TRANSFORMING SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
Thomas J. Higgins Community Academy
Higgins Community Academy uses technology to support its curriculum in reading, math, science, and social studies. The school also offers a Fine and Performing Arts Program, working with partners like the Joffrey Ballet and Chicago Children’s Choir. These efforts have led to notable achievements, including first-place awards in a Speech & Arts competition.
LOCATION
West Pullman neighborhood, Chicago, IL
SCHOOL TYPE
Fine and Performing Arts Magnet School
STUDENT BODY
• 276 PreK – 8th students
• Majority Black and Hispanic
• Predominantly low-income households
STAFF
65 teachers and staff
MISSION
“To Educate, Engage, and Enrich….Every child, Everyday”
Summary
When Principal Charnette House took the helm of Higgins Community Academy, she faced challenges in using data strategically to drive continuous improvement. Without a system for progress monitoring, Higgins struggled to align its initiatives with measurable outcomes. Partnering with RespondAbility transformed how House and her team monitor progress, support staff, and ensure student success. The platform provides a centralized space to track strategic goals, distribute leadership, and maintain accountability, helping Higgins create a culture of intentionality and growth.
CHARNETTE HOUSE
PRINCIPAL
“RespondAbility provides me a bird’s eye view of my team’s work”
3 Key Challenges For Leadership
01
Lack of Strategic Data Use
The school had great initiatives but no way to measure their impact.
02
Inconsistent Progress Monitoring
There was little evidence to show whether goals were being met.
03
Compliance Gaps
Higgins fell short in meeting Individualized Education Program (IEP) compliance goals.
How RespondAbility
Supports Higgins’ Growth
RespondAbility offers Higgins Community Academy a tailored solution that has transformed its leadership and accountability practices.
01
Centralized Progress Monitoring
RespondAbility consolidates all strategic objectives and associated tasks into one accessible platform, providing a clear overview of the school’s progress.
02
Granular Insights & Customizations
The platform allows staff to categorize their progress on tasks using indicators such as “Leading the Charge,” “Sharpening Skills,” or “Calling for Backup”—customized specifically for Higgins.
03
Proactive Support
RespondAbility enables House to offer “just-in-time” support by identifying areas where staff need assistance.
04
Continuous Adaptability
The platform is flexible, allowing House to add new data points as needed to manage evolving priorities effectively.
RespondAbility’s Impact
By providing clear data, RespondAbility ensures that staff can demonstrate the impact of their work and identify areas for growth.
Evidence-Based
Decision-Making
By providing clear data, RespondAbility ensures that staff can demonstrate the impact of their work and identify areas for growth.
Enhanced Collaboration
& Accountability
RespondAbility fosters a team culture where everyone understands their role in achieving the school’s goals.
Leadership Development
& Efficiency
The platform empowers staff to monitor their own progress, enabling House to distribute leadership effectively.
“RespondAbility provides a safe space for co-creating solutions and keeps us prepared and intentional.”
-CHARNETTE HOUSE
Why Work with RespondAbility?
RespondAbility has fundamentally changed how House leads Higgins Community Academy by fostering a culture of accountability, reflection, and continuous improvement.
Centralized
Data
Provides a clear view of strategic goals and progress.
Tailored
Insights
Customizable indicators for individual and team tasks.
Increased
Efficiency
Simplifies leadership workflows, from monitoring IEP compliance to managing school-wide initiatives.
Proactive
Problem-Solving
Enables timely support and collaboration to address challenges.
Centralized Data
Provides a clear view of strategic goals and progress.
Tailored Insights
Customizable indicators for individual and team tasks.
Increased Efficiency
Simplifies leadership workflows, from monitoring IEP compliance to managing school-wide initiatives.
Proactive Problem-Solving
Enables timely support and collaboration to address challenges.
Partnering for Success
The RespondAbility support team ensures seamless integration into school workflows, providing tailored guidance and ongoing support to help leaders maximize impact.