2009 PFAD

Chicago Public Schools had Principal for a Day (PFAD) on October 30, 2008! All alumni of the APS network and their friends were welcome to sign up for this event. Become a PFAD next year and engage yourself, your company, organization or association in continued involvement and support throughout the year at your school. To learn more visit the PFAD website.

2008 Annual Board Meeting

All representatives from APS partnerships were welcome to the APS Annual Board Meeting to give updates on their partnerships and hear about others. They were also encouraged to provide their thoughts on APS and suggestions for how APS can help the partnerships in the upcoming year.

2008 Cubs Game

APS had a beautiful night to enjoy a fun activity with family and friends at the April 15th Cubs game vs. Cincinnati. APS managed to sell all of its tickets (generously provided by the CUBS) and ticket profits supported APS and its mission to partner university/college alumni with individual Chicago Public Schools. With the success of this event, we certainly plan to do this again in the future so keep watch for when we next have tickets available.

Dating Rubik's Cube Film Fundraiser

On May 9, 2008, APS showcased the award-winning film on a topic that never tires. Voted Best Short Documentary at the Illinois International Film Festival, dating rubik's cube is an urban view on the ins and outs of dating. Director Saya Hillman, member of the APS Board, interviews twelve people, from age 24 to 41, from teachers to investment bankers to musicians, from a variety of Chicago neighborhoods to learn about the general Chicago view on singlehood, marriage, good dates, bad dates, pressure, breaking up, cheating, bar scene, meeting people, internet dating, turn ons and turn offs. It is a unique, honest, and contemporary piece that audiences of all ages can appreciate. All ticket proceeds went to APS to support its mission.

2008 Workshop Event: What Makes an APS Partnership Effective?

APS held a spring workshop on the successes and struggles of both new and experienced partnerships alike. Attendees dove into specifics on what Chicago public schools are most in need of and how alumni groups can effectively communicate with their partner schools.

On Tuesday, 25 September 2007, college and university alumni representing 36 different institutions attended the Light the Fire Reception at the Newberry Library. Attendees heard remarks from schools CEO Arne Duncan, who pointed to the progress CPS has made and the importance of having college and university alumni in the schools to encourage students to attend college. The program also featured a panel discussion with two school principals and one alumni volunteer, who described their experiences with partnerships between alumni clubs and schools.

Download the Partnership Handbook that was distributed to attendees or read more about what was discussed on the Reception page.

2007 Annual Meeting - Thursday, June 21

Alumni for Public Schools held its second Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 21. Representatives from five APS partnerships joined board members for a discussion of the year's accomplishments and plans for the future.

Download the annual meeting packet for details on what was discussed and check the About Us page for the new board officers.

Third Workshop (no brown bags involved) - February 15, 2007

Alumni for Public Schools held our third workshop, "How a Small Alumni Club Can Make a Big Difference," on Thursday, February 15, 2007 from 5:00 to 6:30pm at Walter Payton High School. Attendees included 19 people representing 12 college alumni clubs. Read a summary of the discussion and download the materials that were distributed on the Workshop page.

Second Brown Bag Workshop - January 16, 2007

The Brown Bag Workshop Series continued Tuesday, January 16th with "The Care and Feeding of Partnerships." 17 representatives from 8 alumni clubs and 2 Chicago Public Schools discussed effective strategies for designing a partnership, organizing volunteers, and communicating with a partner school. Read about the discussion and download all the workshop materials on the Second Workshop page. Thanks to everyone who participated!

First Brown Bag Workshop - December 7, 2006

Alumni for Public Schools hosted a workshop, "Planning Events the Easy Way", on Thursday, December 7, that included representatives from 11 alumni clubs. Participants discussed successful strategies on how to speak to students about college, host students for job shadowing, and beautify a partner school. Download the materials that were distributed and read a summary of the discussion at the First Workshop page. Learn about the rest of the series at on the Workshops page.

Workshop for Current Partners - May 20, 2006

On Saturday, May 20th, alumni and CPS representatives from 17 different partnerships met to discuss ways to make the relationships between alumni clubs and schools stronger. Participants heard from a member of the CPS Department of Post-Secondary Education and then brainstormed ideas for partnership activities and solutions to obstacles that alumni clubs and schools often face. Kate Tomford, coordinator of the Harvard/ Payton College Prep partnership, said of the workshop:

"Many thanks for organizing this great event! I found it extremely useful to hear about the challenges that other partnerships have faced and the methods they've found to be successful. What struck me most was how much we all have in common, so workshops like this--where we can learn from one another--are a tremendous help. I hope they become a regular event, and I'll look forward to attending more."

The material from this discussion is available in the new Resources section for those who couldn't attend or for workshop participants who'd like to revisit the suggestions people made. You can also download a printable version .

Reception for Current and Future Partners - December 6, 2005

In December of 2005, APS hosted a cocktail reception for all of our current partners and those clubs that were considering a partnership with a Chicago Public School. Representatives of 12 currently partnered clubs and 20 new clubs gathered at the Chicago Athletic Association for hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. Arne Duncan, CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, spoke to guests as did Sarah Dugan, Williams alum and volunteer at De La Cruz Academy, Ogan Gurel, president of the Columbia Club of Chicago and Dr. Sandra Fontanez-Phelan, principal of Kelvyn Park High School.

Kick-Off Reception - December 5, 2001

With support from corporate gifts (Ariel Capital Management, Harris Bank, Nuveen Investments) and the Princeton and Harvard Clubs of Chicago, a kick-off event was held on December 5, 2001 at the Chicago Cultural Center. Over 200 people representing 40 Alumni Associations attended and heard Schools CEO Arne Duncan promote the idea. The initial vision included a list of things alumni volunteers could do for a school: tutoring and mentoring students, arranging career days and job shadowing, establishing summer internships, organizing field trips, assisting college counselors, judging science and history fairs, serving as Principal for a Day and more. The subsequent meeting of interested alumni club representatives led to the formation of a board of directors and the establishment of several new partnerships.

Page updated 23 October 2008