WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS INC

🔒

Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

Sign in with your work email to view Tuckman-Chang indicators

Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1993

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

TENA LATONA

Phone

3122694514

Tax Period

2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS INC, founded in 1993, is a community nonprofit in the Education sector that reported $1.9M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue grew 10% year-over-year, indicating healthy expansion. Expenses of $1.7M left a modest 9% surplus.

Mission

WITS BELIEVES THAT LITERACY IS THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH ALL OTHER LEARNING DEVELOPS. OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER CHICAGO ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TO DISCOVER THEMSELVES THROUGH READING WHILE DEVELOPING FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY SKILLS. WE DO THIS BY CREATING COMMUNITY THROUGH LITERACY-BASED MENTORSHIP, ENABLING TEACHERS TO BUILD DIVERSE CLASSROOM LIBRARIES, AND PROMOTING BOOK OWNERSHIP AT HOME.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $382,562

WORKPLACE MENTORING: WORKPLACE MENTORING IS AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FOR THIRD THROUGH SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS TO BE TRANSPORTED BY BUS TO CORPORATE OFFICES WHERE THEY ARE MATCHED WITH...

WORKPLACE MENTORING: WORKPLACE MENTORING IS AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FOR THIRD THROUGH SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS TO BE TRANSPORTED BY BUS TO CORPORATE OFFICES WHERE THEY ARE MATCHED WITH EMPLOYEES FOR ONE-ON-ONE, 60 MINUTE MENTORING SESSIONS.

Program 2

Expenses: $244,044

MID-DAY MENTORING: MID-DAY MENTORING IS A SCHOOL DAY LITERACY AND MENTORING PROGRAM THAT PAIRS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS FOR ONE-ON-ONE, 45 MINUTE READING SESSIONS. MID-DAY MENTORING PROMOTES FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY SKILLS AND LOVE OF READING THROUGH READING ALOUD, SHARING FAVORITE STORIES, AND TALKING ABOUT BOOKS.

Program 3

Expenses: $258,495

ROCHELLE LEE TEACHER AWARD: THE ROCHELLE LEE TEACHER AWARD (RLTA) IS NAMED IN HONOR OF ROCHELLE LEE, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS (CPS) EDUCATOR AND LIBRARIAN WHO INSPIRED GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS TO BE...

ROCHELLE LEE TEACHER AWARD: THE ROCHELLE LEE TEACHER AWARD (RLTA) IS NAMED IN HONOR OF ROCHELLE LEE, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS (CPS) EDUCATOR AND LIBRARIAN WHO INSPIRED GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS TO BE IMPASSIONED READERS. ROCHELLE LEE TEACHER AWARDEES ARE CPS TEACHERS THAT EMBODY THE SAME DRIVE AS ROCHELLE LEE TO DEVELOP THEIR STUDENTS INTO PEOPLE WHO WILL FOSTER A LIFE-LONG RELATIONSHIP TO LEARNING AND READING. THE COMPETITIVE ESSAY-BASED APPLICATION PROCESS DRAWS CPS TEACHER APPLICANTS ACROSS SUBJECT MATTERS IN GRADES PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH. TEACHERS APPLY EITHER AS A POTENTIAL INDIVIDUAL AWARDEE OR PART OF A STUDY GROUP. TEACHERS MAY BE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN RLTA FOR A MAXIMUM OF FOUR YEARS. THE FIRST TWO YEARS CAN BE AS AN INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANT; THE LAST TWO MUST BE AS A MEMBER OF A STUDY GROUP. TEACHERS ATTEND SELF-SELECTED LITERACY WORKSHOPS DURING WITS' SUMMER INSTITUTE AND RECEIVE ACCREDITED CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS FOR EACH COMPLETED WORKSHOP. ONCE TEACHERS COMPLETE THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF WORKSHOP HOURS, THEY ARE AWARDED BOOK GRANTS TO PURCHASE NEW BOOKS FOR THEIR CLASSROOM LIBRARIES.

🔒

Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

Sign in to view Trantor Score and financial metrics

Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $2,094,430

Program Service Revenue $0

Investment Income $13,630

Other Revenue $-199,990

TOTAL REVENUE $1,908,070

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $1,090,312

Fundraising Expenses $271,458

Program Expenses $1,101,107

Other Expenses $643,658

TOTAL EXPENSES $1,733,970

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$1,908,070	$1,730,749	+0.1%
Expenses	$1,733,970	$1,670,531	+0.0%
Net Income	$174,100	$60,218	+1.9%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

🔒

Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

Sign in to view all financial metrics

Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

488

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$168,356

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
TENA LATONA	EX-OFFICIO CEO	50.00	Officer	$160,714	$7,642	$168,356
ORIN MURRAY	VICE PRESIDENT	3.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
PATRICK HATTON	VICE PRESIDENT	3.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN MARTIN	VICE PRESIDENT	3.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
MARIA AROSTEGUY	TREASURER	3.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
SANA HAKIM	SECRETARY	3.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
JENNIFER ALTER WARDEN	CHAIRPERSON	3.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
OLIMPIA BAHENA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
STEPHANIE BRAMING	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DOUGLAS BUCHLER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CRAIG CLOSE	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JEREMY COLE	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CAROLYN GOLDHABER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DIANE GRAHAM HENRY	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PHILIP HILDEBRANDT	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DEBRA LEVIN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SYDNEY MORRIS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOANNE FIRESTONE NEMEROVSKI	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KWEKU OBED	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DEVEREAUX PETERS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KAITLIN REIMANN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CRYSTAL REYNOLDS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MARIA SEIMENIS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ROBERT STEINSDOERFER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MORRISON WARREN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KEVIN YAO	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	$1,908,070	$1,733,970	$1,602,393	$174,100
2024	$1,730,749	$1,670,531	$1,484,697	$60,218
2023	$1,518,559	$1,700,841	$1,448,331	$-182,282
2022	$1,522,756	$1,400,515	$1,658,349	$122,241
2021	$1,828,302	$1,415,647	$1,369,549	$412,655
2020	$1,664,169	$1,536,982	$1,120,782	$127,187
2019	$1,703,977	$1,708,099	$890,876	$-4,122