The time has come to say goodbye to CPAA. It’s been 13 turbulent years, and leaving is bittersweet. Certainly, I am tired and after 35+ years of service in public education, I am ready to move on. I don’t need to tell anyone working in or with CPS how incredibly stressful such a relationship can be. However, I have enjoyed meeting some wonderful people and working to improve the quality of interaction and service to the members of our association. Albeit, often it has been challenging to stand astride two opposite workplace cultures and facilitate communication. For whatever reason, I was selected by fate to preside as president of this organization through no less than six CPS administrations. No sooner than introductions were made and working relationships were in incubation, a new administration was inaugurated, and I was back to square one! It seems I am destined to always be at the center of tumult. One example was the closing of 100 CPS schools during the Daley administration, which was also known as the infamous “Renaissance 2010.” Add to that the arrival of Rahm Emanuel as mayor, the first teacher strike in 25 years, and the closure of another 50 CPS schools.

Despite all of that, I don’t wish to downplay the great parts of my 13-year saga. I have made friends who brought me joy and completed many projects that had meaning for our organization and its members that I will treasure for the rest of my life. There has often been strife and battles won and lost over the years. Some were worth the struggle, and others not! But as you know, a career is about the sum of it components, so we hope at its conclusion that we’ve created a surplus and not a deficit.

Perhaps no one cares, but this is my last article for The Lamp, so I’m writing what I care about. Looking back on my very long career in education, I am now aware of how each step of the ladder prepared me for the next step. I started as a teacher aide in a state-run program for developmentally disabled adolescents. That experience enabled me to become aware of how to treat paraprofessionals and school-related personnel and the important role they fill when educating children. As a teacher who served under a few principals — some great and others who were awful — I got a pretty good idea about what leadership entails. The other great lesson I garnered from teaching is that emotional intelligence is an absolute essential attribute when working with individuals whose positions are superior or subordinate to yours. My dear grandmother use to call it “horse sense,” and she was right.

Now some might wonder why and how I came to be the president of CPAA. For years I was just your average dues-paying member — not much interested in the organization or who was running it. Well, that changed when I woke up one Saturday morning, got the newspaper, and read that CPS principals had lost their tenure rights and would henceforth need to reapply to a local school council for our jobs. That was my wake-up call — I became an auxiliary president. Shortly after, I was asked to join the CPA (our former title) executive board and was elected over the years into successive positions, finally running for president of CPAA, and as they say the rest is history. It's been a very rewarding experience, and I thank the membership for entrusting me with this great responsibility.

Chicago Principals & Administrators Association, AFSA Local 2, AFL-CIO

GoverninG Board MeetinG report

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Cpaa eleCts new offiCers

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retirees' Corner

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MYCPAA.COM / VOL. XVII . NO 6 / JUNE 2016

The LampA Message From The PresidentClarice Berry

The Lamp is published regularly by the Chicago Principals & Administrators Association and distributed to the entire membership. Recent editions are available online at

http://www.mycpaa.com. Comments and suggestions are welcome; please e-mail Associate Editor Kent Lau at klau@cps.edu. The Chicago Principals & Administrators

Association AFSA Local 2, AFL-CIO, 20 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 1545, Chicago, IL 60606, Phone: 312-263-7767, Fax: 312-263-2012, www.mycpaa.com

Clarice Berry

Editor

cjackson-berry@cps.edu

Kent Lau

Associate Editor

klau@cps.edu

Kimberly Tsui Fong

Design/Production

AFFILIATIONS:

American Federation of

School Administrators

(AFSA)

American Federation of Labor-

Congress of Industrial

Organizations

(AFL-CIO)

Illinois American Federation of

Labor-

Congress of Industrial

Organizations

(IL AFL-CIO)

Chicago Federation of Labor-

Industrial Union Council

(CFL-IUC)

The CPAA Governing Board met on Monday, May 2, 2016. The following minutes from the meeting will be approved at the June meeting of the Governing Board.

