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Welcome!
Distinctive Schools Partners & Friends –
We are officially off and running in the 2024–2025 school year! This is one of my favorite times — our communities bring such incredible energy to the school, the hallways buzzing with joy, and classrooms filled with endless possibilities for the year to come.
While our students are just a few days into the school year, Distinctive Schools has already seen milestones for a successful year. This year’s New Teacher Institute saw our most diverse class yet, and our entire staff gathered at CICS Longwood to kick off the school year together. We were honored to welcome Dr. Gholdy Muhammad as our keynote speaker, followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Mahalia Hines — keep reading for more from the kick-off below. Each school held unique back to school events, which included the official opening of Art In Motion’s completed campus expansion project, and in case you missed it, CICS Lloyd Bond released a back to school anthem that highlights the collaboration, joy, and brilliance at the core of Distinctive Schools!
As part of our community hub model and commitment to innovation, we’ve launched our new Soft Start schedule, which allows students to ease into their day from a personalized approach with breakfast, collaborative games, creative projects, or independent reading before the first bell.
Keep reading for more exciting updates from across Distinctive Schools. Thank you for being part of our Distinctive family and for sharing in our vision.
Sincerely,
–Scott Frauenheim, CEO of Distinctive Schools
Celebrating the New School Year
As part of our commitment to DEI and our 2024–2025 priority to a Thriving Culture, Distinctive Schools is proud to welcome our most diverse group of New Teachers to date. Research shows that students who have teachers who represent their identities in the classroom increase student achievement, graduation rates, and social-emotional learning. We strive to provide our students with an exceptional educational experience, and having a staff that reflects student lived experiences helps to achieve just that.
Our entire staff was celebrated with a welcome back staff kickoff at our CICS Longwood campus. Dr. Gholdnecsar (Gholdy) Muhammad delivered an impassioned keynote about unearthing student genius, justice, and joy in the classroom, followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Mahalia Hines on her new book, Tomorrow’s Children: How to Raise Children to Stay Human in a High-Tech Society. All staff received copies of Dr. Muhammad and Dr. Hines’s newest books to add to their personal libraries. | Read more here
Scott Frauenheim Named Leadership Greater Chicago Signature Fellow
Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) is Chicago’s premier civic leadership development program. Scott Frauenheim, CEO of Distinctive Schools, has been selected as a fellow for Leadership Greater Chicago’s 40th Class of the Signature Fellows Program! Each year, LGC selects a diverse group of professionals who are committed to making a difference in their communities. Participants in the program are immersed in the major socioeconomic challenges facing Chicago and its surrounding areas, and they work collaboratively to develop innovative solutions. LGC's impressive network includes over 1,500 fellows who are leading bold, transformative change across various sectors, including business, education, nonprofit, and government. | Read more here
Distinctive Schools Joins the Chicagoland AI Coalition
LEAP Innovations in partnership with Playlab launched The Chicagoland Coalition for Human Centered AI Practices with education leaders and experts from across the Chicago area. Distinctive Schools collaborated with Chicago Public Schools, Naperville 203 CUSD, KIPP Chicago, and the Archdiocese of Chicago, as well as leaders from Google, the Education Research & Development Institute, and Playlab to design what the future of education could look like supported by AI advancements. | Read more here
Back to School Events and the First Day of School Welcomed Students Back to Buildings
To celebrate the new school year, each Distinctive Schools campus held back to school events filled with food and fun, to welcome students to their classrooms. Take a look at the JOY and excitement across our campuses!
Art In Motion Unveils their Campus Expansion at their Back to School Event
After completing the final stages of the 110,000 square foot expansion this summer, Art In Motion (AIM) opened its brand-new doors to families during their Back to School event! The state-of-the-art space includes a black box theater, recording studio, and dance studio, among other features meant to expand students’ creative educational experiences.
Back to School Anthem Released Featuring CICS Lloyd Bond
CICS Lloyd Bond educator Alex Glover, along with his students and acclaimed Chicago hip hop collective GRYSKLL created this energizing back-to-school anthem as a way to celebrate student creativity and innovation before students even step foot into the classroom this fall! The song encapsulates the vibrant and positive spirit fostered at CICS Lloyd Bond, and is a testament to Distinctive Schools’ belief in transformative educational experiences. | Read more here