPerformance:
in Action
50+
Elementary
As one of the largest public charter school networks in the state, CICS
has a responsibility to advocate on behalf of all Illinois public charter
schools. The sustainability of school choice depends on the ability of CICS
and the charter sector to advocate effectively. Despite the well-resourced
and entrenched opposition, CICS and the wider public school community
had an extremely successful year. CICS spearheaded advocacy initiatives
in three major areas:
Parent Choice and Charter Autonomy
The city and statewide anti-reform movement proposed 14 pieces of
anti-charter legislation during the 2014 session. These bills were aimed at
reducing charter public school autonomy, growth, and parent choice. With
strong support from CICS staff and parents, the charter sector successfully
stopped 13 of the 14 anti-charter bills proposed. Due to organized and
effective charter advocacy initiatives, the single passing bill (House Bill
4527) is now being implemented with charter input and cooperation.
Equal Funding
As a result of advocacy efforts in 2012-2013, House Joint Resolution 36
was passed, establishing a bipartisan equal funding task force comprised
of 22 education stakeholders in Illinois. This task force was charged with
determining and resolving any inequity in funding for public schools. CICS
Chief of Strategy Daniel Anello was selected as a voting member of this
task force. Daniel and the CICS staff took the lead in identifying a gap in
funding between traditional public schools and charter public schools.
Consequently, the charter sector received an additional $13 million in
categorical funding in the 2013-2014 school year. The task force was also
able to ensure this comparable funding in perpetuity. Daniel was named
the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) “Advocate of the Year” for
his dedication to ensuring equitable funding for all public school students.
“With few exceptions, all
important changes in education
have been the results of parent
advocacy…..Charter schools
were created by parents who
demanded an alternative
choice to the status quo.”
– Elizabeth D. Purvis
CEO, CICS
6
6
Charter Parents United (CPU)
CPU was formed by parents of Illinois charter school students to provide
an avenue for families to voice their choice. CPU started off the school
year by conducting a town hall meeting with the CEO of Chicago Public
Schools (CPS). At this meeting, the parents were able to communicate the
importance of school choice and agree to meet with the CEO of CPS on
a quarterly basis. Of the 500 parents that attended, the majority of them
were from CICS.
Since then, CPU has established its permanence by forming a board of
directors, receiving initial seed funding from the Walton Family Foundation,
and acquiring a 501(c)(3) nonprofit standing. We are proud to have both a
CICS parent and a CICS staff member as part of the CPU board of directors.
CICS and public charter schools achieved significant victories in the
2013-2014 school year. However, we continue to face a strong and wellresourced opposition. In the 2014-2015 school year, advocacy will continue
to be a key strategic area of focus for CICS. Our goals are to build and
engage our parent and teacher base, support and grow CPU, and optimize
our resources thoughtfully on behalf of our students. We are excited and
optimistic for another successful year of continuing these efforts.
CICS
2014 Annual Report
With strong support from CICS staff and parents,
the charter sector successfully stopped 13 of the
14 anti-charter bills proposed.
7
06 40+V Academic Performance
60+
We have achieved tremendous success since opening our doors in 1997,
and have accomplished our initial objective of closing the achievement
gap. The average CICS elementary student is now performing at the same
level or better than their more affluent suburban peer (as measured by
the Northwestern Evaluation Association — NWEA — data). Sustaining this
success is a must, but far from enough. 2013-2014 marked the start of a
new era at CICS, where we implemented new goals for ourselves. These
goals reflect a more intentional perspective of accomplishing not just
what we believe is possible, but what we know is necessary. Closing the
achievement gap aligns us with national averages, meaning one in three
of our students is ready for college. However, tackling the achievement
gap was really only the first step on our way to college-readiness for all
of our students.
What will require further steps is closing the college-readiness gap,
so that all of our scholars are prepared for college. With the support
of the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation we have been able to make
data-driven decisions to get closer to our goal of 100% college-readiness.
In our high schools, we have been measuring more than just ACT scores.
