The Fund Hires New CEO
The Board of Directors taps Chicago educator, Teach For America VP as new leader
March 5, 2012
The Chicago Public Education Fund's board of directors has selected Heather Y. Anichini – a former teacher, Chicago administrator, and a national leader dedicated to growing leadership and innovation in public schools – as the organization’s new president and chief executive officer.
Anichini will leave her role as Teach For America’s vice president for Career Leadership Initiatives to become the second leader to run The Fund, a nationally recognized venture capital fund founded in 2000 and dedicated to transforming public education in Chicago through talent development and innovation.
“Heather’s results-oriented track record and management expertise will be tremendous assets in leading The Fund forward during this exciting chapter of school transformation,” said Fund Chairman Brian Simmons. “Heather knows education. She understands Chicago Public Schools. And she shares The Fund’s commitment to ensuring many more Chicago public school students get a world-class education.”
Anichini said she is honored to work with the Fund’s board, staff, and partners to create and sustain excellent schools in Chicago. Hired after a national search, Anichini will start April 16 and replaces founding president and CEO Janet Knupp, who resigned last summer.
“The Fund is a strong partner for Chicago Public Schools, the Mayor’s office, and other stakeholders working toward great schools for all kids,” said the 34-year-old Chicago native. “Ultimately, I see this as an opportunity to marry my passion for teacher and principal leadership development and school-based innovation, with my love for Chicago, its neighborhoods, its schools, and – most importantly – its children.”
The Fund has successfully raised $50 million, including $20 million in a 12-month period. Leveraging this capital, The Fund invests in a portfolio of programs aimed at raising the bar of principal and teacher talent across Chicago’s traditional and charter schools, while also improving student learning gains.
“We are thrilled to welcome a new leader at the Chicago Public Education Fund, who has been a trusted partner working hand-in-hand with the district to transform public education in Chicago,” said Beth Swanson, Chicago’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Education and an ex-officio director at The Fund. “We expect this partnership to thrive under Heather’s leadership given her experience and dedication to urban schools.”
In her current role, Anichini manages a team of 22 and directs large-scale initiatives focused on teacher leadership, the principalship, and social entrepreneurship. This involves building relationships with national organizations, top graduate schools, local school districts and foundations interested in designing leadership pathways for the thousands of Teach For America alumni who remain in classrooms, schools, and districts nationwide.
Anichini began her education career working on Chicago's West Side. After completing her master’s thesis on Umoja Student Development Corporation, a nonprofit school-community partnership based at Manley High School, she joined Teach For America and taught middle school social studies at Goldblatt Elementary School.
She also worked in CPS’ Office of Planning and Development during the Arne Duncan administration. In this role, she worked across the central office and in schools on strategic planning – tying data to strategy and budgets and helping to link that work to outcomes for students.
As the new CEO, Anichini will deepen The Fund’s existing partnerships with stakeholders including investors, the district, and City Hall. She will leverage these partnerships to advance three strategic goals central to the success of Chicago’s schools: Leadership of a cadre of transformational schools chiefs and principals driving achievement in networks and schools; Effective Teaching, enabled by new student assessments and teacher observations that better measure performance and allow for customized teacher supports; and Next Generation Learning, reinventing classrooms so teachers can personalize instruction for maximum learning and engagement by every student.
“The Fund is working closely with the district on some of our most important priorities—evaluating teachers, developing school leaders and personalizing student learning. Heather’s deep experience as a teacher, district administrator and national leadership expert will prove a fantastic asset as we move this challenging work forward in coming years,” said CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard.
Anichini served as secretary of the board for the Lighthouse Academies Charter School in Bronzeville, as a board member for Umoja Student Development Corporation, and runs a youth group at St. Gertrude Church in Chicago. She holds a master’s degree in Public Service from DePaul University, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University, and a master’s degree in Education Administration from Concordia University.
She is married to Brennan Young, a former Biology teacher and football coach at Farragut Career Academy and a current full-time dad. They have two sons – Devan and Garrett.
Anichini will leave her role as Teach For America’s vice president for Career Leadership Initiatives to become the second leader to run The Fund, a nationally recognized venture capital fund founded in 2000 and dedicated to transforming public education in Chicago through talent development and innovation.
“Heather’s results-oriented track record and management expertise will be tremendous assets in leading The Fund forward during this exciting chapter of school transformation,” said Fund Chairman Brian Simmons. “Heather knows education. She understands Chicago Public Schools. And she shares The Fund’s commitment to ensuring many more Chicago public school students get a world-class education.”
Anichini said she is honored to work with the Fund’s board, staff, and partners to create and sustain excellent schools in Chicago. Hired after a national search, Anichini will start April 16 and replaces founding president and CEO Janet Knupp, who resigned last summer.
“The Fund is a strong partner for Chicago Public Schools, the Mayor’s office, and other stakeholders working toward great schools for all kids,” said the 34-year-old Chicago native. “Ultimately, I see this as an opportunity to marry my passion for teacher and principal leadership development and school-based innovation, with my love for Chicago, its neighborhoods, its schools, and – most importantly – its children.”
The Fund has successfully raised $50 million, including $20 million in a 12-month period. Leveraging this capital, The Fund invests in a portfolio of programs aimed at raising the bar of principal and teacher talent across Chicago’s traditional and charter schools, while also improving student learning gains.
“We are thrilled to welcome a new leader at the Chicago Public Education Fund, who has been a trusted partner working hand-in-hand with the district to transform public education in Chicago,” said Beth Swanson, Chicago’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Education and an ex-officio director at The Fund. “We expect this partnership to thrive under Heather’s leadership given her experience and dedication to urban schools.”
In her current role, Anichini manages a team of 22 and directs large-scale initiatives focused on teacher leadership, the principalship, and social entrepreneurship. This involves building relationships with national organizations, top graduate schools, local school districts and foundations interested in designing leadership pathways for the thousands of Teach For America alumni who remain in classrooms, schools, and districts nationwide.
Anichini began her education career working on Chicago's West Side. After completing her master’s thesis on Umoja Student Development Corporation, a nonprofit school-community partnership based at Manley High School, she joined Teach For America and taught middle school social studies at Goldblatt Elementary School.
She also worked in CPS’ Office of Planning and Development during the Arne Duncan administration. In this role, she worked across the central office and in schools on strategic planning – tying data to strategy and budgets and helping to link that work to outcomes for students.
As the new CEO, Anichini will deepen The Fund’s existing partnerships with stakeholders including investors, the district, and City Hall. She will leverage these partnerships to advance three strategic goals central to the success of Chicago’s schools: Leadership of a cadre of transformational schools chiefs and principals driving achievement in networks and schools; Effective Teaching, enabled by new student assessments and teacher observations that better measure performance and allow for customized teacher supports; and Next Generation Learning, reinventing classrooms so teachers can personalize instruction for maximum learning and engagement by every student.
“The Fund is working closely with the district on some of our most important priorities—evaluating teachers, developing school leaders and personalizing student learning. Heather’s deep experience as a teacher, district administrator and national leadership expert will prove a fantastic asset as we move this challenging work forward in coming years,” said CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard.
Anichini served as secretary of the board for the Lighthouse Academies Charter School in Bronzeville, as a board member for Umoja Student Development Corporation, and runs a youth group at St. Gertrude Church in Chicago. She holds a master’s degree in Public Service from DePaul University, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University, and a master’s degree in Education Administration from Concordia University.
She is married to Brennan Young, a former Biology teacher and football coach at Farragut Career Academy and a current full-time dad. They have two sons – Devan and Garrett.
Results The Fund is Achieving