It is Our Mission to Produce Lifelong Learners
Our Vision: At TCA, we are dedicated to preparing students to succeed in high school, college, and beyond, as we all strive to make a positive and dynamic impact on our world.
Our Mission: At TCA, staff, parents, and students: Think critically and globally. Care about community and respect diversity. Achieve in a rigorous, supportive environment.

The Chicago Academy
3400 N. Austin Ave.
Chicago
,
IL
60634
773-534-3885
Enrollment:
612
A CPS Neighborhood School
Useful links
TenMarks
Compass Learning
ST Math
TCA Family Calendar
Principal's Message
Greetings and Welcome to The Chicago Academy
Hello Dolphin Community,
We are excited to dive into the 2017-2018 school year with you. Our students are reaching toward even higher levels of achievement, and our teachers and staff are continuously seeking out ways to best meet your students’ academic needs.
We are committed to providing all students at TCA with an education that empowers them to make a positive and dynamic impact on our world. We value every moment with your child, and we aim to empower them with the knowledge, perspective, and agency so they have access to opportunities that they deserve. We recognize that our partnership with you is essential in order for all of our students to become their best selves. Let’s Think, Care, and Achieve together this year as we strive toward continuous growth and success. Please reach out to us if there’s anything we can do to support you and your student(s).
Thank you for your support,
Jay Laughlin
Performance
School Year 2017-2018:
Attainment Percentile in Reading, 73
Growth Percentile in Reading, 66
Attainment Percentile in Math, 74
Growth Percentile in Math, 66
Steady, positive improvements in academic achievement, student engagement, and parent satisfaction are hallmarks of all AUSL-managed CPS schools.
Our History
Building on Our History to
Create a Culture of Excellence
The Chicago Academy is housed on the first two floors of the former Wilbur Wright Junior College building, which was opened in 1934. The building was completed in 1930 and originally served as a junior high school until 1933, when it was converted to an elementary school and high school branch for two years. The navy took over the building from 1941 to 1946 to offer navy training classes during World War II. A library was added in 1961, which now houses part of the high school. Wright College moved to its new location on Narragansett and Montrose in 1993.
The Chicago Academy opened in 2001. TCA was Chicago Public School’s first contract school as well as its first school-based teacher preparation program for aspiring teachers. In its first year, it operated classes from prekindergarten through fourth grade. In 2002, the school added fifth and sixth grade classes, and in 2003 and 2004 seventh and eighth grades, respectively.
A synthetic turf field was added in 2007, the first of its kind at a CPS school. In 2012, the old pool was filled in and the space was converted into a multipurpose room with completely renovated locker rooms to serve both schools and the community.
Building off the successes of Wilbur Wright and Wright College before us, TCA integrates technology into the classroom for innovative lessons and enhanced student achievement.
The building contains 27 classrooms and serves 600 students.
AUSL (Academy for Urban School Leadership) is a Chicago nonprofit school management organization that creates schools of excellence by developing highly effective teachers and transforming educational outcomes for students in the lowest performing schools.
AUSL opened the Chicago Academy in 2001 as a training academy. Training Academies are neighborhood schools in which residents are trained. These schools are not turnarounds but were opened with the purpose of developing highly effective teachers for the challenging urban environment.
AUSL is committed to to providing all AUSL students with a quality education to prepare them for college and career.
Staff List
Questions for Our Staff?
If you have any questions, The Chicago Academy staff will be happy to assist you.
Phone:(773) 534-3885
Fax: (773) 534-0109
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Administration
Teachers
Ms. Halina Zielna
PreK - Room 115
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Ms. Alma Moreno/Ms. Maria Olmeda
PreK - Room 121
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Website
Ms. Elizabeth Brown
Kdg - Room 109
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Website
Ms. Claudia Castro
Kdg - Room 111
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Website
Ms. Karla Daye
1 - Room 219
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Website
Ms. Elaine Robaczewski
1 - Room 220
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Website
Ms. Nora Cole
2 - Room 217
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Ms. Janelly Diaz
2 - Room 218
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Ms. Carol O'Connell
3 - Room 215
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Ms. Elizabeth Rosado
3 - Room 216
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Ms. Dana Burlig
4 - Room 213
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Ms. Erin Timur
4 - Room 214
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Ms. Melissa McMahon
5 - Room 210
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Ms. Susan C. Stone
5 - Room 212
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Website
Mr.Jeffrey Horn
6 - Room 209
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Ms. Haneen Arman
6- Room 206
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Website
Ms. Maltita Klauba
7 - Room 201
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Website
Mr. Jason Bohan
7 - Room 207
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Mr. Oscar Newman
8 - Room 207
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Website
Mr. John Wischnewsky
8 - Room 205
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Ms. Patty Miller
P.E.