We have also begun monitoring how our students are doing on other
key college-going indicators like FAFSA completion rates, submitted
applications, and actual acceptances. Our high schools are also paying
close attention to enrollment and retention for their graduating students,
so that CICS is tracking how well our students are prepared to succeed
throughout their college careers. For our elementary schools, preparing
for college-readiness means annual growth targets of 1.3 times the
national growth average. Sustaining that level of growth over several
years puts every K-8 CICS scholar on a trajectory to be college-ready
by the time they depart for high school. Many of our schools achieved
this goal and much higher within the 2013-2014 school year, and several
achieved this even when taking into account the summer break,
when most students do not practice the skills they learned during
the school year.
8
Closing the college-readiness gap also means accounting for that “summer
setback” in a way we have not done in the past. Prior to this point, we
measured our progress within the school year (fall-to-spring). While this
speaks volumes to the tremendous work being done at each school, it
was not a comprehensive view of what was occurring with our individual
scholars. We are now measuring students from spring-to-spring and
acknowledging the impact of summer setback, which is more severe for
the majority of our students who have fewer economic resources.
This shift in perspective was humbling, but necessary. This is reflected by
how we now present our data: side-by-side comparisons of our in-year
progress compared to our full-year progress. These data demonstrate how
we are now approaching student learning with an every-day, all-year-long
mentality. Reversing summer setback has become a focus area for our
schools, knowing the impact of addressing that issue alone would propel
our scholars beyond just breaking through the achievement gap, and bring
them closer to college-readiness. While we continue to make a difference
for our scholars, being deliberate about achieving our new goal of
college-readiness means we have much more work ahead of us.
These goals reflect a more
intentional perspective of
accomplishing not just what
we believe is possible, but
what we know is necessary.
06 40+V Academic Performance: Elementary
60+
Network Growth: Percentage of Students who Met or Exceeded NWEA Growth Target
Fall to Spring
Spring to Spring
READING
62%
47%
MATHEMATICS
67%
51%
Network Attainment: Average NWEA Attainment
54%
READING
52%
MATHEMATICS
National Average (50%)
The average CICS Washington Park
student grows nearly 1.5 school
years per standard school year
4 out of 5 CICS West Belden
students met or exceeded
their growth targets
9
06 40+V Academic Performance: Elementary
60+
Fall-to-Spring NWEA Growth
READING
% of Students Who Met or Exceeded Growth Target
Average % of Growth Compared to National Growth Average
CICS Avalon
84%
CICS Basil
67%
CICS Bucktown
63%
134%
CICS ChicagoQuest
37%
42%
CICS Irving Park
58%
137%
CICS Jackson
57%
CICS Larry Hawkins
40%
CICS Lloyd Bond
43%
CICS Longwood
58%
CICS Loomis Primary
56%
CICS Prairie
61%
CICS Washington Park
67%
CICS West Belden
79%
CICS Wrightwood
62%
200%
143%
124%
49%
91%
142%
107%
127%
142%
185%
133%
100%
CICS Basil outperforms all other
West Englewood schools in both
attainment and growth for math
10
The average CICS Irving Park
student is on track to score
above a 24 on the ACT
CICS
MATHEMATICS
2014 Annual Report
Fall-to-Spring NWEA Growth
% of Students Who Met or Exceeded Growth Target
Average % of Growth Compared to National Growth Average
CICS Avalon
85%
197%
CICS Basil
80%
CICS Bucktown
69%
CICS ChicagoQuest
52%
CICS Irving Park
66%
CICS Jackson
57%
CICS Larry Hawkins
42%
84%
CICS Lloyd Bond
47%
91%
CICS Longwood
55%
CICS Loomis Primary
69%
CICS Prairie
65%
137%
CICS Washington Park
72%
142%
CICS West Belden
80%
CICS Wrightwood
68%
176%
144%
116%
129%
113%
132%
122%
171%
138%
100%
CICS Irving Park has the highest
reading attainment in the Irving Park
neighborhood of Chicago
