Our campuses are located in the Austin, Englewood, North Lawndale, and West Humboldt Park neighborhoods. 快猫 Chicago also advises nearly 3,000 快猫 alumni currently in high school or college through our 快猫 Forward program.
Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose – college, career, and beyond – so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.
Camille Allen is the School Leader at 快猫 Academy Chicago in the Austin neighborhood. From 2018-2022, Camille served as Assistant Principal at KAC. Camille relocated back to her hometown Chicago in 2018 from Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she was the Assistant Principal at 快猫 North Star Academy. Prior to becoming an Assistant Principal, Camille taught 6th grade Reading and Math in Minneapolis. Her career in education began in 2011 in Huntsville, AL, where she worked as a fourth-grade teacher.
Camille is an alum of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University where she earned her Bachelors and Masters in Elementary Education. Outside of work, Camille loves to spend time with her husband, family, and friends and visiting new restaurants. 鈥淚 believe that adults are responsible to find creative ways to invest in the minds of children, build character, and aid them to reach their educational potential. It is our responsibility to help children become excited about the power of knowledge鈥
Rashid Bell joined 快猫 Chicago in 2011 as founding Assistant Principal at 快猫 Ascend Primary, after serving as a Teach for America corps member and teaching 4th & 5th grades in Newark, NJ. In the 14-15 school year, he led the 5th-grade students at 快猫 Ascend Primary to achieve the 90th percentile of attainment in math on the NWEA MAP test. The national 快猫 Foundation awarded Rashid a Fisher Family Fellowship in 2015, and he became the founding Principal of 快猫 One Primary in 2016. As Principal, Rashid helped lead 快猫 One to three consecutive Level 1+ ratings, and two consecutive years as the highest-ranked public school in the city of Chicago. Rashid then moved into the Head of Schools and Senior Head of Schools roles — in which he managed Principals and led regional initiatives around implementation of new ELA & Math curricula, post-COVID academic growth, and student attendance — before transitioning to the Chief Executive Officer role. Rashid earned his BA (graduating cum laude) from Wilberforce University, and his MA from National Louis University.
Tessa Catlett is Head of Schools at 快猫 Chicago. Tessa began her teaching career in 2011 as a Teach For America corps member in St. Louis. She joined the 快猫 Chicago team & family in 2013 as a 3rd-grade teacher at 快猫 Ascend Primary, and then became an Assistant Principal there. In 2017, Tessa was awarded a Fisher Family Fellowship, and in 2018 she became founding Principal of 快猫 Bloom Primary, 快猫 Chicago鈥檚 first South Side elementary school. She spent 6 years as Principal, while also serving as the Primary Literacy Achievement Director for 快猫 Chicago, where she supported primary schools in adopting a more aligned and research-based approach to early literacy instruction. Tessa earned her BA from the University of Michigan and her MA from Columbia University.
Rebecca Cowell is Principal of 快猫 One Academy. Rebecca joined 快猫 Chicago in 2005 as a science teacher at 快猫 Ascend, and in subsequent years designed the school’s science curriculum, taught at each grade level 5-8, and served as a Grade Level Chair and Department Chair. She was the founding 9th grade biology Teacher at 快猫 LEAD College Prep HS in Gary, IN before returning to 快猫 Ascend as a Teacher, Department Chair, and regional Curriculum Developer. Rebecca then served as an Assistant Principal for four years and took on the role of Principal from 2019-2024.
Michall茅 Fain is the School Leader of 快猫 One Primary and a proud alumna of the 快猫 Chicago Class of 2008. After earning her degree from Marquette University,听 Michall茅 rejoined the 快猫 Chicago family as a member of the founding team at 快猫 One Primary in 2016. Throughout her tenure at KOP, she has taught grades K-4, served as an Assistant Principal for various grade levels, and recently completed 快猫 Chicago’s Principals in Residence program.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Michall茅 is an avid Netflix binge-watcher and an enthusiastic explorer of new vegetarian restaurants. She is passionate about fostering growth, serving her community, and inspiring the students, staff, and families at 快猫 One Primary.
Becky Fussner joined 快猫 Chicago in 2016 as a Founding Kindergarten Teacher at 快猫 One Primary. Previously, she served as a Teach for America corps member in Indianapolis and also taught at Galapagos Charter School in Chicago. Becky became a Grade Level Chair at 快猫 One and then was the school’s Assistant Principal for three years before moving into the role of Principal.
Claire Grossheim is School Leader of 快猫 Bloom Primary. Claire joined 快猫 Chicago in 2018 as a founding kindergarten teacher at 快猫 Bloom Primary. Previously, she served as a TNTP Early Childhood Teaching Fellow at Ingenuity Prep in Washington, D.C. Claire also taught oversees in Seoul, South Korea and in Oakland, California. Claire became an SEL Chair at 快猫 Bloom Primary in 2019 and then was the school鈥檚 Assistant Principal for three years before moving into the role of Principal in Residence in 2023.
Peter Gooden is 快猫 Chicago’s Chief of College & Career Readiness. He joined 快猫 Chicago in 2010 as the Director of Alumni Services, and later spent 4 years as the Director of 快猫 Forward. In that role he managed the 快猫 Forward team to support high school access & persistence, college placement & persistence, and career advancement for 1,500 快猫 Chicago alumni. Previously, Peter spent years working with 快猫 NYC as the 快猫 Forward Alumni counselor and with the University of Chicago Charter School as the 6to16 Advisor, where he helped to develop lessons for the 6to16 curriculum and created a higher education culture at Carter G. Wilson Middle School. As a first generation US citizen, high school graduate, and college graduate, Peter has worked tirelessly to support equity and accessibility in higher education.
