José Colo

As the Manager of Systems, Equity and Innovation, José believes that passion, urgency and creativity are vital tools in providing elite educational experiences for the city’s educators and students. He believes that equality is not an abstract term, but rather a tangible framework to guide the design of transformative environments.  As a member of the Partnership Team, José is responsible for the development of pilots that support CPS’ efforts to strengthen and diversify the principal pipeline.

Born and raised in Oaxaca, José’s professional journey began as a high school teacher in the the West Side of Chicago, where he toiled for four years alongside some of the best teachers in the Windy City.  Later,  he wrestled against educational inequality through a variety of positions, including: Assistant Principal, Curriculum Designer and Education Director. His experiences serving scholars and educators in Boston, Texas, California and Latin America not only awarded him a unique insight into the type of ambitious and gritty stewardship necessary to serve communities of color, but also revealed his desire to make Chicago his “forever home.” 

José received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Spanish Literature from Loyola Marymount University. Coló also holds a Masters degree in Education from Harvard University.  Outside of work, you can find him listening to music by the Lakefront, reading a book at his local taqueria or binge watching streaming services. A.M.D.G