Students at CICS Avalon
demonstrate 2 years of growth
compared to the 1 year of growth
shown by the average US student
11
06 40+V Academic Performance: Elementary
60+
Spring-to-Spring
NWEA Growth
MATHEMATICS
READING
% of Students Who Met or Exceeded Growth Target
CICS Avalon
65%
68%
CICS Basil
53%
66%
41%
45%
CICS ChicagoQuest
34%
35%
CICS Irving Park
42%
46%
CICS Jackson
49%
44%
CICS Larry Hawkins
48%
39%
CICS Lloyd Bond
31%
34%
CICS Longwood
46%
46%
CICS Loomis Primary
53%
57%
CICS Prairie
39%
42%
CICS Washington Park
48%
51%
CICS West Belden
57%
65%
CICS Wrightwood
45%
52%
CICS Bucktown
CICS Wrightwood has the
highest performing students
in their neighborhood
12
% of Students Who Met or Exceeded Growth Target
CICS Loomis demonstrated the
highest attainment for a primary
school in Washington Heights
06 40+V Academic Performance: High School
60+
CICS vs. CPS ACT Comparison CICS Highschools include: CICS Longwood, CICS Larry Hawkins, CICS Northtown, CICS Ralph Ellison
17.9
2013 Average Score
VS
17.6
CPS Average
S
7
+
93
17.8
17.6
2012 Average Score
VS
CPS Average
17.7
17.2
2011 Average Score
VS
CPS Average
16.7
2010 Average Score
VS
17.3
CPS Average
over $10 Million
93%
College Acceptance Rate
In College Scholarships
The Graduating Class of 2014 was accepted to these Top 50 Universities and Colleges in America
Bard College
Colorado College
Northwestern University
University of Chicago
University of Notre Dame
Boston University
Cornell University
Pomona College
University of Pennsylvania
Bucknell University
DePauw University
Trinity College
University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign
Colby College
Northeastern University
University of California
at Berkeley
CICS Longwood class of 2014 received
$1.5 million in scholarships compared
to $344 thousand in 2013
University of Miami
University of Wisconsin,
Madison
CICS Northtown is one of
Chicago’s top ten open
enrollment high schools
13
07 30+V Financial Highlights
70+
CICS Balance Sheet
CICS Income Statement
Assets
FY14FY13
Revenue
FY14FY13
Cash & Investments
19,975,873 18,950,778
Chicago Public Schools 86,920,190 82,271,567
Accounts Receivable
6,930,383 6,465,347
Federal E-rate discount fundings
880,106 2,304,719
Prepaid Expenses
514,725 360,957
Contributed Goods and services
2,671,510 6,490,833
Other Current Assets
217,074 148,238
Grants & Contributions
779,741 1,788,673
54,423,622 55,923,449
Interest Income
109,557 53,296
5,281,581 6,177,919
5,463,802 5,502,235
87,343,258 88,026,688
1,081,700 1,026,510
97,906,606 99,437,833
Program services
80,788,416 82,097,364
Management & General 16,228,821 16,283,049
291,757 376,617
97,308,994 98,757,030
597,612 680,803
PPE, net
Other non-current assets
Total Assets
Other
Student fees, bookstore income,
and extended day income
Total Revenue
Liabilities
Accounts Payable
7,473,916 7,614,997
310,808 361,502
99,581 13,603
46,999,687 48,157,170
468,118 485,880
Total Liabilities
55,352,110 56,633,152
Total Net Assets
31,991,148 31,393,536
87,343,258 88,026,688
Capital Leases
Deferred Revenue
Notes & Bonds Payable
Deferred Rent
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
CICS Revenue
6%Other
3%Contributed Goods and services
1%Federal E-rate discount fundings
1%Grants & Contributions
1% Student fees, bookstore income,
and extended day income
Fundraising
Total Expenses
Net Income
CICS Expenses
83+17
88+1+36
89%Chicago Public Schools
Expenses
83%Program services
17% Management & General
Despite a challenging funding
environment, CICS was able to decrease
expenses from the prior year to ensure
additional funding went to support
student learning
14
CICS has achieved an
operating surplus every year
since our founding
CICS
2014 Annual Report
CICS Rockford Charter School Organization
Balance Sheet
CICS Rockford Charter School Organization
Income Statement
Assets
Revenue
FY14FY13
FY14FY13
Cash & Investments
1,256,182 115,861
4,195,039 3,341,771
Accounts Receivable
353,933 335,853
Federal E-rate discount fundings
28,426 29,631
19,562 23,588
Contributed Goods and services
29,770 -
2,575,634 2,021,105
Grants & Contributions
512,620 9,933
