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PROFILES IN EDUCATION: CYNTHIA
GREENLEAF
“My
Kind of Town, Chicago Is . . .”
By
Joan Baum, Ph.d.
If
Chicago is not only her “kind of town” but her “kind of people
too,” as the Sammy Cahn / Jimmy Van Heusen song has it, one reason
for Cynthia Greenleaf may be the school-business collaboration
program in the Chicago public schools, which she heads as Director
of Partnerships for the Department of External Resources and Partnerships,
otherwise known as CPS Futures Exchange.
Partnerships, a growing city-wide volunteer effort that involves
both individuals and corporations in the schools, has the total
support of the CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, Arne Duncan,
and of Mayor Richard M. Daley, notes Greenleaf. And why not: this
past year half of all eighth graders scored above national norms
in reading, whereas 6 years ago only one third did. But the heart
of the Partnerships program lies in what is not easily quantifiable,
as Greenleaf knows: enthusiasm on the part of the business community,
starting with a firm signal from a company’s CEO, to be part of
an annual effort to help transform the city’s public schools,
from pre-K through high school. In turn, principals and teachers
are increasingly taking advantage of organizations that volunteer
services and material resources, which can take the form of tutoring,
job shadowing, serving as principal for a day, speaking at career
days, hosting site visits, providing books, computers, supplies,
furniture, internships, summer jobs, and incentive awards. Volunteers,
whether working on their own or in conjunction with their organizations,
also serve as judges in citywide competitions, as tutors in math,
science, reading and foreign languages, and as sponsors of college
scholarships. No one, however, would seem to be more enthusiastic
than Greenleaf herself–or more generous in crediting others in
helping to implement the program. Her own rich and varied work
experience reflects an extraordinary commitment to volunteerism
and education.
Born in Chicago and raised nearby, Greenleaf earned her B.A. at
Smith College and went on for an Ed. M. at Harvard and a J.D.
at Georgetown Law. For much of her professional life she worked
as an administrator in the academic world–most recently in New
York as Assistant Provost at Weill Medical College of Cornell
University and as Associate Vice President for Administration
at Rockefeller University. In assuming the directorship of Partnerships
in Chicago, a position that grew out of her role as Senior Advisor
to the Chicago Schools Partners Program and before that as Chair
(and continuing Trustee) of New York City’s Learning Leaders,
Greenleaf has clearly shown that you can go home again. The nation
has her head, but Chicago her heart.
She describes her work as administrative in the deepest sense
of the word, as distinct from promotional. The idea of partnerships
has already taken root, Greenleaf points out–Chicago is “unusually
civically cooperative.” Her own focus, therefore, is not to advocate
as much as to coordinate, to make sure that roots and branches
grow in a manner beneficial to both businesses and schools. She
sees herself as a kind of an impresario matchmaker, moving between
school representatives and CEOs. The program’s strength is its
voluntary nature, she emphasizes. No company has to contribute;
no principal, no teacher, has to receive. But once partnerships
take seed, it is Greenleaf’s careful tending that will ensure
significant implementation. No one-shot visits for her. A meaningful
presence in the schools means multiple engagements, careful vetting
of participants, timely and well-publicized events celebrating
those who serve.
Key to Partnerships is the company CEO, who must visit the school
every year; employees generally lead volunteer activities several
times a year. A “passport” allows for visits to proceed efficiently.
The passport indicates what a volunteer wants and can do, depending
on the level of education (different colored passports exist for
K-3, 4-6, 7-8, and H.S.). If the Alliance Francaise has a group
of 8 people who would go into any of the 50 participating elementary
schools for three visits, for example, the passport makes such
matches easier, noting that volunteers are qualified and teachers
receptive.
What’s in it for the corporations? Aside from pleasure of doing
pro-bono work (with tax advantages), the corporations enhance
their image by being seen as school partners. Special recognition
Honor Rolls and Dean’s Lists prominently advertise participation,
and it becomes a kind of social cachet at cocktail parties to
ask “and what school are you supporting?” Anyone ought to drink
to that.#
Education
Update, Inc., P.O. Box 20005, New York, NY 10001.
Tel: (212) 481-5519. Fax: (212) 481-3919.Email: ednews1@aol.com.
All material is copyrighted and may not be printed without express
consent of the publisher. © 2002.
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