When I walked through the doors of 快猫 Ascend Primary in 2011, I couldn鈥檛 have imagined that 14 years later I鈥檇 be writing to you as 快猫 Chicago鈥檚 CEO. But here we are鈥攁nd what a journey it has been!
Some people discover their calling through careful deliberation. I found mine in a classroom in Newark, New Jersey, where I was fortunate to serve as a Teach For America corps member for two years. That experience lit a fire within me and fueled my conviction that remains today鈥攁ll children deserve an excellent education that creates lifelong opportunities.聽
This belief led me to 快猫 Chicago, where I joined as the founding Assistant Principal at 快猫 Ascend Primary. Those early years shaped my understanding of what it truly takes to build a successful school community. As I worked alongside dedicated educators and leaders, I saw firsthand the transformative power of a rigorous, nurturing, and inclusive educational environment. Over time, my role evolved, and I became more deeply involved in shaping the vision and direction of 快猫 Chicago, always with an unwavering commitment to the success of our students. It was clear to me that creating lasting change requires not just passion but a strategic, aligned effort from all stakeholders. This journey has only reinforced my belief in the power of education to empower, uplift, and unlock potential.
In 2015, I was selected for the Fisher Family Fellowship. This highly competitive program prepares experienced educators who have achieved significant student academic gains to found and lead a new 快猫 school in an undeserved community. The fellowship prepared me to take on the next chapter of my career, founding 快猫 One Primary in West Humboldt Park in 2016.聽
Together with an extraordinary team that put their heart and soul into creating a community where students and families could thrive, we built something truly special. Our collective work led us to earn a Level 1+ rating, the highest possible school quality rating, for three consecutive years and be recognized as the highest-performing public school in Chicago for two years running. While these achievements are something I am incredibly proud of, what fills me with the most pride are the moments that metrics can鈥檛 capture. It鈥檚 the quiet moments that stay with me鈥攍ike seeing a first-grader鈥檚 face light up when they finally decode a word they鈥檝e been struggling with, or watching a student, once shy and withdrawn, stand confidently in front of their peers to deliver a presentation they worked so hard on. It’s the pride in the eyes of our teachers when they see a student who once struggled to believe in themselves finally reach their full potential. It’s the small, day-to-day victories鈥攖he shared smiles, the supportive conversations, the unwavering belief that we, as a team, are making a real difference in the lives of our students.
I remember one student, Ajani, who came to us two years behind in reading. After months of encouragement, personalized support, and relentless belief in his abilities, I saw him reading fluently for the first time. When he looked up from the page, his eyes wide with pride, he said, 鈥淚 can do it now.鈥 Moments like that, when our students begin to believe in their own potential, are the true markers of success.
These experiences remind me that the impact we have isn鈥檛 just in test scores or rankings, but in the way we shape the hearts and minds of the young people we serve. It’s in the confidence we help them build, the opportunities we provide, and the doors we open for them to walk through. This, for me, is the heart of education: creating a space where every child can dream, grow, and achieve no matter where they start.
In today鈥檚 ever-changing world, our students need us more than ever. They need stability when the world feels unpredictable. They need rigorous academics paired with high-quality social-emotional support. They need adults who believe in their unlimited potential. My commitment is to lead 快猫 Chicago in providing exactly that.聽
The path forward won鈥檛 always be smooth鈥攅ducation has never been for the faint of heart. But I鈥檝e seen what鈥檚 possible when a community unites around a shared mission, and I am confident in what we are capable of achieving together.聽
I鈥檓 deeply honored to serve as Chief Executive Officer and excited about what is to come.聽
With gratitude,聽
Rashid Bell
Chief Executive Officer
快猫 Chicago聽
For media inquiries, please contact Jessica Perez at jperez@kippchicago.org.