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About Us:

Parents.
Leaders.
Advocates.

Building Institutions of Excellence.

About Us:

Parents.
Leaders.
Advocates.

Building Institutions of Excellence.

We are the Greater Grand Crossing Strategic Implementation Team (GGCSIT): a unified movement committed to revolutionizing education, securing equitable resources, and transforming our neighborhood schools into premier centers of learning.

We are the Greater Grand Crossing Strategic Implementation Team (GGCSIT): a unified movement committed to revolutionizing education, securing equitable resources, and transforming our neighborhood schools into premier centers of learning.

Our Policy Pillar

Nurturing Innate Talents and Competencies

The Greater Grand Crossing Strategic Implementation Team (GGCSIT) demands a fundamental shift in educational policy. We advocate for a system that moves beyond traditional testing to identify, track, and guarantee access to resources tailored to each student's unique innate smarts, talents, and path to success.

1. Identify:

Beyond the Test Score

We demand policies that replace or augment traditional, one-dimensional testing with comprehensive, diagnostic tools designed to identify the diverse strengths and learning styles of every student, especially Black, Latine, and diverse learners.

  • Talent Mapping: Implement mechanisms to recognize and document a student's non-traditional competencies, including critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, leadership potential, skilled trades aptitude, and entrepreneurial drive.

  • Early Intervention: Mandate early and frequent identification of learning differences, social-emotional needs, and giftedness across all student populations, ensuring no talent or need is overlooked due to economic or systemic bias.

  • Transparent Reporting: Require comprehensive reporting on the identified strengths and needs within each school, ensuring transparency on the gap between student competencies and available school resources.

2. Track:

Measuring Holistic Growth, Not Just Performance

GGCSIT calls for a system of tracking that measures holistic student growth, development, and mastery in a manner that nurtures individual talents, rather than simply evaluating performance against a uniform benchmark.

  • Growth-Based Metrics: Shift the focus from singular performance scores to continuous, growth-based metrics that assess how a student develops their identified talents and competencies over time.

  • Personalized Learning Pathways: Mandate that tracking data be used to inform and adjust personalized learning pathways, ensuring students are advanced and supported in ways that align with their specific talents and learning styles.

  • Accountability for Nurturing Talent: Implement accountability standards that evaluate schools based on their success in cultivating diverse student talents, graduating students who are prepared for specific career or post-secondary pathways, and reducing achievement gaps.

3. Access:

Guaranteeing Individualized Opportunity

We fight to ensure every student has guaranteed access to the instruction, mentorship, and resources required to develop their identified talents and pursue their personalized growth pathway.

  • Differentiated Curricula: Demand funding and policy for diverse curricula that offer high-quality instruction across academic subjects, skilled trades, advanced technology, entrepreneurship, and arts, all differentiated to meet various learning styles.

  • Equitable Resource Allocation: Secure targeted funding for specialized equipment, teacher training, mentoring programs, and counseling staff that are necessary to nurture the unique talents identified within the student body.

  • Post-Secondary and Career Alignment: Ensure robust partnerships with businesses, colleges, and trade programs to guarantee seamless access to apprenticeships, post-secondary education, and career development opportunities aligned with the student’s innate competencies and future goals.

1. Identify:

Beyond the Test Score

We demand policies that replace or augment traditional, one-dimensional testing with comprehensive, diagnostic tools designed to identify the diverse strengths and learning styles of every student, especially Black, Latine, and diverse learners.

  • Talent Mapping: Implement mechanisms to recognize and document a student's non-traditional competencies, including critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, leadership potential, skilled trades aptitude, and entrepreneurial drive.

  • Early Intervention: Mandate early and frequent identification of learning differences, social-emotional needs, and giftedness across all student populations, ensuring no talent or need is overlooked due to economic or systemic bias.

  • Transparent Reporting: Require comprehensive reporting on the identified strengths and needs within each school, ensuring transparency on the gap between student competencies and available school resources.

2. Track:

Measuring Holistic Growth, Not Just Performance

GGCSIT calls for a system of tracking that measures holistic student growth, development, and mastery in a manner that nurtures individual talents, rather than simply evaluating performance against a uniform benchmark.

  • Growth-Based Metrics: Shift the focus from singular performance scores to continuous, growth-based metrics that assess how a student develops their identified talents and competencies over time.

  • Personalized Learning Pathways: Mandate that tracking data be used to inform and adjust personalized learning pathways, ensuring students are advanced and supported in ways that align with their specific talents and learning styles.

  • Accountability for Nurturing Talent: Implement accountability standards that evaluate schools based on their success in cultivating diverse student talents, graduating students who are prepared for specific career or post-secondary pathways, and reducing achievement gaps.

3. Access:

Guaranteeing Individualized Opportunity

We fight to ensure every student has guaranteed access to the instruction, mentorship, and resources required to develop their identified talents and pursue their personalized growth pathway.

  • Differentiated Curricula: Demand funding and policy for diverse curricula that offer high-quality instruction across academic subjects, skilled trades, advanced technology, entrepreneurship, and arts, all differentiated to meet various learning styles.

  • Equitable Resource Allocation: Secure targeted funding for specialized equipment, teacher training, mentoring programs, and counseling staff that are necessary to nurture the unique talents identified within the student body.

  • Post-Secondary and Career Alignment: Ensure robust partnerships with businesses, colleges, and trade programs to guarantee seamless access to apprenticeships, post-secondary education, and career development opportunities aligned with the student’s native competencies and future goals.

The Greater Grand Crossing Strategic Implementation Team


Maria R. Owens
President

Partner in the law firm of Owens & Robinson, Macedonia Tabernacle B.C. Youth Director, and current Vice-Chair of the Emil G. Hirsh Metro H.S. Local School Council.


Elder Renee Holloway
Secretary

Associate Minister, New Prospect M.B.C.


Rev. Bonnie Ellis
Board Member

Pastor, New Christian Life House of Prayer and Faith B.C.


Rev. Ronald Ellis, Sr.
Board Member

Jegna, New Christian Life House of Prayer and Faith B.C.


Renye K. Owens
Treasurer

The Greater Grand Crossing Strategic Implementation Team


Maria R. Owens
President

Partner in the law firm of Owens & Robinson, Macedonia Tabernacle B.C. Youth Director, and current Vice-Chair of the Emil G. Hirsh Metro H.S. Local School Council.


Elder Renee Holloway
Secretary

Associate Minister, New Prospect M.B.C.


Rev. Bonnie Ellis
Board Member

Pastor, New Christian Life House of Prayer and Faith B.C.


Rev. Ronald Ellis, Sr.
Board Member

Jegna, New Christian Life House of Prayer and Faith B.C.

Renye K. Owens
Treasurer

In Partnership

Transforming education is a collaborative effort. We are proud to work alongside these leading organizations and community leaders to create lasting change.



Englewood Chamber of Commerce
Kids First Chicago
Emil G. Hirsch Metropolitan H.S.
Partner With Us