February 13, 2026

The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation is pleased to welcome Dr. Fatima Cooke as our new Education Program Officer, beginning March 16, 2026.

Dr. Cooke brings more than twenty years of experience in Chicago's public education system, spanning classroom teaching, school leadership, and districtwide strategy. Most recently, she served as Chief Equity Officer for Chicago Public Schools, where she worked across departments to examine policies and practices and support schools in addressing resource gaps, staffing challenges, and barriers to high-quality academic programming.

A proud product of Chicago Public Schools, Dr. Cooke has dedicated her career to strengthening opportunities for students and families across the city. She has served as a teacher, instructional coach, principal of Sumner Math & Science Community Academy in North Lawndale, and Deputy Chief of Network 5. Across these roles, she focused on improving instructional quality, supporting school leaders, and building the conditions that enable students to succeed academically.

Dr. Cooke earned her Doctorate and Educational Specialist degrees from National Louis University and her Master of Science from Chicago State University. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to strong teaching and learning, thoughtful strategy, and partnership with school communities.

At the Foundation, Dr. Cooke will lead the Education portfolio and work closely with grantee partners to advance efforts that strengthen principal leadership, develop teacher leaders, and expand access to rigorous academic enrichment opportunities for students in historically disinvested Chicago public schools.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Cooke to the Fry Foundation team and look forward to the leadership, insight, and care she brings to this work.