Teach Plus Illinois Affinity Groups

The Illinois Affinity Group Network seeks to cultivate authentic, inclusive, intersectional spaces, shaped by and for educators of color. These affirming and supportive spaces, rooted in an asset-based understanding of diversity, will support educators in navigating and improving their school environments and will be connected to a larger network to build alliances and address systemic issues.

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Affinity Group Network Interest Form

Champaign

Champaign Community Unified School District 4

Group 1: This affinity space will be a safe, supportive and affirming place for Black/African American/Latinx/Female educators. 

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black/African American/Latinx/Female
    Educator Role Focus: Teachers
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Rantoul City School District 137

Group 2: This affinity space will create a safe place for male educators of color to share their personal stories and experiences in education. We will examine the “roles” of male educators in an effort to improve recruitment and retention. 

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)/Men
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings
Champaign Community Unified School District 4/Urbana School District 116

Group 45: This Affinity Group space will connect support and empower Teachers of Color in their school communities.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Golden Apple Teaching Scholars/professionals of color. The focus will be on teacher identity, self advocacy, and advocacy for students of color.
    Educator Role Focus: Teachers
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings
Affinity Group Network Interest Form

Cook

Chicago Public Schools 299

Group 4: This affinity space intends to collectively lift the voices of teachers of color in order to examine their identity and overcome racial inequities within the education system that contribute to the loss of teacher retention.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: Educators, Assistant Teachers, Para Professionals
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings

Group 5: This affinity space seeks to create a brave space of inclusion and belonging for Black educators to, in the words of Angela Kyodo Williams “gather and be free from the mainstream stereotypes and marginalization that permeate every other societal space we occupy.” In this space we will replenish, reenergize and reconnect so that we can reimagine a liberating educational landscape.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black/African American/Biracial-Black/African American
    Educator Role Focus: Educators working w/ PreK-HS
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings

Group 6: This affinity space will create a space for Black/African-American teachers where they can build community and solidarity with each other through discussions about their experiences in the educational system and how to build an understanding of the value to they bring to their schools and the district.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black/African American
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings

Group 7: This group is for males and females in the City of Chicago that identify as Black or Latinx.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus:Afro- Afro-Latinx, Black/African American, Latinx, Men & Women/Female/Male Identifying
    Educator Role Focus: Educators, Paraprofessionals, SECAs, Gifted Educators.
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings

Group 42: This affinity group will unite black educators in a collaborative effort of learning and growth to recognize the collaboration and innovation that black male educators bring.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus:Afro-Black/African American/Male
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings
Affinity Group Network Interest Form

Dupage

Community School District 200

Group 8: This affinity space seeks to to cultivate an intentional, authentic, and intersectional space for educators of color (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color), through examination and affirm their identity, support to provide culturally responsive and trauma informed instruction, and to address issues of racism, representation, and equity.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: Educators/Staff
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Naperville Community Unified School District 203

Group 9: This affinity space seeks to create a safe space for black educators to feel supported in being their authentic self. Within the space educators will be encouraged to uplift their voices to advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion that will lead to a common impact for black educators.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black/African American
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings
Affinity Group Network Interest Form

Kane

Elgin

Group 10: This affinity space will support Gifted and Talented Educators. Black students are 3x more likely to be identified for Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) if they have a Black teacher. Remedying underrepresentation in GATE means diversifying the educator workforce.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black/African American
    Educator Role Focus: Gifted Teachers
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
East Aurora School District 131

Group 44: This affinity space will be a space for hispanic/latinx men to connect build community and share skills that support their work as productive educators.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Latinx/Males
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Affinity Group Network Interest Form

Lake

Lincolnshire-Prairieview School District 103

Group 11: This affinity space intends to create a network for teacher LEADERS (ie. coaches, specialists, teacher leaders, team leads, etc…) of color that will support their unique needs while navigating a disproportionately underrepresented profession.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI), Afro-Latinx, Latinx, Black/African American, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: Instructional Coaches, Tech coaches, Teacher leaders, Specialists, etc…
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings
Rondout School District 72

Group 12: This affinity space seeks to empower and retain Latina Educators in the Lake County Region; through personal development, and nurturing pathways of success for Latina educators so they may see their value, and build confidence in their skills and as advocates for themselves, the community and for each other.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Latinx/Women
    Educator Role Focus: Educators/SECAs/Staff
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings
Community High School District 128

Group 13: This affinity space seeks to provide a safe and supportive space for educators of color in District 128. The space will build a community of practice to be empowered to enact changes for students of color and to identify ways in which the district and schools can continue to recruit and retain staff of color.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: All school/district staff/educators of color
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Mundelein Community High School District 120

Group 14: This affinity space is intended to support Mundeline HS staff of color as they build a community of support to work through the emotional loads they carry and to work to create an equitable environment for students of color.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: School Staff
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
North Chicago District 187

Group 46: This affinity space will support educators of colors in developing the skills to persist in the teaching profession, as well as, to grow their own personal capacity for growth.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: Certified and Classified Staff
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings
Affinity Group Network Interest Form

North Cook

Evanston Township High School 202

Group 16: This affinity space will create a supportive and trusting community of Latinx educators in similar fields that will support one another with the challenges of being a Latinx educator.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Latinx
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings

Group 17: This affinity space will support Evanston Township High School Educators as space to build, heal, identify, and mobilize practices in support of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) teachers recruitment and retention.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: Teachers
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Arlington Heights School District 25

Group 18: This affinity space will support and connect Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) educators as they share their identities, concerns, and successes with one another and work towards the needed action for growth and support within the district.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    male/female/nonbinary
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Northfield Township High School District 225

