Some helpful tips and tricks for navigating CPS

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
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
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4. 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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5. Best Practices
• Confirm the presentation one or 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
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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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11. Thank you