When I walked through the doors of KIPP Ascend Primary in 2011, I couldn’t have imagined that 14 years later I’d be writing to you as KIPP Chicago’s CEO. But here we are—and what a journey it has been!
Some people discover their calling through careful deliberation. I found mine in a classroom in Newark, New Jersey, where I was fortunate to serve as a Teach For America corps member for two years. That experience lit a fire within me and fueled my conviction that remains today—all children deserve an excellent education that creates lifelong opportunities.
This belief led me to KIPP Chicago, where I joined as the founding Assistant Principal at KIPP Ascend Primary. Those early years shaped my understanding of what it truly takes to build a successful school community. As I worked alongside dedicated educators and leaders, I saw firsthand the transformative power of a rigorous, nurturing, and inclusive educational environment. Over time, my role evolved, and I became more deeply involved in shaping the vision and direction of KIPP Chicago, always with an unwavering commitment to the success of our students. It was clear to me that creating lasting change requires not just passion but a strategic, aligned effort from all stakeholders. This journey has only reinforced my belief in the power of education to empower, uplift, and unlock potential.
In 2015, I was selected for the Fisher Family Fellowship. This highly competitive program prepares experienced educators who have achieved significant student academic gains to found and lead a new KIPP school in an undeserved community. The fellowship prepared me to take on the next chapter of my career, founding KIPP One Primary in West Humboldt Park in 2016.
Together with an extraordinary team that put their heart and soul into creating a community where students and families could thrive, we built something truly special. Our collective work led us to earn a Level 1+ rating, the highest possible school quality rating, for three consecutive years and be recognized as the highest-performing public school in Chicago for two years running. While these achievements are something I am incredibly proud of, what fills me with the most pride are the moments that metrics can’t capture. It’s the quiet moments that stay with me—like seeing a first-grader’s face light up when they finally decode a word they’ve been struggling with, or watching a student, once shy and withdrawn, stand confidently in front of their peers to deliver a presentation they worked so hard on. It’s the pride in the eyes of our teachers when they see a student who once struggled to believe in themselves finally reach their full potential. It’s the small, day-to-day victories—the shared smiles, the supportive conversations, the unwavering belief that we, as a team, are making a real difference in the lives of our students.
I remember one student, Ajani, who came to us two years behind in reading. After months of encouragement, personalized support, and relentless belief in his abilities, I saw him reading fluently for the first time. When he looked up from the page, his eyes wide with pride, he said, “I can do it now.” Moments like that, when our students begin to believe in their own potential, are the true markers of success.
These experiences remind me that the impact we have isn’t just in test scores or rankings, but in the way we shape the hearts and minds of the young people we serve. It’s in the confidence we help them build, the opportunities we provide, and the doors we open for them to walk through. This, for me, is the heart of education: creating a space where every child can dream, grow, and achieve no matter where they start.
In today’s ever-changing world, our students need us more than ever. They need stability when the world feels unpredictable. They need rigorous academics paired with high-quality social-emotional support. They need adults who believe in their unlimited potential. My commitment is to lead KIPP Chicago in providing exactly that.
The path forward won’t always be smooth—education has never been for the faint of heart. But I’ve seen what’s possible when a community unites around a shared mission, and I am confident in what we are capable of achieving together.
I’m deeply honored to serve as Chief Executive Officer and excited about what is to come.
With gratitude,
Rashid Bell
Chief Executive Officer
KIPP Chicago
For media inquiries, please contact Jessica Perez at jperez@kippchicago.org.