Working in the Schools (WITS) was founded on the idea that in-person, one-on-one literacy mentorship shapes how K-8th grade Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students feel about school, themselves, and their future. We believe that connecting … Read More
WITS began in a single classroom in 1991
WITS began in a single classroom. When founders, Joanne Alter and Marion Stone, asked a neighborhood educator what they could do to most benefit her students, the answer was simple: … Read More
Introducing the WITS 30th Anniversary Celebration
We welcome you to celebrate our 30th Anniversary of Building Communities and Empowering Readers. As the world continues to evolve and reemerge, so do we. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, … Read More
Coming Together to Celebrate the End of WITSummer Books
WITSummer Books 2021 is officially a wrap! Every spring hundreds of donors come together to raise funds for WITS to gift books to Chicago Public Schools students and teachers. This … Read More
Fiscal Year 2020 in Review
This fiscal year, we did it. That is the headline and the bottom line. It came with some bumps and bruises, a lot of lessons, some new tricks up our … Read More
Meet Kenedi: A third year WITS student who enjoys a good plot twist
WITS is tremendously proud of all our students who participated in WITS Virtual Program this year. Week after week, we have been inspired by our students’ optimism, flexibility, and unflappable … Read More
WITSummer Books Highlights 2021
We are excited to wrap up this very unusual year with our annual tradition of WITSummer Books. Like in past years, WITS is giving a selection of diverse, high-interest books … Read More
Margaret Siber: Generous Investment Supports the Future of WITS
When retired pediatrician Dr. Margaret Siber thinks about WITS, she remembers how her passion started for helping young people. “I spent my career watching children grow and develop; WITS gives … Read More
Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb” Teaching Tools
The breakout star of Wednesday’s Presidential Inauguration festivities was Amanda Gorman, who read her poem “The Hill We Climb.” Educators worked fast to create and share classroom teaching resources. Gorman … Read More
Thank You for Joining Us Down the Rabbit Hole!
This year’s UnGala raised more than $510,000 to support WITS literacy programs! Thank you to all that were able to virtually attend the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and other … Read More
