Lynn Cherkasky-Davis, M.Ed.
Lynn Cherkasky-Davis, a proud Chicago Teachers Union staff member for more than 27 years, directs teacher leadership initiatives for Chicago’s teachers, including graduate level coursework, external university and community partnerships, state teaching endorsements, and other educational programming and special projects that advance teaching quality. The CTU Quest Center, under Lynn’s direction, has provided professional learning opportunities spanning the career continuum from new teacher induction through veteran teaching to teacher leadership. Ms. Cherkasky-Davis also works with CPS to increase diversity in the teaching force and partners with the district’s Offices of Teaching and Learning, and Educator Effectiveness, to select and provide Professional Development for Cooperating Teachers and Framework Specialists. Ms. Cherkasky-Davis has raised millions of dollars from local and national foundations and civic organizations for National Board Certification initiatives, professional development, school restructuring, curriculum and assessment development, and other educational programming for CPS teachers.
Lynn is most proud of the Quest Center’s nationally acclaimed Nurturing Teacher Leadership (NTL) program, a professional development and candidate support program for teachers seeking advanced certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. In its 20th year, NTL boasts a National Board Certification (NBC) achievement rate of 94%, twice the national average. Lynn was responsible for negotiating an annual stipend for National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs), as well as funding for candidate support and program administration, in the CTU/CPS bargaining agreement. Due to its high success rate and national recognition, the Chicago Public Schools has contracted the Quest Center to manage all NBC initiatives for the district. There are more than 2400 NBCTs in CPS, including teachers, principals, and central office personnel. Under Lynn’s direction, Chicago has produced the third largest number of NBCTs of any district in the nation.
A teacher leader herself, Lynn is an award-winning veteran CPS early childhood teacher, She serves as the liaison to the CTU Early Childhood Committee and chairs the CTU/CPS Early Childhood joint committee. Ms. Cherkasky-Davis is a member of the Steering Committees of both the Consortium on Chicago School Research and the Generation All High School redesign initiative and a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. She also serves on numerous local and national policy boards and steering committees. Ms. Cherkasky-Davis has received national recognition for her work and has won many accolades including Northwestern University’s Alumni Award of Merit, Mayor Daley’s Superior Public Service Award, National Louis University’s Alumni Achievement Award and their REACH Award, Learning Magazine’s Teacher of the Year, ISBE’s Those Who Excel Award, and the Kohl International Teaching Award. She was named “1 of 12 Who Make a Difference” by the Christian Science Monitor, Educator of the Year by Phi Delta Kappa, and was inducted into The Chicago Women’s Hall of Fame.
Lynn Cherkasky-Davis received her Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and her Master’s degrees from National Louis University.