Cecily Relucio Hensler is the director of Elementary Teacher Preparation at the University of Chicago Urban Teacher Education Program (UChicago UTEP).
Prior to joining UChicago UTEP in fall 2010, Hensler worked for the New Teacher Center (NTC), a national nonprofit dedicated to improving student learning by accelerating the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders. She was a founding member of the Chicago New Teacher Center, working collaboratively to establish the induction program and leading the professional development of the coaching staff. At the national level for NTC, Hensler built the capacity of program leaders and instructional mentors in districts across the Midwest. She supported program development and policy implementation, and led teams at the state and national levels in the development of program standards and tools to support continuous program improvement.
Hensler began her educational career as an elementary classroom teacher in the Chicago Public Schools, and has also worked as a program coordinator, professional developer, and instructional coach for Boundless Readers and the New Teachers Network, serving Chicago Public School teachers and students. Hensler received her M.S. in elementary education from Northwestern University and her B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Over the course of her development as an educator, Hensler has become firmly grounded in the belief that building the instructional leadership capacity of teachers and leaders is the key to educational reform and is an act of social justice. This belief is central to her leadership vision and her collaboration with UChicago UTEP students, alumni, and staff.