Heather Hawkins is School Leader of 快猫 Ascend Middle School. Heather began her teaching for 快猫 Chicago Public Schools nearly a decade ago as a founding teacher at 快猫 One Academy. She joined the 快猫 Ascend Middle School team as an Assistant Principal. Since joining the 快猫 Ascend team, she has consistently created an environment that has fostered both love and high accountability for students and staff. Her dedication and tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed, as she was a member of the 快猫 Chicago inaugural class of Principal-in-Residence.
Jennifer Hodges serves as Chief Program Officer with 快猫 Chicago. She leads the convening of educators, families, policymakers, and community members in partnership to strategically influence the long-term success of students. Her work centers the needs of 快猫 students, families, and teachers, ensuring holistic development of all stakeholders and to improve student outcomes and increase the economic, political, and social capacity of households.
Prior to joining 快猫 Jennifer was Director of Corporate Development at United Way of Metro Chicago. She had direct management of a corporate fundraising team with oversight of $16 million of the annual $40 million revenue goal; co-led a $32 million national account management strategy across 14 U.S. markets, and co-founded and co-chaired United Way鈥檚 internal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategies. Jennifer began her professional career with six years in the financial industry, where she worked in wealth management at Greenleaf Trust and upon relocating to Chicago, Jennifer joined Gray & Company, an investment consulting firm.
Jarell Lee is the Founding School Leader of 快猫 Academy Chicago Primary, a school built on the values of love, joy, and community. Previously, Jarell worked for 快猫 NJ where he served as the Principal of 快猫 Life Academy and as an assistant school leader at 快猫 Seek Academy.
Prior to joining the 快猫 team, Jarell taught second grade at Uncommon Schools’ Excellence Boys Elementary Academy as a Teach For America Corps Member. He also led the third grade team, developed a character education system, and led school-wide joy initiatives to invest students in school culture systems. Jarell also served as the founding dean of school culture at Achievement First’s Aspire Elementary School, where he created systems and rituals to invest students and to support struggling students. Additionally, Jarell coached teachers as the the academic dean for first grade.
Jarell received a BA in Sociology & African-American Studies from Harvard University, an MS in Elementary Education from Teacher University at Hunter College, and a Master鈥檚 in Supervision and Administration from the University of Houston. Outside of school, Jarell loves to play with his son and puppy, go to the gym, watch NBA games, and wear fanny packs.
Milton Rodriguez has over twenty years of nonprofit leadership and resource development experience focused primarily on funding youth development and educational programs. A native of Chicago and graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, he brings firsthand experience and knowledge of the challenges faced by many of Chicago鈥檚 youth and families, and strives to increase available economic and educational opportunities. Prior to joining 快猫 Chicago, Milton was VP of Development at Chicago Scholars, where he successfully implemented a multi-year funding strategy that increased programmatic growth and doubled raised revenue.
Milton currently serves on the Board of Directors for the University of Michigan Latino Alumni Club, The Association of Fundraising Professionals – Chicago Chapter, and Enlace Chicago. He is also a Fellow of the City of Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation. Milton holds a BA and MSW from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and an MBA from Roosevelt University and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).
Ellen Sale joined 快猫 Chicago in 2013 after serving in the Mississippi delta as a Teach for America corps member, holding programmatic and coaching roles with Teach for America nationally, and teaching five years at Noble Street Rauner College Prep, where she founded the AP World History program and led the network in annual sophomore reading growth. In 2010 she was honored as TFA Chicago Alumni Distinguished Teacher and chosen as a Teach Plus Teaching Policy Fellow. She was awarded the Fisher Family Fellowship in 2012, founded 快猫 Bloom College Prep in 2013, and served as Principal for 7 years — leading 快猫 Bloom to a Level 1+ rating in consecutive years. Prior to becoming 快猫 Chicago’s Chief People Officer, Ellen was Head of Talent.
Michael Salmonowicz is 快猫 Chicago’s Chief Financial & Operations Officer, and is in his 16th year with 快猫. A Teach For America alumnus, he has been a high school teacher in Chicago; a researcher with the University of Virginia and the University of Chicago鈥檚 Consortium on School Research; and a consultant to New Leaders, DonorsChoose.org, and school districts across the country. He was a Director of Finance & Operations, Data Analyst, and Managing Director of Operations at 快猫 Chicago prior to taking on his current role. He earned his BA from the University of Michigan, his MA from National Louis University, and his PhD from the University of Virginia.
Catrina Thomas joined 快猫 Chicago in 2012 and is Managing Director of 快猫 Forward. In this role, she leads the 14-person 快猫 Forward team that supports more than 2,700 快猫 Chicago students and alumni in 8th grade, high school, and college. Previously, she led 快猫 Chicago’s High School Transition Team, was a High School Transition Advisor with 快猫 Ascend, and was a Guidance Counselor and Special Education Case Manager with other schools in and around Chicago.
Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that work in collaboration with school districts. Enrollment is open to all students. Charter schools are independently operated and managed with more flexibility than traditional public schools in exchange for increased accountability.
The 鈥渃harter鈥 that establishes each school is a contract detailing the school鈥檚 mission, program, performance goals, and assessment methods. The charter contract is an operating agreement between the charter school and an 鈥渁uthorizer,鈥 which holds charter schools accountable for compliance with their charter contract. An authorizer is an entity that, subject to state law, may be a district school board, university, Mayor鈥檚 office, or non-profit organization. 快猫 Chicago鈥檚 authorizer is Chicago Public Schools.
Like all public schools, charter schools are:
All 快猫 schools are public charter schools. And yet, not all public charter schools are like 快猫. 快猫 Public Schools is a national network of tuition-free public schools educating nearly 125,000 students听in grades Prek-12 across 28 regions.