Other assets
5,099 428
Rent & other income
553,264 247,261
Total Assets
4,210,410 2,496,835
30,219 5,760
5,349,338 3,634,356
4,077,764 3,010,244
Prepaid Expenses
PPE, net
Rockford Public Schools Student fees and related income
Total Revenue
Liabilities
Accounts Payable
Notes Payable
Deferred Rent
1,418,217 572,624
Expenses
2,375,000 1,595,211
Program services
Management & General 142,239 201,604
Total Liabilities
3,935,456 2,369,439
Total Net Assets
274,954 127,397
4,210,410 2,496,836
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
CICS Rockford Charter School Organization Revenue
10% Grants & Contributions
10% Rent & other income
1%Federal E-rate discount fundings
1%Contributed Goods and services
1%Student fees and related income
Net Income
1,124,017 639,994
5,201,781 3,650,238t
147,557 (15,882)
CICS Rockford Charter School Organization Expenses
78+22+
77+1+10
78% Rockford Public Schools
Total Expenses
78% Program services
22% Management & General
15
08 20+V Progress Through Giving
80+
After closing the achievement gap, CICS shifted its focus to ensuring
that every single student has the opportunity and skills to gain
admission into college—what we are now referring to as closing the
college-readiness gap.
This shift required critical investments in supporting college admission
and enrollment by increasing our network-wide Northwestern Evaluation
Association (NWEA) spring-to-spring growth targets to 1.3 times the
national growth average, and supporting structured college-readiness
initiatives on our high school campuses.
As an example of how a comprehensive college-readiness support
structure has impacted students, our CICS Longwood campus made
strides during the 2013-2014 school year to provide college-readiness
assistance. At Longwood, all seniors are now required to take a seminar
class which requires the completion of at least five college applications,
and three scholarship applications. They can also visit the new College
and Career Counseling Center on campus to gain additional feedback
on their college search process and applications. As a result, the CICS
Longwood class of 2014 earned over $1.5 million in college scholarships.
As a result of a $5,000 gift from CICS board member Craig Henderson
and his wife Patricia, two outstanding CICS Ralph Ellison students were
given the opportunity to explore colleges outside of the Chicagoland area.
By visiting colleges of interest from California to Pennsylvania, the two
scholars were able to meet with college admissions counselors, visit
classrooms, and explore campus life in places that they would not have
had the resources to explore otherwise.
At CICS, we understand that being prepared for college does not end
in the classroom—closing the college-readiness gap requires increased
support for our scholars in applying to college, requesting scholarships,
and visiting college campuses. With continued philanthropic support and
program partnerships, we will ensure that every single CICS scholar has
the resources they need to gain admission to college.
CICS Longwood is just one example of many CICS campuses that have
provided rigorous and comprehensive support to get our students into
and through college.
Through a generous contribution from Ostrow Reisin Berk & Abrams,
Ltd., CICS Northtown was able to install display cases featuring and
celebrating college admissions, as well as continue a long tradition of
hosting structured college campus visits. During these visits, high school
students were exposed to different college campuses, and given an
approach to evaluate whether the campus was a good fit academically,
financially, and socially.
“We knew [college-readiness]
was important, and that we had
to do everything we could to
support our students getting
into college.”
– Kenyatta Stansberry,
Director, CICS Longwood
16
CICS
2014 Annual Report
At CICS, we understand that being prepared for college does not
end in the classroom—closing the college-readiness gap requires
increased support for our scholars in applying to college,
requesting scholarships, and visiting college campuses.
