Pat was singled out by the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board in their seven-part series, “From Here to Excellence,” for the effectiveness of his data-driven management approach to school leadership. 

Pat is also a published author.  His book, “Professional Learning Communities: Using Data in Decision Making to Improve Student Learning,” details his experiences as an elementary school turnaround specialist and works as a guide for those seeking to do the same.   

Most notably, Pat took South Loop Elementary School from a failing, dysfunctional school to one of the most successful elementary schools in the city.

Pat arrived at South Loop Elementary in August 2002 to find a school in disarray-  low test scores (32% meets/exceeds), limited teacher interaction, a hodgepodge curriculum, and low student enrollment.

Relying on his extensive education (B.A. History, M.T.S. Theological and Education Studies, M.A. Curriculum and Instruction, Ed. D. Urban Educational Leadership) and nearly 20 years of classroom experience, he developed systems and structures that brought stability and coherence to the students and the school.   The changes he implemented led South Loop Elementary to record one of the largest and fastest test score increases in CPS history.

Pat also worked to open the school to the community.   He created partnerships with community groups, introduced comprehensive after-school programs, and even started a school-based summer camp.   Local neighborhood residents flooded into the school.   Attendance rose from 350 students when he arrived, to over 600 when he left, and over 750 today.

Recent test scores at South Loop illustrate the success he fostered.    Compare South Loop test scores to select Suburban schools:

3rd Grade (ISAT Average)

The South Loop residents were not the only ones to notice.   Officials within CPS refer to Pat’s methodologies as “The South Loop Way.”   Seeking to replicate his success in other schools, CPS promoted Pat to Deputy Chief Education Officer.   In this role, Pat introduced and implemented new curricula in reading, math, and science.   He also developed the CPS Elementary School Turnaround Model and was dispatched to bring ”The South Loop Way” to underperforming schools.   Through his work, Chicago elementary “turnaround” schools have developed core systems, structures and routines - the foundation that supports significant improvement.

Most recently, Pat was selected to become Executive Director of School Performance Management in the CPS Office of Performance, where he developed and implemented School Performance Management procedures  and training for all of the 660 district schools.   The goal of School Performance Management, a core strategy of CPS’ Chief Executive Officer, is to guide school improvement, improvement in teacher practice, and to increase student learning and achievement.

After several successful years in the Central Office, Pat is eager to once again work in a neighborhood school.   We are extremely lucky to have him on board.  

Thanks to everyone who had a hand in making this possible: 

Mayor Richard Daley

Tawa Jogunosimi - Assistant to the Mayor, Education

Scott Waguespack - 32nd Ward Alderman

Caryn Brissman - 32nd Ward Education Coordinator

Ron Huberman - Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Public Schools

Abigayil Joseph - Officer, Office of Academic Enhancement

Jose Alvarez - Office of LSC Relations

David Pickens - Chief of Staff, President of the Board of Education

Adam Case - Chief of Staff, Chief Executive Officer

Pulaski Local School Council

A special thanks goes out to the Bucktown Community Organization (www.bucktown.org) for providing the support and funding to make this possible.   Please help us support this great neighborhood organization by becoming a member today.   A renewing yearly membership is only $20 and goes to support worthy neighborhood projects such as Pulaski IB 2010.  Please click here and join today!

Most importantly, thanks to the hundreds of Bucktown neighborhood residents who took the time to write letters, make calls, attend CPS Board Meetings, hand out flyers, and help in many more ways than we can mention.   Without you none of this would have been possible.   Thank you!

We will have many more updates coming in the next several weeks, including information on how to volunteer for the next exciting stage of Pulaski’s transformation.    Please address any immediate questions to this email.

Thanks again, and welcome Principal Baccellieri!

The Pulaski IB 2010 Committee

Steve Dillinger

Melissa Connell

Sarah Harris

Sheila Saegh Henretta

Christina Nelson

Susan Landwer

Amy Weisenbach

The Board of Education, at their November meeting, approved a modified plan for Pulaski Elementary. 

In a nutshell-

·         The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program will begin September 2010.

·         The IB Program will begin with grades K - 3.

·         Each year, beginning September 2011, another grade will convert to IB.

·         Pulaski will be ‘one school.’   There will be one Principal, one Local School Council.

·         A new Principal will be selected. 

·         A teaching staff will be hired for the new IB positions.

·         Existing teachers are guaranteed the right to interview for the new IB positions.

·         Siblings of current Pulaski students are guaranteed spots in Pulaski IB.

·         The current Pulaski attendance boundary will not change (Google the ‘CPS School Locator’ to find the exact boundary).

·         All children living in the Pulaski boundary are guaranteed admission to the IB program.

·         The ELL (English Language Learner) Regional Gifted Center will remain the same.

·         The Pre-K program is unaffected (IB begins in K).

·         CPS is working on creating a new IB High School that will pair with Pulaski.   (This is currently in very preliminary planning stages).

·         CPS is committing to significant capital improvements for Pulaski elementary.

We are very happy with the proposal and applaud CPS for putting in the time and effort to find a workable compromise. 

Over the next few weeks our volunteer group will be transitioning out of the Bucktown Community Organization (www.bucktown.org) and into a dedicated Pulaski community group.   We will keep you informed with emails from this address as we move forward.

That is the extent of what we know now.  If you have any further questions please email them to pulaskiib@pulaskiib.com.

Thanks to everyone in the community for your incredible support!

This Thursday, November 12th

6:30 pm

Pulaski Elementary Auditorium

Leavitt and McLean

…to announce the latest CPS proposal for the future of Pulaski Elementary.

CPS officials will be on hand to explain the details of the revised proposal and answer your questions.  We encourage you to come and show your support.

Hear first hand the great things coming to your neighborhood elementary school!

Please email BCO Education Chair Steve Dillinger with any questions: Steve@Bucktown.org

p.s. - there will be a PA system this time!

• .
• CPS will place an IB program in Pulaski Elementary beginning Fall 2010.
• .
• The school will remain a neighborhood school.
• The attendance boundary will stay the same.
• The program will start with grades Pre-K and K.
• Each year the program will advance another grade.  First grade will be included Fall 2011, second grade Fall 2012, etc.
• The IB Program will have its own principal, selected by CPS to be the best fit for the program.
• The new principal will have the flexibility to hire teachers best suited for the IB Program. 
• All children within the attendance boundary are guaranteed acceptance to the IB Program.
• Children in the existing Fine Arts Program will continue with the Fine Arts Program through 8th grade.
• Children from outside the attendance boundary may attend the IB Program based on space available, in accordance with CPS rules.
• The existing Regional Gifted Center will remain and operate as it does today.

An information meeting will be held on TUESDAY, AUGUST 4th, 5:30at Pulaski Elementary.  Pulaski Elementary is located one block north of Armitage between Leavitt and Oakley.  The meeting will include a presentation on the proposed program followed by a question and answer session.

It is very important that we have a large turnout to show our support for this great educational program.   Please tell your friends and neighbors!

We expressed to Abigayil our belief there is very strong neighborhood support for an International Baccalaureate program at Pulaski.  Abigayil told us CPS is eager to work with parents and neighborhood groups to get children into their neighborhood elementary school.    

Also in attendance at the meeting was IB Coordinator Meg Venckus.    Meg gave us an overview of the IB program.   She explained to us how the IB program is a framework for accelerated education.    Meg talked about the great success of the IB program at other CPS schools and how it is widely used by private schools throughout the country.

Abigayil asked us to take a survey of the neighborhood to gauge interest in an IB program.   You can show your support by taking a moment to answer the survey.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY!