Two years ago I was facing some of the same challenges that parents are facing today, with my teenage daughter. She was struggling with high school, failing classes, cutting school, and arriving late. To top it off, she had no support from her teachers or staff. Most importantly, she was about to become a teen parent. Not knowing what our next steps would be, my daughter was referred to Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School. I did not know what to expect. I remember asking myself, “How is this school going to be any different?”

When my daughter began attending Albizu Campos, we had some problems with her transitioning. I was thankful that there was a staff at the high school that had a “we don’t give up on students” type of attitude. Albizu Campos not only showed my daughter individual support, but they also showed our family support. The school offered several programs to engage my daughter in the school community. Programs such as after school programs, tutoring, employment opportunities for the students and even college readiness classes for the parents were offered to all students and their parents or guardians. One thing that consistently stood out was the way they always tried to include the parents and keep us updated and engaged in being a part of our child’s school life.

For those parents still struggling with the question of whether this school is the right school for your child, there is only one way to find out. Get involved in our school, ask questions, pick up your child’s progress reports and report cards, and continue showing your child the support they need at home and at school. If you have access to the internet, check on your child’s attendance and progress through PowerSchool. To all of our parents here at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos, I encourage you to “Rise to The Challenge” as we have asked your child to do. For those of you already involved in this transformation, we thank you and appreciate all you do. Keep up the hard work.

No one said it would be easy, but the best feeling in the world is watching your child cross that stage at graduation with pride. With the help and support from you and your new extended family here at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, your child can and will SUCCEED in life.

Beyond Social and Emotional Learning: Understanding Actions and Emotions in a Social & Historical Context

Featured Speaker:
Dr. Jason Irizarry, University of Connecticut

Key concepts and practices:
• Unity for social analysis
• Conflict Resolution
• Restorative Justice
• Self and social transformation
• Community Engagement

Reconciling the Irreconcilable: Using Critical Pedagogy to Combat Academic Standardization

Featured Speakers:
Dr. Erica Meiners, Northeastern Illinois University
Dr. Brian Schultz, Northeastern Illinois University

Key concepts and practices:
• Social ecology
• Urban agriculture
• Connection to the community
• Self and social transformation

Challenging the Industrial Testing Complex: Building Models of Authentic Assessment to Ensure Authentic Learning

Featured Speaker: Monty Neill, Executive Director of the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, Boston

Key concepts and practices:
• Holistic evaluation as “exit benchmark”
• Senior Portfolio Model – defense of graduation
• Analysis of Corporate Testing Structures

Understanding the Development of Civic Identities and Participation Amongst Minoritized Youth in an Activist Community

Featured Speakers:
Dr. Enid Rosario, University of Michigan
Dr. Laura Ruth Johnson, Northern Illinois University

Key concepts and practices:
• “Teachable moments”
• Praxis in the classroom
• Learning activities tied to community building and leadership development

From the Diaspora to the Homeland: Creating a Decolonizing and Culturally Relevant Curriculum

Featured Speakers:
Carlos Alberto Torres, Co-founder, Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos HS
Carlos Quiles, Educator in Puerto Rico
Representative from Claridad – Newspaper in Puerto Rico

Key concepts and practices:
• History of struggle
• Connection to culture
• Creating study abroad opportunities
• Celebrating Puerto Rican history, culture and language

NEXT STEP:
Purchase tickets here.

VIEW WHAT OUR SUPPORTERS SAY

PACHS Scores 100% on CPS and School Works Audit!
On Tuesday, November 8th Chicago Public Schools and School Works (an educational consultant contracted by CPS) conducted an audit on our school. Focusing mainly on the area of “teaching and learning”, CPS and School Works left our school stating, “I would send my child here!”

The protocol that the visitors utilized had about 10 key areas each with their own set of indicators – for example the area of “Curriculum and Instruction” had 32 indicators. Other examples of “areas” included “School Leadership”, “Collaborative Culture and Professional Development”, “School Operations”, “Learning Community”, etc. From their visit to our school, they reported that each area of the audit protocol was not only “met”, as they described in the debrief at the end of the long day, but “met resoundingly well.” In fact, the visitors shared that if they were to consider adjusting their audit protocol, they would use Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School as a model.

The visitors spent the entire day, from 7am to 7pm visiting classrooms, meeting with teachers, mentors, administrators, parents, students and alumni. Some comments that they shared were that they were “impressed”, they were “blown away”, they were “able to see the high level of academic rigor”, they heard students talking about “the importance of social emotional learning in their lives”, and that “what is happening in this school is a beautiful thing.”

Students, staff, family and community are extremely proud and look forward to future growth and development of our wonderful school.