Carlos M Azcoitia
Member
Dr. Azcoitia was appointed to the Chicago Board of Education in November of 2012 by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Dr. Azcoitia currently serves as Distinguished Professor of Practice in Educational Leadership at National Louis University. From 2011-2012, he oversaw and supported thirty-six schools in his role as Interim Chief of Midway Network in Chicago Public Schools. He has also coached and mentored new principals and assessed candidates for the principalship.
Previously, from 2003-2007, Dr. Azcoitia served as the founding principal of John Spry Elementary/Community Links High School in the Little Village community, which is the first school in Chicago to include a pre-kindergarten through high school program in one building and sets high goals for student success; aiming for a 100% high school and college graduation. He has served as principal in the Chicago Public Schools for 9 years.
Before he founded John Spry Elementary/Community Links High School, Dr. Azcoitia served as the Deputy Chief of Education at Chicago Public Schools (1996-2003), where he was responsible for managing wide-ranging departments, programs and services. His experiences at CPS also include Director of School and Community Relations, Assistant Superintendent in the Office of School Reform and Administrator in the Department of Career, Vocational and Technical Education.
He began his career as a classroom teacher at Kosciuszko School, teaching 7th and 8th grades (1974-1982). He also serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees at Northeastern Illinois University, as a Steering Committee Member of the Coalition of Community Schools, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Ignatian Spirituality Center in Miami, FL.
Dr. Azcoitia received his Doctorate in Education from Northern Illinois University, his Master of Education degree from National Louis University and his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico. Dr. Azcoitia is the author of many published educational articles and has been the recipient of numerous awards for outstanding leadership including a street named in his honor in the school community where he served as Principal.
