National Louis University Professor Carlos Azcoitia to Serve on the Chicago Board of Education

Azcoitia will apply his more than 35 years of educational expertise to benefit CPS students

National Louis University is proud to announce that Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently named Carlos Azcoitia, Ed.D., Distinguished Professor of Practice at the university and an alumnus, to the Chicago Board of Education. In this role, Dr. Azcoitia will help shape the future of education for students in Chicago Public Schools.

As a result of Dr. Azcoitia’s relentless drive to improve education, he has served in many different educational leadership roles during his established career. Currently at National Louis in the Educational Leadership program, he develops teacher leaders and administrators so they can become transformational leaders who reflect and improve their practice. He has overseen and supported thirty-six schools in his role as Interim Chief of Midway Network in Chicago Public Schools. Prior to that, he served as the founding principal of John Spry Community School, a pre-kindergarten through high school program in the Little Village area that serves students, families and the community. It is the first school in Chicago to include a pre-kindergarten through high school program in one building and sets high goals for student success. Specifically, the aim of the program is a 100 percent student graduation rate from high school and post secondary education. Before he founded John Spry Community School, Dr. Azcoitia served as the Deputy Chief of Education at Chicago Public Schools, where he was responsible for managing wide-ranging departments, programs and services. He began his career more than 35 years ago as a teacher at Kosciuszko School, teaching 7th and 8th grades.

“I am very pleased to be selected to share my thoughts and experience, while working closely with other members on the Chicago Board of Education,” said Dr. Azcoitia. “At National Louis, I help to develop future educators to lead diverse school environments, many of which are part of Chicago Public Schools. My educational philosophy includes seeing human potential regardless of background, but knowing that background and cultural identity count when understanding students and helping them to be academically successful.”

“We are honored to work with Carlos and know that, through his vast experience and dedication to students, he will make valuable contributions to the Chicago Board of Education,” said Dr. Nivine Megahed, National Louis president. “Every day here at National Louis we see how Carlos’s students – all of whom are studying to become teachers themselves – benefit from his knowledge and passion to advance our K-12 education system.”

Dr. Azcoitia also serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees at Northeastern Illinois University, as a Steering Committee Member of the Coalition of Community Schools, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago High School for the Arts and Ignatian Spirituality Center in Miami, FL. He received his Doctorate of Education from Northern Illinois University, his Masters of Education from National Louis University and his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico.

Published in Has Oido