Chicago Public Schools Celebrates Crossing Guard Appreciation Month

Chicago - Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will celebrate the more than 600 crossing guards who help CPS students and families safely arrive and depart schools every day during Crossing Guard Appreciation Month which runs from February 14 through March 14. CPS crossing guards help students and community members cross streets intersections near schools across the city.

"Dedicated crossing guards help ensure that students arrive safely to and from school each day," said Dr. Macquline King, CPS’ Interim CEO/Superintendent. "They are recognizable and active members of every community in Chicago and play an essential role as part of our school support staff. We appreciate and thank crossing guards this month and throughout the year for their hard work and for serving as safety role models for our students."

Nominations for the Crossing Guard of the Year award opened this week and will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, April 17, 2026. Four exceptional individuals will be chosen as winners, one from each region, and their names will be revealed at a District event later this spring. Chicagoans, including students, school leaders, and families, are encouraged to participate in the nomination process starting today. Nominees will be evaluated based on factors such as years of service and attendance, among other criteria. Nominations can be submitted here.

The dedication of CPS crossing guards has garnered both local and national attention. Earlier this school year, crossing guard Joe Sass went viral for selflessly carrying a student across a frozen and icy crosswalk on the Northwest Side and ensuring their safe arrival at school. A 2024 Crossing Guard of the Year winner, Tammy Anderson, known as the “Dancing Crossing Guard,” was spotlighted in Chicago news outlets for her quirky outfits. Anderson can be seen at her assigned intersection in neon glasses and a bright wardrobe across Chicago’s far south region. In December 2022, the Today Show featured Angela Thompson, a crossing guard at Fiske Elementary in Woodlawn for close to two decades, for the toy drive she has organized for nearly two decades.

“The safety and security of our school community members is a top priority for the District,” said Chief Operating Officer, Charles Mayfield of Chicago Public Schools. “Our crossing guards work diligently to ensure the safety of our students and families throughout the City each day. We are excited to honor our crossing guards during Crossing Guard Appreciation Month.”