COVER STORY | A BIG DEAL ON LAVERGNE AVENUE One of our own
“ Principals can ' t do this work alone . I partner with my staff as we share in the leadership . The load is too heavy , so we must lean on one another , lean on our union , and community partners who are here to support us in any way possible … Fighting for the conditions that let us lead well is part of fighting for kids . — ALESIA FRANKLIN-ALLEN
Principal Franklin - Allen is one of our CPAA own … in other words , her leadership doesn ' t stop at Leland ' s front door . She serves as a member of CPAA ' s Governing Board , helping guide the union ' s work for principals and administrators across the city … and she shows up for the union well beyond the board room , too . She also brings something to that table that many people don ' t have … she serves on a school board herself , in School District 160. She knows governance from the inside . Throughout this issue , we ' ve talked about a truth every school leader comes to know … the policies and budgets that shape our classrooms are decided by governing bodies , and our students need leaders who understand how those decisions get made . Principal Franklin - Allen doesn ' t shy away from that work . She leans in with curiosity , asking questions and learning how the system really runs . She works in collaboration , building bridges instead of sides . She keeps inclusion at the center , making sure every child is part of the conversation . And she leads with integrity … that work stays at the board table , and her school day stays about her students . She brings that understanding with her … to her colleagues on the Governing Board and to the children in the halls of Leland .
O n t he AFSA st a ge , demon str a t ing ne w e a r l y childhood le a r ning .
She carries that work to the national stage . As a delegate to AFSA , our parent union , she represents Chicago alongside school leaders from across the country . She even took the stage herself to demonstrate new early childhood learning … reading books and hands - on activities that bring young learners in . That ' s the same instinct that fills Leland ' s hallways . Advocate for the people you serve … whether they ' re seven years old or old enough to be running a school of their own . “ Alesia brings the same thing to the Governing Board that she brings to Leland … she never forgets who the work is for .” — KIA BANKS, CPAA PRESIDENT
The game, changed Ga m e cha n ge rs d on ' t a lw a ys m a k e head l i n e s . S om e t i m e s t he y “ just ” m a k e sur e e v e ry chi l d i s g r ee t ed b y n a m e, m i ss ed w he n t he y ’ r e g on e, a n d w e l c om ed bac k w he n t he y r e turn . Whe t he r i t ' s he r qu ic k sm i l e, he r c oll ab or a t i v e sp i r i t , he r e m b o di m e nt o f un i on g o a ls ( w ha t ' s be tt e r f or a ll , not just f or he r ), or he r i ns i st e n ce on t hi nk i n g ab out t he stu de nt e xp e r ie n ce, P r i n ci p a l F r a nkl i n -A ll e n i s d o i n g big t hi n g s . O n ga l a n igh t , w e' ll ce l eb r a t e he r a lon g s ide 17 ot he r CPS l eade rs ( s ee p age 11). P r i n ci p a l F r a nkl i n - A ll e n ce l eb r a t e s he r stu de nts e v e ry s i n g l e da y … w a lk i n g t he ha lls , g r ee t i n g chi l d r e n a t t he d oor , h ol di n g sp ace f or fa m i l ie s , por i n g ov e r t he da t a, m a k i n g t he c onn ec t i ons t ha t turn a b u i l di n g i nto a c ommun i ty . That's her celebration. That's her leadership. And that's a big deal. ■
16 • CPAA Magazine | October 2026 • One Union | One Voice | One Direction
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