Group 19: This affinity space intends to create a safe and brave space for AAPI educators in District 225 to explore how our identity (non-white, non-Black) impacts our work and lives.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI)
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Glenview CCSD 34

Group 20: This affinity space seeks to provide an authentic safe space for educators to share their stories build a community of support for each other and explore racial experiences and strategize towards active anti racism.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Township High School District 214

Group 21: This affinity space seeks to support and build community with Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) as well as Latinx educators with the goal of co-creating a space that serves the range of needs these educators have.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black/African American/Female
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Golden Apple BIPOC Affinity Group Chicagoland (North)

Group 43: BIPOC Affinity Group North Chicagoland. This affinity space will create a supportive community for teachers of color to be affirmed, empowered, and work together toward change in our individual districts.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: Golden Apple Teaching Scholars/Professionals, Other Educators/Pre-Service Educators in North Cook
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings
Affinity Group Network Interest Form

Peoria

Peoria Public Schools District 150

Group 22: The Peoria Teachers of Color Affinity Group strives to build a space of community and sharing for teachers of color in the Peoria community.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings
Affinity Group Network Interest Form

Saint Clair

East St. Louis District 189

Group 24: This affinity space seeks to create a safe space for special education teachers of Color, Black and Latinx Educators and support them in their teaching endeavors, as well as make the needed changes within Special Education/General Education that support our students and create conditions to keep highly qualified teachers of color in positions.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black/African American, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), Latinx
    Educator Role Focus: Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Substitutes, and Academic Intervention Teachers
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings

Group 25: This affinity space intendeds to provide a safe space for novice educators of color to share their truths, identify and address challenges, and collaboratively support one another as we better understand inequity within ourselves, others, and systems in order to navigate teaching in our district and working to create racially affirming spaces for students.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: Novice Teachers Years 0-3
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Affinity Group Network Interest Form

South Cook

Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233

Group 27: This affinity space will promote unity, provide support, advocacy and build a sustained and engaged community among Teachers of Color in the Homewood-Flossmoor community school district. It will also provide an immediate and effective medium for addressing issues of concern to Teachers of Color and serve as fierce advocates for educators suffering from inequality, racism, and injustice.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black/African American/Latinx
    Educator Role Focus: Teachers
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Community High School District 218

Group 28: This space will provide a safe, encouraging, authentic community focused space to support Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Administrators, while also exploring what support is needed in hiring and retention efforts within the space.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: District Administrators
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings
Harvey Public School District 152

Group 29: This affinity space will support educators of color as they work through the barriers to equity that they and others face.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black/African American
    Educator Role Focus: Teachers and Paraprofessionals
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Prairie Hills Elementary School District 144

Group 30: This affinity space will support Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) educators within District 144 as a welcoming learning space the seeks to dismantle oppressive practices towards teachers of color.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Thornton Township High School District 215

Group 31: This affinity space will provide a space for teachers of color to build community together. This brave space will provide opportunity for discussion and action orientation to support teachers of color and to create change within our community.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Affinity Group Network Interest Form

Stephenson

Freeport School District 145

Group 32: This BIPOC affinity group for certified educators in the Freeport School District will provide a safe place to create a community for educators of color.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: All Educators/Support Staff
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings
Affinity Group Network Interest Form

West Cook

Lindop School District 92

Group 33: This affinity space will provide a space of acceptance, where educators of color can feel seen and hear and are able to collaborate around what they need and want as educators.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)/Women
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Berkeley SD 87

Group 34: This affinity  space will create space for Latinx district-level administrators to gather, share experiences, support each other with our social-emotional needs while leading.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Latinx/Women
    Educator Role Focus: District Administrators
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Lyons TownShip High School District 204

Group 35: BEST Affinity Group is a space that will organize, connect and bring Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) educators together for events in an effort to help them navigate the many stressors that come with the job. This group will work to foster relationships, and provide professional development opportunities, mentoring, networking, resources, and joy!

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: Teachers, Para-Educators, and Administrators that do not evaluate teachers
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings
Oak Park District 97

Group 37: This affinity group is for teachers of color in Oak Park District 97 where we will hold space to bring our authentic selves, share our true experiences, build relationships, support each other, and create a joyful community.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI), Afro-Latinx, Black/African American, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), Latinx
    Educator Role Focus: Teacher of Color
  • Meeting Setting: Virtual & In-Person Meetings
Affinity Group Network Interest Form

Will

Joliet Township High School District 204

Group 38: This affinity space will provide a safe space, and build a sense of belonging for staff of color within district 204.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: School Staff/Excluding Admin
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Affinity Group Network Interest Form

Will/Dupage

Valley View Community Unified School District 365U

Group 39: STRIDE stands for support, training, retention, and investment in diverse educators. It is an affinity group for Valley View certified staff and paraprofessionals to develop a professional support network, build mentoring partnerships, and support BIPOC staff in their positions and future career goals.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
    Educator Role Focus: Educators, Student Support Services, Paraprofessionals, Certified Project Coordinators, and Instructional Coaches
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings

Winnebago

Hononegah Community High School District 207

Group 40: This affinity space will support and ensure educators of color have a safe space to share experiences and stories about what takes place within our communities and workplaces with a hope to create a network of support in the region for individuals to create community that will enable us to persist in education.

  • Racial & Other Identify Markers Focus: People of Color (POC)/Asian-American
    Educator Role Focus: Educators
  • This group is open to neighboring and nearby districts
  • Meeting Setting: In-Person Meetings
Affinity Group Network Interest Form