21stCenturyLearners

Catalyst Circle Rock Principal Elizabeth Jamison-Dunn is the Zell Family Alumni of the Year Award WINNER!!!!

We are thrilled to announce that Catalyst Circle Rock Principal Elizabeth Jamison-Dunn is the WINNER of the Zell Family Alumni of the Year Award!

Each year, the Teach for America organization presents the Zell Family Alumni of the Year awards to honor distinguished alumni who have shaped equity in education and strengthened the community at the classroom, school, and systems levels. 

In her 10th year leading Catalyst Circle Rock and 18th at the school (she was a founding team member in 2007!), Principal Jamison-Dunn has received numerous accolades including the 2012 Teach for America Chicago Alumni Distinguished Teacher Award, being a finalist for the 2019 Illinois Network of Charter Schools Charter Excellence Award for Principal of the Year, a member of the 2024 Surge Fellowship Cohort, and the 2024 CPS Game Changer Award for Charter Leaders. She holds two Masters degrees from Dominican University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

She will be honored at Teach for America’s gala on May 1st!

We are so grateful to have such an inspiring educator leading our Catalyst Circle Rock school community, and we congratulate Principal Jamison-Dunn on her incredibly well-deserved achievement!

Jamison-Dunn Zell Award

Catalyst Board of Directors 4.7.25 Meeting Agenda

The Catalyst Board of Directors will hold a meeting April 7, 2025 from 3:00-5:00 pm. The agenda and meeting information are below. All Catalyst Board meetings are open to the public, with a public comment portion during the time below.

Location: 

Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School
5608 W. Washington Blvd.
Chicago, Illinois 60644

*3:00- Welcome: Larry Williams, Chair and Gordon Hannon, CEO

  • Review of agenda
  • Review and vote for approval of December 16, 2024 Board of Directors meeting minutes; April 3, 2025 Finance Committee meeting minutes; March 13, 2025 Academic Committee meeting minutes.
  • Introduction of guests Julie Hendry and Emily Vogel
  • Celebration of Catalyst Circle Rock Principal Elizabeth Jamison-Dunn as Teach for America’s 2025 Zell Family Alumni of the Year Award winner

*3:15-3:25 - Public comment (limited to 2 minutes per speaker)

*3:25-4:20 - Academic Committee: Sasha Fawaz

  • Follow up on Charter Renewal documents and most recent academic data
  • Questions / discussion / due diligence on items related to Chicago Public Schools Academic and Inclusive Programming & Equitable Systems domain indicators (ISBE Summative Designation, ISS and OSS figures, etc.)

*4:20-4:45 - Finance and Strategic Issues Committee: Yuan-Ying Hsu

  • YTD FY25
  • Questions / discussion / due diligence on items related to Chicago Public Schools Financial and Organizational Compliance Indicators (Annual Audit, Net Asset Ratio, etc.)
  • FY26 budget planning

*4:45-5:00 – Governance items: Gordon Hannon and Larry Williams

  • Discussion on Board membership, terms, and recruitment of new Board members

Catalyst Board of Directors Meeting 3.17.25 cancelled

The Catalyst Schools Board of Directors Meeting scheduled for March 17, 2024 from 3:00-5:00 PM at Catalyst Maria Charter School has been cancelled. This meeting will be rescheduled. Please contact Catalyst’s Director of Administration Michael Kasang at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-897-5816 if you have any questions or would like further information.

Catalyst Academic Committee Meeting 3.13.25

The Catalyst Board of Directors' Academic Committee will hold a meeting on March 13, 2025 at 10:30 am to review academic progress YTD and SY24-25 academic metrics. This meeting will be held by video conference- please contact Catalyst's Director of Administration Michael Kasang at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-897-5816 for conference call information.

Support Catalyst    

Please join our efforts as a champion for changing lives at The Catalyst Schools. If you would like to speak with a Catalyst staff member about your donation, please call us at 773-295-7001.