CME Group Foundation Celebrates 10 Years

2018 marked the 10th anniversary of CME Group Foundation. To celebrate, we hosted a luncheon and program with education author Ted Dintersmith. Ted is an entrepreneur, public education advocate and author. Each guest received a copy of Ted's book, What School Could Be. The sold-out crowd included Foundation grantees, other education funders in Chicago and Chicago Public School leaders. In the evening, we hosted a second program for Chicago Public School principals and teachers in partnership with LEAP Innovations, The Chicago Public Education Fund and Teach for America.

Ted spent a year touring more than 200 schools across all fifty states and was stunned by the innovative classrooms and schools he found across the country. In his book, he shares the common elements of the powerful learning experiences he observed and discusses the ways schools are establishing conditions that let teachers and students thrive.

"Ted's book was so insightful and well-written, I thought it should be shared with the broader Chicago education community," said Kassie Davis of CME Group Foundation. "Given the Foundation’s focus on using technology to personalize learning, we thought Ted would be a perfect speaker for our anniversary event."

During the program, Ted spoke about the need to change how schools operate, especially those that serve low income communities. He explained that it is a matter of preparing the next generation for the jobs of the future, so no one is left behind.

Since the Foundation's inception in 2008, we have funded numerous programs to help advance academic progress — including nearly two million dollars to Chicago Public Schools. Other 10-year grantees include the Erikson Institute, Loyola University Chicago, Big Shoulders Fund and the Ounce of Prevention Fund.

Ted's book was so insightful and well-written, I thought it should be shared with the broader Chicago education community. Given the Foundation’s focus on using technology to personalize learning, we thought Ted would be a perfect speaker for our
anniversary event.

Kassie Davis
CME Group Foundation

Kassie has been with CME Group Foundation since it first started. "Working with a startup, whether it's for profit or a nonprofit, is the best kind of challenge. You have the opportunity to experiment and innovate on a daily basis since you're starting from nothing," explained Kassie. "It's been a privilege to lead the Foundation for its short life, and I think we all can be proud of what we've accomplished so far."

Early Math Collaborative

CME Group Foundation has supported six early math grantees every year since its inception in 2008. One of those grantees is Erikson Institute, Chicago’s graduate school of early childhood education and a pioneer in early math education for childhood educators. Erikson was the first early math grantee of the Foundation and continues with its work in partnership with the Ounce of Prevention Fund today. Learn more about Erikson’s work from a participating teacher.

A Decade in the Making: Early Math Education Initiative Seeks Broad Impact

Grantmakers for Education (GFE), a national association, strives to generate opportunities for education grantmakers to work together and learn from each other’s approaches, experiences and challenges across the education space. The purpose of its case studies is to help grantmakers reflect on specific practices that can deepen the impact of their own investments and prepare for changes in the field by using real-world lessons from their grantmaking colleagues. Grantmakers for Education typically publishes one or two case studies each year that serve as teaching opportunities on current and pressing issues in education. Case studies are presented at the GFE annual conference in October and taught by Professor James Honan of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. CME Group Foundation was thrilled to be selected as the case study for the 2018 conference.

This case study examines pivotal moments in the development of CME’s Early Math Education Initiative and Elementary Math Specialist Pilot, including research and data that fueled the foundation’s grantmaking and perspectives from funders and educators on collaboration, partnerships and levers for change. The case also poses questions about sustainability and the potential for statewide impact. Read the case study here.

Early Math Specialist Program

We are thrilled with the response to our Elementary Math Specialist (EMS) program webinar hosted in November by Education Week. We’ve had more than 350 registrants from 44 states and 16 countries around the world.

The EMS program, developed in partnership with University of Chicago, the Chicago Public Schools Office of Mathematics, the University of Illinois-Chicago, and DePaul University, responds to the need for mathematics teacher leaders in elementary grades and for increased levels of content knowledge and teacher confidence in mathematics.

In this webinar, district leaders and university-based professionals learn how schools can develop a shared vision and common goals with multiple university partners and philanthropy to meet local needs. The webinar is available on demand here.

BUILDING FUTURES Archive

2023

2022

View the archive