Ombudsman Chicago celebrated more than 100 class of 2015 graduates during a commencement ceremony held on June 9. A CPS Options School Program, Ombudsman Chicago offers teens a second chance at achieving academic success and building a bright future as they work toward earning a CPS diploma. Ombudsman offers open enrollment throughout the school year
Read moreOperation Graduation 2015: Stephanie Tsoutsos (Chicago Northwest)
Operation Graduation 2015: Destiny Wright (Chicago)
Determination to overcome life’s obstacles is echoed by 20-year-old West Side native, Destiny Wright. When Destiny came to Ombudsman in September 2014, she had only 4.5 of the 24 credits needed to earn a CPS high school diploma. Losing her father and two other family members within a very short time frame was more than
Read moreOperation Graduation 2015: Ivan Torres (Chicago Northwest)
A good old friend of mine brought me to Ombudsman. His name is Tommy Hack, and it all happened by fate as it seemed that I talked to him about school. It started on a snowy winter day right after New Year. My parents were on vacation in Mexico and they left me all alone
Read moreOperation Graduation 2015: Elijah Hamilton (Chicago)
For many Ombudsman students, the journey to receiving their diploma has been complicated. West Side native, 18-year-old Elijah Hamilton, stopped going to school twice and attributes a large portion of his success in overcoming life’s obstacles to the support system he found at Ombudsman. “I initially dropped out because I was tired of all the
Read moreReversing Cycle of Teen Unemployment (Chicago)
Truth B Told | EDUCATION NATION Special Correspondent: B. Flowers A Chicago Public Schools Options School (not a charter), Ombudsman Chicago opened in August 2013 and offers teens a second chance at achieving academic success while preparing them for continuing education and a career. The Ombudsman Chicago youth employment initiative was created through a partnership
Read moreOperation Graduation Essay: “Earning a diploma means a means a milestone in life for me.” (Chicago)
Earning a diploma means a milestone in life for me. This is really the end of my childhood life and the beginning of adulthood and my career. This diploma means success, I went to three different high schools and I still managed to graduate on time while working a couple of jobs for most of
Read moreOperation Graduation Essay: “If it wasn’t for this program, I would not have graduated from high school.” (Chicago Northwest)
During my time at Ombudsman, I have learned a lot. Especially with my problem doing some of my math equations, if it wasn’t for this program I would not have graduated from high school. Earning my diploma means getting on with my life, achieving my goals and wanting to make a good future for myself.
Read moreOperation Graduation 2013: Jake Gordon (Lombard, Ill.)
Ombudsman has been the key to getting my diploma. Without the opportunity of coming to Ombudsman, I would have only been able to get a G.E.D. and hope for the best in the future. But now thanks to Ombudsman and its caring and dedicated teachers, I can proudly say that after a long struggle I
Read moreOperation Graduation 2013: Jeff Morrow (Chicago)
It takes four years to get a high school diploma in most cases. It takes another two-four years to get a degree in a field of study. Tell me why Ombudsman has made me into a better person, tell me why I got to work at my own pace (which is faster than most) and
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