Tips and ideas on how to effectively navigate Chicago Public Schools

1. Navigating CPS

2. CIS of Chicago Site Coordinators
Who serves as a direct contact when communicating and scheduling services with
schools?
Each school has a Site Coordinator, and they are typically social workers, guidance
counselors, assistant principals, and lead literacy teachers.
The site coordinator is responsible for:
• accessing and coordinating needed programs
• evaluating the programs
Some important things to discuss with Site Coordinators:
• Program referral details
• School interests
• Program and plan logistics
• Opportunities to meet school staff members and introduce your organization
• Appropriate consent forms needed, when necessary
• Assessment and follow up plans

3. Building Relationships
• Check out the school newsletter or other school publications to tap into
the school culture
• Explain to the school what you do. AND, tell them again!
• Offer to attend a faculty meeting to introduce yourself, the agency,
and the program.
• Meet with relevant staff and have a more in-depth discussion of the
program.
• 20 Ways to Show Appreciation
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4. Building Relationships
Explain how your program aligns with the school goals/mission
•Healthy CPS
•Creative Schools Certification
•Socio-Emotional Learning Standards
•STEM
•College Preparatory
•Career Oriented
•Humanities/Social Science Focus

5. Best Practices
• Confirm the presentation one to two days prior.
• SHOW UP EARLY!!!!
• Maintain consistent communication with school staff.
• Use appropriate language during a presentation.
• Share agency information (newsletters, annual reports, brochures,
business cards).
• Wear agency name badge, agency attire or business casual clothing.

6. Who’s Who In the Schools
Before presenting your program, it’s a good idea to
know the lay of the land at your typical Chicago public
school. Use the following slides as a guide for learning
more about some of the important people who make
every Chicago public school function each day.
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7. School Administration
Principal: Principals are schools’ key decision makers. They are
responsible for hiring teachers, overseeing the school budget, and
making other key decisions that impact the overall academic program
of the school.
Assistant Principal: Assistant principals are often a school’s primary
disciplinarian. Also, they may evaluate teacher performance, distribute
text books, and oversee much of the daily functioning of a school.
School Secretary/Clerk : The secretary acts as the gate keeper to
the principal, managing the principal’s schedule, meetings,
communication, and other tasks.
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8. Support Staff
Case Manager (CM): Case managers’ main responsibility is to coordinate a
range of services for special education students. Case managers must assemble
a team of support staff members (e.g., social workers, nurses, psychologists) to
evaluate students for initial placement in special education.
School Counselor:
• Elementary school counselors create a school’s master course
schedule and plan and implement school-wide standardized testing
schedules. They may handle the enrollment or transfer of students and
update student records. Providing actual counseling services to
students may or may not be a significant part of their job.
• High school counselors share many of the job responsibilities of their
elementary school counterparts. And, they provide more one-on-one
counseling for students, as well as advise them about college and
career opportunities.
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9. Support Staff
Nurse: School nurses’ primary responsibility is to ensure that all students have
updated physical examinations, dental check-ups and immunizations. Nurses help
evaluate students for participation in special education programs, and administer
basic first-aid to sick/injured children during the course of the school day.
Social Worker: Social workers are responsible for supporting the social and
emotional wellbeing of students and their families. Social workers may work
individually with students, conduct support groups with multiple children, or provide
counseling for entire families.
Wellness Champion: a staff person charged with helping the school meet the
requirements of the district’s wellness policy. This person attends a monthly meeting
with the other Wellness Champions to discuss best practices, challenges, and
successes.
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10. Additional Support
Arts Liaisons: The art teacher, or another art-certified school staff member, that
directs the arts programming and opportunities and connects arts resources to
the school.
Local School Council (LSC): LSC’s responsibilities are to select the school’s
principal, renew the principal’s contract, and approving the school’s budget for
the school year. LSCs are comprised of the principal and representatives made
up of parents, students, and other community members’ representatives.
Instructional Leadership Team: The ILT helps to create, implement, and
monitor a school’s improvement plan. Also, the ILT helps the school transition
and maintain using the Common Core State Standards.
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