What does “innovation” evoke? For many, innovation means emerging technologies and unlimited potential. While those ideas are true, at Chicago International Charter School (CICS) Prairie, we believe that innovation is defined as a disciplined practice of identifying problems, designing better approaches, testing ideas, and learning from evidence. As part of the Distinctive Schools network, we strive to constantly improve how we teach, learn, and operate, always in service of our learners. Our intentional approach is designed to prepare every learner for the future they choose.
A Catalyst for Equity: Areas of Excellence
We are proud to be an inaugural site for Areas of Excellence, a bold neighborhood transformation project focused on the Roseland, Pullman, and West Pullman neighborhoods in partnership with LEAP Innovations. Much like our Community Hub Model, this initiative recognizes that students thrive when we leverage the community around them. By connecting education with housing, healthcare, and workforce development, the program aims to break cycles of disinvestment and create "pockets of excellence" within the city.
A primary focus of this work is 3rd-grade literacy. 3rd grade is widely recognized as the year students shift from "learning to read” to "reading to learn." By partnering with Amira Learning, an adaptive AI literacy platform, alongside rigorous Tier 1 instruction, we can personalize feedback to close literacy gaps. Our goal is to leverage human-centered design so that every strategy is rooted in empathy, builds real parent power, and leverages the assets of the community for a student’s academic journey.
Co-Piloting the Classroom: The LEAP Pilot Network
As part of Areas of Excellence, CICS Prairie is participating in the LEAP Pilot Network. Currently focused on 1st and 2nd grade math, the team, including Principal Yvonne Glenn, is exploring how students and teachers can "co-pilot" the learning journey together. The goal is to move beyond traditional instruction toward a learner-led model that fosters student agency. We recognize that ownership over learning begins when students understand their own progress. By addressing the root cause—lack of student autonomy—our teachers will be able to use real-time data to pivot instruction in real-time.
During the discovery phase of the Pilot Network, we found that while we have robust systems in place to support literacy, there’s a need for K–3 friendly tools specifically designed for math—a challenge we wanted to tackle as early math proficiency is a top predictor of later academic achievement across all subjects. "This shift is about both curriculum alignment and technical readiness,” Principal Glenn shares. “We want our students to be comfortable with technology for formative assessment as much as possible." This led us to partner with Snorkl, a platform that aligns with our curriculum and allows our youngest learners to engage with math in a digital-first environment.
We are now entering the prototype phase where our 1–2 grade students will use choice boards to navigate their weekly tasks and complete electronic exit tickets via Snorkl. This real-time data allows our team to adjust instruction in the moment, ensuring that small-group sessions are tailored to exactly what a student needs to succeed. These findings and data tracked by students and teachers will be shared with families during conferences to create a transparent and collaborative partnership for continuous growth.
Igniting Curiosity: The 3rd Annual STEAM Fair
While the daily curriculum builds foundational skills, the STEAM Lab—led by teacher Victor Garbonkus—opens a world of new possibilities. STEAM programming at CICS Prairie provides immersive exposure through specialized classes, robotics and drone clubs, and our annual STEAM Fair. Now in its third year, the STEAM Fair invites every student to engage in the engineering design process: asking questions, forming theories, and developing functional projects.
In preparation for the fair, students worked together, often in collaboration with Mr. Garbonkus, for months to create robotics and engineering projects. Students focused on the key criteria for the fair: innovation, creativity, and real-world connection. This year’s winning middle school team, Bliss, Joy, and Malaysia, exemplified all three elements. “Our project focused on effective trash pickup in the ocean," explains Bliss. "It had a windmill, wheels, a scooper, and night vision. The windmill made it go faster, the wheels helped it move, the night-vision goggles were to see in the dark, and the scooper picked up the trash." 
This annual event shifts the focus from what students must do to what they are inspired to do. With STEAM careers growing at double the rate of other fields, the STEAM Fair is a way for students to master critical thinking and durable skills for the future. By directing their own projects, our learners move beyond standard curriculum into a space of lifelong curiosity.
While the annual Fair is a highlight, the real magic happens daily in our STEAM Lab. Mr. Garbonkus works to link these technical skills to a well-rounded educational experience. By working in STEAM groups during class, students learn that empathy is a necessary component of engineering; you must understand a problem to solve it. This collaborative spirit, combined with technical mastery in coding and design, is truly what makes our STEAM program stand out to equip students for an ever-evolving future.
By blending data-driven instruction with human-centered design, CICS Prairie is looking to close the achievement gap and prepare students for the world of tomorrow. As our team continues to upscale these pilots school-wide, the message is clear: when we design with our community and our students, the possibilities for excellence are limitless.
Are you looking for a school that prioritizes innovation and student agency? Or seeking a career move in a supportive environment where you have the freedom to inspire? Explore what makes our community truly Distinctive!