Penny Bender Sebring

Penny Bender Sebring is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Chicago and Co-Founder of the UChicago Consortium. Most of her research has centered on school organization, i.e., the five essential supports. She is an author of the book Organizing Schools for Improvement: Lessons from Chicago. In addition, she has worked to grow and sustain the UChicago Consortium. Previously, Sebring was a Peace Corps volunteer and high school teacher. She serves on the Policy Advisory Board for Northwestern’s School of Education and Social Policy and the board of directors for the Chicago Public Education Fund. Sebring has received an Alumni Merit Award from Northwestern, the John J. Dugan Award from OneGoal, the Stanley C. Golder Community Service Award from the Golden Apple Foundation, and an honorary doctorate from Grinnell College. It has been gratifying to see the dramatic progress that CPS has made. Robust evidence, extensive collaborations across the city, and the hard work of teachers, principals, parents, and students have led to students learning and attaining much more than in the past.

Featured Publications

All Publications

Title Type Date Sort ascending
How a City Learned to Improve Its Schools How a City Learned to Improve Its Schools Book Apr 2023
Relational trust in Valparaíso, Chile and Illinois schools Relational trust in Valparaíso, Chile and Illinois schools

Surprising consistency and further questions

Article Nov 2019
A First Look at the 5Essentials in Illinois Schools A First Look at the 5Essentials in Illinois Schools Report Jun 2015
The Five Essential Supports for School Improvement

Mobilizing the Findings

Article Apr 2014
Teens, Digital Media, and the Chicago Public Library Teens, Digital Media, and the Chicago Public Library Report May 2013
The Use of Technology in Chicago Public Schools 2011: Perspectives from Students, Teachers, and Principals The Use of Technology in Chicago Public Schools 2011

Perspectives from Students, Teachers, and Principals

Report Apr 2013
YOUmedia Chicago: Reimagining Learning, Literacies, and Libraries: A Snapshot of Year 1 YOUmedia Chicago

Reimagining Learning, Literacies, and Libraries

Report May 2011
Organizing Schools for Improvement: Lessons from Chicago Organizing Schools for Improvement

Lessons from Chicago

Book Jan 2010
CCSR: A New Model for the Role of Research in Supporting Urban School Reform CCSR

A New Model for the Role of Research in Supporting Urban School Reform

Model Paper Feb 2009
CCSR's 2007 Survey Reports for Chicago Public Schools CCSR's 2007 Survey Reports for Chicago Public Schools Report Dec 2007
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