In this episode, I had the honor of interviewing my good friend and brother-in-education, Larue Fitch!  During our conversation, he opens up about his personal journey from being a teenage father to a national educational leader.  He also gives us some insight about his upcoming book, "Breaking the Education Code", sheds some light on the state of Chicago Public Schools, and much more!  To learn more about Larue’s work, you can visit his website at www.laruemfitch.com or connect with him on the following social media platforms:  

FACEBOOK - @laruefitch       INSTAGRAM - @ed.consultant  

BIO: 

Larue Fitch is an educational consultant, school administrator, and author from Chicago, IL.  He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Saint Xavier University, and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Chicago State University, where is currently working towards his Doctorate degree.  He is the author of the new book, “Breaking the Education Code: Instructional Guide for Enhancing Teacher Capacity While Increasing Scholar Achievement”, which will be released in early 2020. Larue’s educational journey began as an elementary school teacher. For seven years, he worked with scholars in grades 4 through 8, teaching Science, Literacy and Math. During his time in the classroom, he was fortunate to develop relationships with scholars which provided a safe environment for them to grow and develop academically.   As a teacher, Larue always looked forward to communicating openly with parents. It was always the highlight of his experience to share with the parents the academic and social growth their child made throughout the school year.  Leadership opportunities began to open within his school and he became the Science Lead Teacher. One of the most rewarding aspects of this role was the ability to work with his peers. Productive teamwork is critical to a thriving school culture. This collaboration led to some positive changes in our school’s teaching practices along with an established alliance between teachers and administration.   Seven years later, he entered the role of Assistant Principal and Resident Principal in Chicago Public Schools. As Resident Principal in a CPS elementary school, he was the administrator in charge of Restorative Justice and the Data-Driven Instructional Cycle. Through the implementation of Restorative Justice practices, the percentage of out-of-school suspensions decreased by 31 percent for African-American children. He worked closely with our teachers and families to build a culture where scholars are taking ownership of their academic and social performances. Through meaningful collaborations, parents participated in workshops and school-level activities; developing an open line of communication between the teachers, administration and their scholars.  Finally, Larue is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.