CREATING COHESION IN A CENTRAL OFFICE DEPARTMENT
Office of Multilingual-Multicultural Education (OMME)
When the Office of Multilingual–Multicultural Education at Chicago Public Schools needed a way to bring clarity and cohesion to its complex work, it partnered with RespondAbility. The platform helped unify teams, increase visibility into progress, and connect daily work to strategic goals, strengthening collaboration and accountability across the office.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Office of Multilingual – Multicultural Education (OMME) guides CPS in delivering a high-quality education for all language learners, emphasizing cultural and linguistic diversity among students, families, and educators.
OMME FULFILLS ITS MISSION THROUGH:
• Strategic planning
• Collaborative partnerships
• Professional development
• Creating tools and resources to enhance instruction
OMME IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:
• Providing native language instruction
• Developing English language skills
• Promoting world language instruction that is high-quality, research-based, and culturally reflective
• Overseeing bilingual education mandates
• Offering programs that enable students to achieve the State Seal of Biliteracy
• Supporting schools in implementing Dual Language Programs
Summary
When Dr. Karime Asaf became Chief Officer of OMME, she faced significant challenges in leading one of the largest and most multifaceted offices within Chicago Public Schools. With diverse teams, extensive responsibilities, and a mission rooted in equity and inclusion, OMME required a comprehensive solution to foster clarity, collaboration, and accountability.
Partnering with RespondAbility transformed OMME into a cohesive, high-performing team equipped to deliver impactful outcomes for Chicago’s multilingual learners.
DR. KARIME ASAF
CHIEF OFFICER
“RespondAbility has created cohesion around the very complex and multifaceted aspects of my job as a chief in one of the largest districts in the country.”
3 Key Challenges For Leadership
01
Siloed Workflows
Teams operated in isolation, with limited communication and collaboration.
02
Overwhelming Scope
Managing vast amounts of information and prioritizing tasks were significant hurdles.
03
Role Ambiguity
Staff struggled to connect their daily responsibilities to the office’s overarching mission.
How RespondAbility
Supports OMME’s Growth
RespondAbility became the central hub for organizing OMME’s diverse responsibilities, ensuring cohesion, visibility, and accountability.
01
Centralized Information
“Everything is in one place,” Dr. Asaf emphasized. The platform consolidates key data about team progress, making it easy to support staff and share context effectively.
02
Tailored Oversight
RespondAbility provides weekly reports highlighting task statuses—”Smooth Sailing,” “Looking for Insights,” or “Experiencing Hurdles.” This allows Dr. Asaf to focus her attention where it’s most needed, from high-level summaries to individual contributions.
03
Celebrating Success
Dr. Asaf uses RespondAbility to showcase her team’s achievements during meetings with district leaders, including the Chief Education Officer.
RespondAbility’s Impact
Since adopting RespondAbility, OMME has achieved remarkable improvements in three key areas:
Increased Visibility
and Focus
RespondAbility ensures that OMME’s five teams work cohesively, with priorities clearly visible and interconnected.
Enhanced Collaboration
and Cohesion
The platform breaks down silos, fostering alignment and teamwork across OMME.
Improved Leadership Efficiency
By streamlining workflows, RespondAbility enables Dr. Asaf to focus on strategy and support rather than logistics.
“It’s very comprehensive and so adaptable. It’s a guide, a reflection tool, and an accountability tool. RespondAbility has created cohesion around the very complex and multifaceted aspects of my job as a chief.”
-DR. ASAF
Why Work with RespondAbility?
RespondAbility provides dual value: it equips districts with tools to define roles, expectations, and responsibilities while fostering a culture of reflective practice and continuous improvement. This unique combination transforms complex systems into clear, actionable priorities.
Real-Time Insights
Actionable data guides decisions before issues arise.
Efficient Collaboration
Tools break down silos and enhance teamwork.
Strategic Focus
Day-to-day tasks connect directly to long-term goals.
Ease of Use
An intuitive platform simplifies leadership workflows.
Real-Time Insights
Actionable data guides decisions before issues arise.
Efficient Collaboration
Tools break down silos and enhance teamwork.
Strategic Focus
Day-to-day tasks connect directly to long-term goals.
Ease of Use
An intuitive platform simplifies leadership workflows.
Partnering for Success
The RespondAbility support team ensures seamless implementation, offering tailored guidance and best practices to help districts maximize impact.