Governing Board Meeting Report— May

Executive Board Members PresentClarice Berry, Ana Espinoza, Kenneth Hunter, Cynthia Miller

Auxiliary Officers PresentDana Butler, Elizabeth Cittadine, James Clarke, July Cyrwus, Eric Fay, Senalda Grady, Troy LaRaviere, Patrick MacMahon, Edwin Mason, Stephanie Moore, Elena Manial, Linda Williams

CPAA Staff PresentJames Eng (Accounting Manager), William Quinlan (General Counsel)

President’s ReportPresident Berry provided the following report:

• By June 15, 2016, CPAA will settle an outstanding matter regarding past on-loan salaries with CPS.

• CPAA Triennial Election – Ballots went out May 2, 2016, and will be due back in the office two weeks later. The ballot counting will take place May 19, 2016, at 9:00 AM.

• For transparency sake, a motion was passed to report the CPAA Triennial Election results with the inclusion of percentages.

Old BusinessThe board approved a motion to settle litigation with a former CPAA employee. CPAA General Counsel William Quinlan will conduct final negotiations with the opposing attorney.

New BusinessThe Governing Board considered a motion from Auxiliary 10 – “Based on the fact that at the time of the 2016 nominations, the CPAA presidency has been a full-time position. Anyone seeking election to that position needs to honor this commitment. Changes to the constitution, organizational structure, hiring and other affairs are the responsibility of the entire Governing Board and association. Changes can be put forth after 18 months of the CPAA president’s term have passed (term beginning on July 1, 2016). The changes could include perhaps appointing an executive director, who would be selected by the entire CPAA Governing Board. Changes would need to be made to the CPAA Constitution and bylaws prior to any new type of leadership roles being determined.” The motion passed by a vote of 7 for and 3 against.

The board also considered a motion from the retired auxiliary regarding their right to vote in CPAA general officers elections and to have representation on the executive board. The motion failed. Instead a motion was passed to form a committee to research multiple models for voting representation, constitutional committee voting, or representation and executive board participation. Findings from that committee will be reported at a later date. The following individuals volunteered to serve on the committee: Cynthia Miller, Dana Butler, Elena Manial, James Clarke, Eric Fay, Troy LaRaviere, Edwin Mason, and Linda Williams.

AN UPDATE:During the CPAA Triennial Elections in May, reports surfaced in the news media regarding

Kenneth Hunter and a personal legal matter. At a recent court appearance, Hunter was completely exonerated — the case was dismissed and the charges were dropped.

The Lamp —June 2016 3

Chicago Principals & Administrators Association Elects New Officers

During the month of May, CPAA held triennial elections to select new officers for the 2016–2019 term. Ballots were mailed out to members in good standing in early May and due in the office two weeks later. On May 19, 2016, the Committee on Elections met to open and count the ballots.

Here are the results:

CPAA President Clarice Berry (fourth from left) poses with President-elect Troy LaRaviere (fifth from left) and members of the Triennial Election Committee (from left to right — William Quinlan, Jeffery Dase, Jewel Diaz (Chairperson), Connie Lee, Gary Norcross, and Christopher Brake).

PresidentTroy LaRaviere (69.1%)* TreasurerJudith Sauri SecretaryErleah “July” Cyrwus

Vice Presidents: Elementary School PrincipalsCynthia Miller (58.4%)* Elementary School Assistant PrincipalsKatherine Gallagher High School PrincipalsStephanie Moore * Percentages provided only for contested elections.

ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATORS' ACADEMY

Visit IAAChicago.com to get more information on and register

for Illinois Administrators' Academy courses, and to find event

information.

