INCS Teacher Leadership Cohort

On December 5, 2022, the 2022 INCS Teacher Leadership Cohort (TLC) was announced. The goal of this eight-month fellowship is to equip teachers with the experiences, knowledge and skills to support them to speak out on behalf of their students, their schools and themselves. The voice of teachers is sorely absent from discussions about the future of education and these 15 teachers want to be part of the conversation.

The 2023 TLC Members represent charter public schools from across the state of Illinois. Here is the list:

• Christina Angelo from HSA Belmont
• Audrey Bay from HSA Belmont
• Celina Bondie from Aspira Early College
• Tracy Brown from Noble-Gary Comer College Prep
• Jeannette English from Noble- Butler
• D’Juan James from Noble- Butler
• Michelle Keim from Alain Locke Charter Academy
• Angela Kinney from Chicago Math & Science Academy
• Mary Beth Kruzan from Springfield Ball Charter School
• Francisco Martinez from Noble – Muchin
• Connor Showalter-Swanson from Noble – Rauner College Prep
• Nancy Olmeda from LEARN 10 North Chicago
• LaPorscha Pittman from Great Lakes Academy
• Heather Reimer from Acero – Carlos Fuentes
• Alex Renko from Elgin Math & Science Academy

INCS started the Teacher Leadership Cohort in 2020 to build the capacity of charter public school teachers to speak out and share their opinions. The TLC aims to support the commitment and drive of charter teachers by providing leadership development opportunities to help them to amplify their critical voices.

Here are two videos from members of the 2022 Teacher Leadership Cohort: