Chicago, IL May 21, 2009 – Oprah’s Angel Network awarded $110,000 to New Leaders for New Schools
Chicago to support its nationally recognized program devoted to urban education reform through cutting-edge principal training. New Leaders for New Schools has partnered with Chicago Public Schools since 2001; 120 New Leaders are driving change and ensuring student achievement for nearly 50,000 Chicago Public School children.
“Our residency program immerses our New Leaders in the daily life of a principal,” said Maggie Blinn, Executive Director of New Leaders for New Schools Chicago. “The generous support of Oprah’s Angel Network provides essential funding to training that is key to the future success of our principals.”
“The New Leaders for New Schools’ principal preparation model demonstrates that a focus on school leadership can transform struggling schools,” said Nicole Norfles, Education Program Officer for Oprah’s Angel Network. Oprah’s Angel Network is pleased to fund an organization whose work will ultimate benefit Chicago’s children and schools.”
An example of the positive impact of New Leaders principals on student outcomes is the kind of transformation experienced at Dodge Renaissance Academy in New West. Previously one of the lowest performing schools in Chicago, Dodge was turned around by a New Leaders principal achieving the largest one-year test score gains in the state in 2006. Dodge continued strong in 2008, making double-digit gains across reading and math, yielding an average annual gain of 20 points over the four years of the principal’s tenure. This type of transformation is occurring at many other New Leaders-led schools in Chicago, helping us learn how best to bring such student achievement gains to all Chicago Public Schools
ABOUT OPRAH’S ANGEL NETWORK
Oprah’s Angel Network is a public charity that awards grants to organizations around the world that are improving access to education, protecting basic rights, creating communities of support and developing the leaders of tomorrow. For more information visit http://www.oprahsangelnetwork.org.
