SCS Press Release
Press Release
LOYOLA, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS LAUNCH PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND RESOURCES AT TWO NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Joint effort will enhance student well-being, equity, and community engagement at Gale and McCutcheon Elementary Schools
CHICAGO—Loyola University Chicago’s School of Education (Loyola) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) have partnered to support two neighborhood schools, Gale Elementary in Rogers Park and McCutcheon Elementary in Uptown, under the Sustainable Community Schools (SCS) program.
Through the partnership, Loyola will collaborate with school leaders and community partners to enhance student well-being, advance educational equity, and strengthen neighborhood vitality.
“Loyola is proud to work alongside school leaders and community partners,” said David McIntosh, dean of the School of Education. “Together, we can expand after-school programming, strengthen family and community outreach, and build data-informed systems that support students’ social, emotional, and academic growth.”
CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union jointly developed the SCS framework to transform public schools into neighborhood hubs that provide comprehensive support for students and families. The model, rooted in principles of racial justice, restorative practice, and shared leadership seeks to strengthen community infrastructure and foster positive outcomes.
“This partnership reflects CPS’ commitment to investing in schools as centers of their community,” said Jenny VanderPloeg, SCS project manager at Chicago Public Schools. “By working alongside Loyola, school leaders, families, and community partners, we are bringing additional resources into Gale and McCutcheon in ways that honor shared leadership and support the whole child.”
Loyola and CPS are currently in the assessment and planning stage, meeting with school and community stakeholders to determine the most effective supports and resources for each school, with phased implementation scheduled to begin in January. Together, they seek to create a replicable university–K–12 partnership model that supports students and families across Chicago.
About Loyola University Chicago
Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes—including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences—Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country’s most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.
About the School of Education
Established in 1969, Loyola University Chicago’s School of Education (SOE) advances equity in education in service of social justice. SOE offers undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, certificate, and endorsement programs that prepare educators, psychologists, counselors, and higher education professionals to be scholar-practitioners, researchers, and changemakers. Students gain hands-on learning that integrates theory, research, and field experiences, including community service, international study at Loyola’s Rome Center, and participation in a robust professional learning community. Graduates are equipped to dismantle social inequalities and build more equitable educational systems locally and globally. To learn more about SOE, visit LUC.edu/education or follow us on LinkedIn via @LoyolaSOE.
CHICAGO—Loyola University Chicago’s School of Education (Loyola) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) have partnered to support two neighborhood schools, Gale Elementary in Rogers Park and McCutcheon Elementary in Uptown, under the Sustainable Community Schools (SCS) program.
Through the partnership, Loyola will collaborate with school leaders and community partners to enhance student well-being, advance educational equity, and strengthen neighborhood vitality.
“Loyola is proud to work alongside school leaders and community partners,” said David McIntosh, dean of the School of Education. “Together, we can expand after-school programming, strengthen family and community outreach, and build data-informed systems that support students’ social, emotional, and academic growth.”
CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union jointly developed the SCS framework to transform public schools into neighborhood hubs that provide comprehensive support for students and families. The model, rooted in principles of racial justice, restorative practice, and shared leadership seeks to strengthen community infrastructure and foster positive outcomes.
“This partnership reflects CPS’ commitment to investing in schools as centers of their community,” said Jenny VanderPloeg, SCS project manager at Chicago Public Schools. “By working alongside Loyola, school leaders, families, and community partners, we are bringing additional resources into Gale and McCutcheon in ways that honor shared leadership and support the whole child.”
Loyola and CPS are currently in the assessment and planning stage, meeting with school and community stakeholders to determine the most effective supports and resources for each school, with phased implementation scheduled to begin in January. Together, they seek to create a replicable university–K–12 partnership model that supports students and families across Chicago.
About Loyola University Chicago
Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes—including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences—Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country’s most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.
About the School of Education
Established in 1969, Loyola University Chicago’s School of Education (SOE) advances equity in education in service of social justice. SOE offers undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, certificate, and endorsement programs that prepare educators, psychologists, counselors, and higher education professionals to be scholar-practitioners, researchers, and changemakers. Students gain hands-on learning that integrates theory, research, and field experiences, including community service, international study at Loyola’s Rome Center, and participation in a robust professional learning community. Graduates are equipped to dismantle social inequalities and build more equitable educational systems locally and globally. To learn more about SOE, visit LUC.edu/education or follow us on LinkedIn via @LoyolaSOE.