Registration is now open for the following sessions:

• June 15, 2016 — Culture Counts: Constructive Leadership That Promotes Student Success

(Culture, Climate and You)

• June 22, 2016 — Effective Use of Technology in Schools

• June 28, 2016 — Interpersonal and Team Communication Skills for School Administrators

Retirees' CornerJohn ReillySTAYING CONNECTED AND ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS SHAPING YOUR FUTURE

The retirees' column in this issue is in the form of minutes from the June 14, 2016, meeting. The regular retirees' column written by Art Fumarolo will resume in September. We wish Art a complete recovery as he continues his rehabilitation program.

The meeting was called to order by President Linda R. Williams at 9:30 AM in Room 909 at 111 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago. The Retired Teachers Association of Chicago was our host. Eighteen members were present and a quorum was reached. The minutes of the April 12, 2016, meeting were reviewed. A motion was made by Eva Nickolich to accept the minutes. It was seconded and approved.

President Williams began the meeting by welcoming back Walter Pilditch who was greeted with a round of applause.

President Williams then began reporting on the recent meetings of the CPAA Governing Board. The meeting of May 2, 2016, began at 5:05 PM, and at the start of the meeting, there was not a quorum, but one was achieved later in the afternoon. The treasurer’s report provided information on the association's operating and checking accounts. It was also reported that CPAA will make a payment to CPS by June 15, 2016, as reimbursement for past administrator on-loan salaries. The membership report was presented as follows: 358 principals, 260 assistant principals, 28 administrators, 71 associates, and 537 retirees. The total membership was 1,254. Dana Butler, president of Auxiliary V, was recognized for receiving a Golden Apple Award. Details regarding the triennial election were shared and a motion was approved, which stated that only the percentage of votes each candidate received would be published, and the number of votes received by each candidate would not be published. The membership and treasurer’s reports were approved. The motion by Auxiliary 16 allowing retirees to vote in the election of the CPAA president failed. The reason stated by the opposition was that the large number of retirees would be given too much voting power. It is hoped that the issue of retiree voting rights and a seat on the Executive Board will be brought up to the Constitution Committee in the future. The meeting adjourned at 6:39 PM.

The June Governing Board meeting was convened on June 6, 2016, at 4:51 PM. A quorum was present and business was conducted. The audit report was presented. It stated that the organization was in overall good financial health. The audit was approved. The lawsuit against CPAA by a former employee will be settled by the end of June. The CPAA budget for 2016–17 was reviewed and approved. Minutes of the May meeting were

approved with one correction regarding an auxiliary motion. The membership report indicated that there are 356 principals, 259 assistant principals, 21 administrators, 71 associates and 555 retirees, for a total of 1,262 members. New business at the meeting included an announcement of a celebration honoring retiring CPAA President Clarice Berry, which will be held on June 22 from 5:00 –8:00 PM at the Athena Restaurant, 212 S. Halsted. The cost is $45. Retirees who do not receive The Lamp electronically should have received an announcement regarding the celebration in the mail. Individuals interested in attending may call the CPAA office for tickets or reservations. President Berry congratulated President-elect Troy LaRaviere on his election to the office of president as of July 1, 2016. The meeting was adjourned at 5:48 PM.

President Williams then discussed the proposed budget based upon membership of 615 active members and 550 retired members. A brief explanation of revenue and expense was presented. A 2017 educational conference is not planned at this time.

Our guest speaker was president-elect of CPAA, Troy LaRaviere. He informed us that his approach to his campaign for the presidency was not just to get people to “vote for Troy,” but to get members to tell him the issues that they have with CPS. He asked members to tell him what needed to be done to make their jobs more manageable. LaRaviere said he also felt the campaign was needed to grow membership in CPAA. He had hopes that the transition in leadership would be cooperative, but there have been some problems. He noted that in his conversation with members, many principals feel many CPS policies are unfair to neighborhood schools. Among these policies are the school rating system, competition with charter schools (different rules for charter schools, e.g., discipline codes), ability to get needed resources, lack of democratic participation in policymaking, professional development, and management and operation of their building (Sodexo and Aramark). President-elect LaRaviere feels CPAA must establish focus groups made up of CPAA members to study issues that make their jobs more difficult. These focus groups will be asked to develop policies and positions that will improve school operations and provide a better education for all students. These groups will review academic research and best practices, survey members, connect with those schools that have already implemented such policies, and provide workshops for principals to implement the policies. LaRaviere has already