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Ms.Jessica Heffernan
PE
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Ms. Heather Walters
Art
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Ms. Anna Kain
Music
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Ms. Leah Radinsky
Bilingual/ESL
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Ms. Maria Ronda
Bilingual/ESL
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Ms. Meri LeBlanc
Case Manager
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Ms. Karin Candelaria
Diverse Leaning
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Website
Ms. Deirdre Pallasch
Diverse Learning
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Ms Maggie Monahan
Diverse Learning
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Ms. Jessica Siegel
Diverse Learning
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Website
Ms. Monika Walilko
Diverse Learning
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Ms. Edith Aguilar
Diverse Learning
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Ms. Halina Zielna
PreK - Room 115
Email Me
Website
Ms. Alma Moreno/Ms. Maria Olmeda
PreK - Room 121
Email Me
Website
Ms. Elizabeth Brown
Kdg - Room 109
Email Me
Website
Ms. Claudia Castro
Kdg - Room 111
Email Me
Website
Ms. Karla Daye
1 - Room 219
Email Me
Website
Ms. Elaine Robaczewski
1 - Room 220
Email Me
Website
Ms. Nora Cole
2 - Room 217
Email Me
Ms. Janelly Diaz
2 - Room 218
Email Me
Ms. Carol O'Connell
3 - Room 215
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Ms. Elizabeth Rosado
3 - Room 216
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Ms. Dana Burlig
4 - Room 213
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Ms. Erin Timur
4 - Room 214
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Ms. Melissa McMahon
5 - Room 210
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Ms. Susan C. Stone
5 - Room 212
Email Me
Website
Mr.Jeffrey Horn
6 - Room 209
Email Me
Ms. Haneen Arman
6- Room 206
Email Me
Website
Ms. Maltita Klauba
7 - Room 201
Email Me
Website
Mr. Jason Bohan
7 - Room 207
Email Me
Mr. Oscar Newman
8 - Room 207
Email Me
Website
Mr. John Wischnewsky
8 - Room 205
Email Me
Ms. Patty Miller
P.E.
Email Me
Ms.Jessica Heffernan
PE
Email Me
Ms. Heather Walters
Art
Email Me
Ms. Anna Kain
Music
Email Me
Ms. Leah Radinsky
Bilingual/ESL
Email Me
Ms. Maria Ronda
Bilingual/ESL
Email Me
Ms. Meri LeBlanc
Case Manager
Email Me
Ms. Karin Candelaria
Diverse Leaning
Email Me
Website
Ms. Deirdre Pallasch
Diverse Learning
Email Me
Ms Maggie Monahan
Diverse Learning
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Ms. Jessica Siegel
Diverse Learning
Email Me
Website
Ms. Monika Walilko
Diverse Learning
Email Me
Ms. Edith Aguilar
Diverse Learning
Email Me
Ms. Halina Zielna
PreK - Room 115
Email Me
Website
Ms. Alma Moreno/Ms. Maria Olmeda
PreK - Room 121
Email Me
Website
Ms. Elizabeth Brown
Kdg - Room 109
Email Me
Website
Ms. Claudia Castro
Kdg - Room 111
Email Me
Website
Ms. Karla Daye
1 - Room 219
Email Me
Website
Ms. Elaine Robaczewski
1 - Room 220
Email Me
Website
Ms. Nora Cole
2 - Room 217
Email Me
Ms. Janelly Diaz
2 - Room 218
Email Me
Ms. Carol O'Connell
3 - Room 215
Email Me
Ms. Elizabeth Rosado
3 - Room 216
Email Me
Ms. Dana Burlig
4 - Room 213
Email Me
Ms. Erin Timur
4 - Room 214
Email Me
Ms. Melissa McMahon
5 - Room 210
Email Me
Ms. Susan C. Stone
5 - Room 212
Email Me
Website
Mr.Jeffrey Horn
6 - Room 209
Email Me
Ms. Haneen Arman
6- Room 206
Email Me
Website
Ms. Maltita Klauba
7 - Room 201
Email Me
Website
Mr. Jason Bohan
7 - Room 207
Email Me
Mr. Oscar Newman
8 - Room 207
Email Me
Website
Mr. John Wischnewsky
8 - Room 205
Email Me
Ms. Patty Miller
P.E.
Email Me
Ms.Jessica Heffernan
PE
Email Me
Ms. Heather Walters
Art
Email Me
Ms. Anna Kain
Music
Email Me
Ms. Leah Radinsky
Bilingual/ESL
Email Me
Ms. Maria Ronda
Bilingual/ESL
Email Me
Ms. Meri LeBlanc
Case Manager
Email Me
Ms. Karin Candelaria
Diverse Leaning
Email Me
Website
Ms. Deirdre Pallasch
Diverse Learning
Email Me
Ms Maggie Monahan
Diverse Learning
Email Me
Ms. Jessica Siegel
Diverse Learning
Email Me
Website
Ms. Monika Walilko
Diverse Learning
Email Me
Ms. Edith Aguilar
Diverse Learning
Email Me
Support Staff
Ms. Rebecca Kaffenbarger
Counselor
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Mr. Juan Barriera
Community Relations Representative
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Mr. Jose Lopez
Security and School Climate
Ms. Rosa Kraus
Instructor Assistant-PreK (115)
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Ms. Maria Rios
Instructor Assistant-PreK (121)
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Ms. Anna Witowska
Instructor Assistant-K (111 and 109)
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Ms. Edith Hidalgo
Teacher Assistant
Ms. Nicole Guerrero
SECA
Ms. Joyce Davis
SECA
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Ms. Helene Miller-King
SECA
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Mr. Eugene Payne
SECA
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Mr. Craig Miller
Social Worker
Ms. Mai-Phuong Johnston
Occupational Therapist
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Ms. Paula Dres
School Psychologist
Ms. Jean Marie Daleo
Health Services Nurse
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Ms. Faith Reimer
Speech Therapist
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