The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) has recently announced the recipients for the organization’s 2023 Charter Excellence Awards, naming Carrie Spitz, Principal of Noble Schools’ Pritzker College Prep campus, as ‘Charter Principal of the Year.’ The $10,000 award recognizes Spitz for outstanding achievement among the Illinois public charter school community. Spitz began her career in education as a tutor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she first realized her passion for teaching and educating others. Through Teach for America (TFA), Spitz was given the opportunity to serve Chicago’s West Englewood community as a high school Spanish teacher. During this time, Spitz earned her Master’s degree in Teaching and later went on to earn her Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S) in administration. In 2007, she joined Noble Schools at Pritzker College Prep. At the time, Pritzker was in its second year of operation, and Spitz was inspired by the task of building a new school. After serving as a teacher, dean, and the assistant principal at Pritzker, in 2017, Spitz accepted the role to serve the Hermosa community as the school’s principal. “Being named INCS’ Charter Principal of the Year is such a tremendous honor,” said Spitz. “As a charter, our families choose us, and I do not take the responsibility that comes with this choice lightly.  Our students only get one chance at high school, and I am constantly motivated to prove what’s possible for our community and give our students and families the best four years we can. I find the recognition both validating of the past two decades I have invested in education, as well as motivating with respect to the years to come.”