The Lamp —June 2016 5

begun conversations with groups such as Generation All Chicago and the Chicago Public Education Trust to build a relationship with community organizations that can help CPAA impact public opinion. LaRaviere has been asked by radio station WVON to host a weekly 15-minute broadcast to communicate with the public. He hopes to create a vehicle to communicate the needs of local schools to aldermen in all 50 wards and with state legislators from Chicago. He plans to expand the use of frequent brief surveys to all principals to get their opinions on their needs and reaction to policies. Although CPS has taken the on-loan position for supporting IAA from CPAA, LaRaviere noted that CPAA has the machinery in place to keep professional development going and intends to do so. On the issue of voting rights for retirees, he plans to have a working group investigate the issue and come up with a fair solution. Finally, President-elect LaRaviere asked retirees if the auxiliary could help develop a corp of volunteers to help at the CPAA office.

Bob Bures reported that CTPF fully expects a full pension payment of $750 million from CPS by June 30, 2016. He mentioned that Speaker Madigan told him at a recent meeting that he sees no need for a pension holiday this year. He also mentioned that it was great to have Walter Pilditch back at Auxiliary 16 and CTPF.

New BusinessJohn Reilly made a motion that Auxiliary 16 thank President

Clarice Berry for her years of service to CPAA, which was seconded by John Butterfield and approved.

Dave Peterson made a motion that the president-elect ensures that the Legislative Committee makes members aware of CPAA’s position on current and future legislative packages. The motion was seconded by Eva Nickolich and approved.

Dave Peterson made a motion that because of the expense involved ($62,500), CPAA should review our relationship with AFSA to determine our level of participation and continuation in the organization.

Frank Lacey expressed his thanks to President-elect Troy LaRaviere for his presentation on behalf of all in attendance.

Get well wishes to Joe Garvey who is recovering at home from a recent hospitalization, and also to Art Fumarolo who is recovering and completing rehab after a recent fall. We hope to see you both in September.

The next meeting of Auxiliary 16 will take place on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, at 9:30 AM in Room 909, 111 N. Wabash Ave. Our host will be the Retired Teachers Association of Chicago.

A motion was made by Pat Kenny to adjourn. The motion was seconded.

Member NewsCondolences — Dr. Philip Carlin, former and first principal of Pirie Elementary School, passed away in May 2016. Dr. Carlin was also an associate professor emeritus at Loyola University.

Andrea Kerr, former principal and head of the Department of Curriculum, passed away on June 13, 2016.

New Members — Nia Abdullah, Principal, Bowen High School; Angel Aguirre, A.P., Peck Elementary; Joenile Albert-Reese, Principal, Pritzker Elementary; Jeffrey Alstadt, A.P., Walsh Elementary; Timothy Anderson, A.P., Crane Medical Prep High School; Peter Auffant, Principal, Shields Middle School; Latricia Baker-Tall, A.P., Green Elementary; Melanie Beatty-Sevier, Principal, Robeson High School; Jessica Biggs, Principal, Burke Elementary School; Charles Campbell, Principal, Bronzeville Scholastic Institute; Juan Cardona, A.P., Bridge Elementary; Teresa Chrobak-Prince, Principal, Hearst Elementary; Alberta Colesio, A.P., Carson Elementary; Heather Connolly, A.P., Barry Elementary School; Jennifer Crall, A.P., Twain Elementary School; Timothy Devine, Principal, Payton College Preparatory High School; Elias Estrada, Principal, Alcott Elementary; John Fitzpatrick, Principal, Locke Elementary; Elizabeth Gallo, A.P., Byrne Elementary; Daphne Gordon, A.P., Gregory Elementary; Paulette Grissett, A.P., South Shore International College Prep; Turon Ivy, Principal, Leland STEM School; Roger Johnson, Principal, Volta Elementary; Raul Magdaleno, Principal, Hedges Fine and Performing Arts; Nathan Manaen, Principal, Ravenswood Elementary; Sean McNichols, Principal, Clissold Elementary; Ruth Miller, A.P., Melody Elementary; Frank Morris, III, A.P., O'Toole Elementary; Derrick Orr, Principal, Manierre Elementary; Marianne Patten, A.P., Onahan Elementary; Melissa Raich, A.P., Sauganash Elementary; Brian Roberts, A.P., Harold Washington Elementary; Antonio Ross, Principal, Hyde Park Academy; Jaime Sanchez, Principal, North River Elementary School; Matthew Sullivan, Principal, Phillips Academy High School; Ronetta Wards, A.P., Wadsworth STEM; Erin Washington, Principal, Deneen School of Excellence.

