Join Sitaara as she talks with Natasha Croff and Julie Molina, Parent Support Specialists for Chicago Public Schools, about the CPS application and admissions process for students with disabilities. Natasha and Julie provide expert insights on navigating the system, things to consider when applying to selective enrollment elementary and high schools, available resources and what resources to look for when considering which school may be the best fit. Tune in for practical advice, key steps families should take to ensure their children receive the support they need, and the essential information to help make the admissions journey smoother.
This recording is the twelfth episode of NPN's podcast, Chicago Style Parenting. The podcast was published on 3/25/25. For more information and resources about this topic, visit the podcast episode's show notes.
About our speakers:
Natasha Croff is a Parent Support Specialist for Chicago Public Schools. She began working at CPS as a Parent Outreach Coordinator. She is a dedicated mother to an active young man living with Autism. Advocating for her son and being involved in community organizations continually equips her with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate supports and resources for those living with disabilities. She is an Executive Committee Board Member for the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, a Board Member of the Chicagoland Autism Connection Parent Support Group, a graduate of the Illinois Partners in Policymaking, and is involved with the Inclusion for Early Childhood Initiative.
Julie Molina is a proud mother of one, but an international mother of 27 and counting. Her daughter is a CPS graduate and was a student with a disability. Julie understands being an involved parent throughout all stages of her daughter’s educational career is an important role and she hopes to encourage others to do the same. Julie’s knowledge and skill set comes from being in education for over 25 years in different capacities as well as being an involved parent that loves building community in the private and public sector.