17
09 10+V Our Supporters
90+
Thank you to the individuals, organizations, and
partners whose generosity has supported CICS
scholars on their path to college.
Board of Directors
Congratulations to Laura Thonn on being elected as the 2014-2015 Board President.
Laura Thonn has served on the CICS Board of Directors for the past 10 years.
LAURA THONN, President
CATHERINE H. GOTTFRED Ph.D.*
CRAIG W. HENDERSON*, Treasurer
TOM HAYDEN
ARTHUR J RELIFORD, JR., Secretary
GERALD L. JENKINS
DAVID J. CHIZEWER*
ALBERTA JOHNSON
VIOLET M. CLARK
THOMAS J. NIEMAN
“Choosing a school for my girls
was my top priority. And I
believe I found it.”
–Juanita M., Parent,
CICS Bucktown
*denotes founding Board Member
Donors & Partners
$5,000- $9,999
$500- $999
Kristin Baldino
Howard B. Bernick
Brianna Baker
Chris Barton
$100,000 & ABOVE
Catherine & Richard Gottfred
John A. Bollero, Jr.
Daniel Basler
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
Invest in Others Charitable Foundation
Violet & Anthony Clark
Stacey Beardsley
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur
Foundation
Ostrow, Reisin, Berk, & Abrams, Ltd.
Colin Clement
Steven Berkley
Target Foundation
Nancy Gidwitz
Ashley Bininger
$1,000- $4,999
Andrew Larsen
Pete Blatchford
$10,000- $99,999
LTS Chicago
Brooke Borio
The Broad Center
Lorraine Arvin
Mikva Challenge
Timothy Bruhn
Children’s Inner City Educational Fund
Mary Ann Boggs
Mrs. George J. Nieman
Blair Burson
CME Group Foundation
Debbie & David Chizewer
Thomas J. Nieman
Eileen Cadigan
The Philip M. Friedmann Family Charitable Trust
Ellison Elite PTA
Tricia & James Valenti
Erica Camiliere
Patty & Craig Henderson
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Keiser
Donor Advised Fund
Margulf Foundation
PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Rauner Family Foundation
Heather Steans & Leo Smith
Mr. & Mrs. William R. Tobey, Jr.
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Heidi & Kevin Casey
Food Service Professionals
Gorter Family Foundation
UP TO $500
Elizabeth Castellon
Oppenheimer Family Foundation
Academy of Our Lady
Alumnae Association
General Mills
Kalie Adkinson
Jesus Cerrato
Margot & John Anello
Jorge & Carmen Chavez
Heather Anichini
Chuck E. Cheese’s
Sandra & Johnson Asemota
Eshela Chumbi
Lilah Aubrey
Kathleen Clarke & Samuel C. Van Hecke
Karla Bailey
Colleen Collins
James Stovall
Laura Thonn
University of Southern California
Wight & Company
Gina Castronovo
CICS
2014 Annual Report
Alissa Coronna
Chris Kopechessi
Rachel Teachout
First Book National Bank
Francisco Cortes
Anne Kostyo
Robert W. Thomas
Nancy Gidwitz
Michael Cotter
Anisa & Imtiyaz Kothawala
Kathleen Toth
Glencoe PTO
Juana Cruz-Manzanares
John Kuebler II
Meagan Ulmer
Golberg Kohn
Marie & Bob Delaney
Teri Levich
Sommer Urias
Gracie Barra Chicago
Charlotte Dennis
Pete Liles
Ryan Van Elslander
Hooters Management Corporation
Erica Diaz
Joyce Lockhart-Fisher
Diana Vasich
Laser Quest
Phil Dodson
Rebecca Lorenzen
Josh Vick
Lifetouch
Josalyn T. Drain
Juliet Luna
Kimberly Wade
Lincoln Square Athletic Club
Marisol & Eric Duerr
Brian Malkin
Jon Watson
Malnati Organization, Inc.
