ASPIRA Students Reunite at CTS Organized Prom

Jesus Lara, dressed in a black suit and silk tie, scanned the vibrant Chicago Teachers Union headquarters. The room glowed with blue drapery and yellow lights spelling ‘prom.’ Lara’s face lit up as he spotted familiar faces. It was a rare gathering for Lara, 18, with friends and classmates from ASPIRA Business & Finance High School.

Lara spent the last two months at a new school, Lake View High School. This change came after the Chicago Board of Education revoked the charter of his school in March. The charter’s removal followed claims of ‘systemic fiscal mismanagement’ by district officials. They explained the network ran out of funds to complete the academic year. ASPIRA leaders contested these claims, citing declining enrollment and increased labor costs as the financial challenges.

The board’s decision led to the closure of two Avondale schools: ASPIRA Business & Finance High School and ASPIRA Early College High School. Around 570 students had to move to other Chicago public schools. For seniors like Lara, it meant leaving a built community and starting anew with only a few months left of high school. However, all worries faded for Lara at the prom organized by CPS and CTU for relocated ASPIRA seniors.

“We all went to separate schools, so it feels nice to see them again,” Lara shared before the event. “It doesn’t feel like a place where I’m left out because that’s how I felt at the other school.”

The prom was a night envisioned by many ASPIRA students at the year’s start—filled with fun and camaraderie. Senior Esmeralda Navichoque, 18, transferred to Carl Schurz High School and found this event a cherished reunion with longtime friends.

Navichoque expressed more excitement for this prom than her school’s, reflecting on the familiar faces present. Fellow senior Melody Diaz, 18, now attending Theodore Roosevelt High School, echoed those sentiments. The transition was tough, with little time to forge new bonds.

“I imagined it with friends I’ve known since freshman year, not random people,” Diaz said.

Jennifer Conant, CTU Charter Division Chair, explained the goal was to celebrate the shared journey of ASPIRA seniors before their graduation. Approximately 70 students attended, enjoying a special luncheon and ceremony alongside the prom. ASPIRA teachers and staff, serving as chaperones, reunited with the students. The event provided them with a chance to congratulate and celebrate their graduates.

Though receiving schools welcomed students like Yuriel Garcia, 18, who moved to Schurz High School, this prom held unique significance. Garcia relished reuniting with former classmates, creating new memories despite the disrupted school routine.

Conant remarked on how the event embodied a reunion for ASPIRA seniors. While receiving schools welcomed students well, this prom allowed them to reflect and enjoy what felt truly familiar and celebratory.

“I’m glad they could attend these events at their new schools and be reunited here at CTU tonight,” Conant added.