catalyst-chicago.org

Katelyn Johnson has been named the new executive director of Action Now, a community organization that organizes families around racial, social and economic justice issues. She succeeds long-time community organizer Madeline Talbott, who has retired.  Previously Johnson served as executive director of the Action Now Institute and worked on education organizing with Grow Your Own Teachers.

Elliot Regenstein joins the Ounce of Prevention Fund as senior vice president for advocacy and policy.  Regenstein was one of the chief architects of the Illinois 2006 Preschool for All Program while he served in the governor’s office as director of education reform. He will be responsible for leading the fund’s national policy consultation practice and coordinating its overall state and national policy efforts.

Maureen Kelleher has been named a knowledge manager at the Network for College Success at the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration. Kelleher will document the network’s transformation efforts under the federal school improvement grant program at Hancock and Wells high schools.  Previously, Kelleher was a contributing writer for Education Week and an associate editor at Catalyst Chicago.

Jones College Prep High and Lane Technical High schools have been named 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.  The award is bestowed on public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students’ levels of achievement.  This year, 21 schools in Illinois received this award.