Board Action — The following principal contracts were approved at the February, March, and April 2016 Chicago Board of Education meetings: Charles Anderson, Clark High School; Mary Beck, Senn High School; Margaret Byrne, Northwest Middle School; Leanne Hightower, Pilsen Community Academy; Raul Magdaleno, Hedges Elementary; Karime Asaf, Moos Elementary; Raul Bermejo, Hernandez Elementary; Jaclyn Delaney, Boone Elementary; Caroline Ellis, Evers Elementary; Okab Hassan, Peck Elementary; Flavia Hernandez, McCormick Elementary; Gail King, Reavis Elementary; Mariel Laureano, Prieto Elementary; Daniel Perry, McDade Elementary; Alexander Phillips, Suder Montessori School.

Special Awards at the 2016 Chicago History Fairsponsored by the Chicago Principals & Administrators Association

CPAA annually sponsors the Young Scholars Prize at the Chicago History Fair. A large number of students from across the Chicago area were chosen to receive the CPAA Award for Historical Scholarship at our Awards Ceremony on Sunday, May 15, 2016. These students are as follows:

Emily Arroyo from Prosser Career Academy for her paper, “How Did the Great Migration Affect Chicago?”

Jalynn Webb from Brooks College Prep for her exhibit, “Binga and Du Bois: African American Opportunities.”

Jazlyn Compian and Elizabeth Hernandez from Solorio Academy High School for their exhibit, “Juvenile Protective Association.”

Gabriella Granados and Samantha Schwieger from Taft High School for their website, “Chicago Women’s Liberation Union.”

Isamar Briseno, Caitlyn Montejano, and Raven Varela from Washington High School for their exhibit, “The Johnson Publishing Company.”

Jade Henderson, Raven Moore, and Mandie Xu from Westinghouse Career Academy for their website, “Emmett Till.”

Raven Galloway from Williams Preparatory School of Medicine for her exhibit, “Richard Wright: Native Son.”

Cristian Molina from Lincoln Park High School for his paper, “From Affliction to Progress: 19th Century Chicago Epidemics.”

Stephanie Mena from Prosser Career Academy for her website, “Chicago Freedom Movement: A Fight for Change.”

Kyle Arnashus from Von Steuben High School for his paper, “The Reversal of Chicago.”

Over the years, the CPAA history fair award sponsorship has benefited many students, with 16 recipients this year alone! CPAA members will be most pleased to know that every one of these projects was selected to compete at the National History Day Competition in Washington, D.C. These students will be joining approximately 45 other competitors from the Chicago History Fair in D.C. on June 14–19, 2016.

Upcoming CPS Board MeetingChicago Board of Education Monthly MeetingWednesday, June 22, 2016

Board Chambers42 W. Madison St., Garden Level, Board Room

Registration opens June 20, 2016

On June 22, Public Participation 10:30 AM–12:30 PM

The Lamp —June 2016 7

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