The Catalyst Board of Directors will hold a meeting September 15, 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
AGENDA
*3:00-3:10- Welcome: Larry Williams, Chair and Gordon Hannon, CEO
Review of agenda
Review and vote for approval of June 9, 2025 Board of Directors meeting minutes and September 10, 2025 Finance Committee meeting minutes.
Vote to approve Erica Harris for a three- year initial Board of Directors term
*3:10-3:30-Mission reflection- Sasha Fawaz, Terry Toth, Julie Hendry, Emily Vogel
*3:30-3:40 - Public comment (limited to 2 minutes per speaker)
*3:40-4:00- Charter renewal discussion
*4:00-4:15 – Governance items: Gordon Hannon and Larry Williams
Discussion on Board membership, terms, and recruitment of new Board members
*4:15-4:45 - Academic Committee: Dr. Catherine Burns and Sasha Fawaz
Charter renewal update
Catalyst Maria Elementary and Catalyst Circle Rock End of Year, Beginning of Year and historical FAST data review
Attendance review
High School metrics– freshman on track, etc.
Data informing three year strategic plans
Questions / discussion / due diligence on items related to Chicago Public Schools Academic and Inclusive Programming & Equitable Systems domain indicators (ISBE Summative Designation, SPED and ELL compliance, ISS and OSS figures, etc.)
*4:45-5:00 - Finance and Strategic Issues Committee: Yuan-Ying Hsu
YTD FY26
Questions / discussion / due diligence on items related to Chicago Public Schools Financial and Organizational Compliance Indicators (Annual Audit, etc.)
The Catalyst Board of Directors' Finance Committee will hold a meeting on June 2, 2025 at 2:00 pm to review FY25 financials year to date and the FY26 budget proposal. 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.
The Catalyst Schools Board of Directors Meeting scheduled for May 12, 2025 from 3:00-5:00 PM at Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School has been rescheduled to June 9, 2025 from 3:00-5:00 PM at Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School. 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.
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!
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.