Kevin Dundek
Lindy Mandel
Wells Fargo
Meatheads Burgers
Robert Durst
Amber Mandley & Cheri Tatar
Cassie Williams
Mee Mah’s
Katy Eagen
Agnes Mangubat
Cheri Wilson-Chappelle
Nacional 27
Monica Echavarri
Linda Martin
Joseph Wise
Noon-O-Kabab
Melissa Feinberg
Robinette Mattox
Scott Witoszynski
Office Max
Leon and Susan Feret
Anne Matz
John & Patricia Zeeman
Pass with Flying Colors
Anna Field-Osler
Megan Mau
Laura Fisher
Kalsey Mayher
IN HONOR OF
Katie Flood
Loren McDonald
Colin Clement
Beth & Jeff Purvis
Erin Flynn
Erin Mead
Craig Henderson
Redditgifts
Logan Freethy
Kelly Merkel
Katherine Muhich
Bob and Kathy Smith
Jamie Funkhouser
Dea Meyer
Beth Purvis & the CICS Team
Jamie Steel
Teresa Furr
Ifleda Millon & Danilo Millon
Laura Thonn
Tall Ship Red Witch
Emily Gavin
Maggie & Bill Morrison
Victory Education Partners
Trattoria Trulo
Amy Gierthy
Michael Muhich
Carolyn Glantz
Sandra Murphy
MATCHING GIFT COMPANIES
Molly Glantz
Francis Nkwocha
Illinois Toolworks Foundation
Whole Foods
Rebecca Glantz
Claire Nolan
Microsoft Corporation
Zemsky’s Clothing Commission
Jillian Goetz
Sarah O’Connell
NICE Employee Matching Gift Program
Xochitl Gomez-Santos
Andrew Parker
PCS Administration (USA), Inc.
Mark Graves
Luke Paskevich
LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL
CONTRIBUTORS
Monica Green-Wilson
Pass with Flying Colors
IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORS
Ashley Grosshuesch
Polk Brothers Foundation
Accenture
IL. Dept. of Commerce &
Economic Opportunity
Gregory Gurley
Beth & Jeff Purvis
Bacci’s Pizza
Jack & Sandra Guthman
Mariel Race
Backyard Grill
Nicole Harris
Tonya Rambo
Bella Cuisine
Rosemary Hastings
Carolyn Rutili
Bob Chinn’s Crab House
Louise & Tom Hayden
Anna Marie Samaan
Ross Bossingham
Nicole & Andrew Hayek
Scott Saunders
Bucaro Family
Eileen Hellstrom
Meghan Schmidt
Chicago Brauhaus
Jennifer Hellstrom
Kristin Schrepferman
Chicago Cubs
Jim Hellstrom
Erica Schwartzenfeld
Chicago White Sox Charities, Inc.
Kimberly Hinton
Kevin Seibel
Chicagoland Aviation
Jane & Stephen Hoffman
Molly Shields
Chipotle- Lincoln and Jersey Location
Samantha Holland
Square Register
Civitas staff
Carey Holst
Leslie Stiller
COTG-A Xerox Company
Marissa Holtzman
Jason Swindle
C.W. Henderson & Associates
Michael Hubbard
Jane Szot
Davis Movie Theatre
Michael C. Jackson
Van Tang
Degerberg Academy
Deena & Gerald Jenkins
Andrew Taranto
El Pueblito
Portrait Plus
Putting Edge
Linda Turner
Usmania
PROGRAM PARTNERS
Accenture
Chicago Children’s Museum
Chicago Scholars
Civic Leadership
Cushman-Wakefield
Chicago Debate League
Future Founders
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship
One Goal
PwC
Pass With Flying Colors
Positive Coaching Alliance
Piedmont Office Realty Trust
Schuler Scholar Program
Union League B & G Club
Youth Guidance
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GET INVOLVED
SUPPORT
Every Child | Every Day
IN THEIR PATH TO COLLEGE
www.chicagointl.org/everychild
CICSschools
@CICS_schools
Chicago International Charter School | 11 East Adams Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60603–6330