Off to another great start….

August 19, 2016

It has been a whirlwind week in SD81! Teachers were welcomed back on Monday and were met with an inspiring keynote delivered by Consuelo Castillo Kickbush. Consuelo’s message left each member of our learning community inspired and ready to have a positive impact on every student in SD81.

As always, my favorite day of the week was the arrival of our students on Wednesday! It was obvious the kids were ready for their return based on the smiles and positive energy I felt from them. It is always so fun to welcome them back – their enthusiasm is contagious!

I have always maintained that SD81 has the most outstanding and committed educators! Their commitment to the children fills me with pride and gratitude. It was a week of “all hands on deck” to make sure we were ready for our students and as always regardless of title or role, every single member of our learning community put students at the forefront of their decisions.

A special thank you to our Kennedy parents for your patience as we implement our new arrival and departure procedures. The torrential rain Tuesday morning made the process even more interesting but we ended the week on a high note today. Please know, the processes and procedures we have in place are to ensure a safe arrival and departure of students. We appreciate your cooperation as we secure the safety of your children.

Have a great weekend! 🙂

Teacher Appreciation 2016

May 6, 2016

Today after school I was fortunate to attend a celebration in honor of SD81 first year teachers and their mentors. The most memorable moment of this event was to hear our new teachers and their mentors share their experiences throughout the year. Clearly, the relationships  developed between mentor and mentee are grounded in mutual respect and sincere support. As I listened to their “stories” I was filled with pride to be among such dedicated, caring and selfless educators who consistently put our students at the forefront of decisions.

As teacher appreciation week comes to end I am proud to share this video. The students of SD81 are blessed to have outstanding educators in their lives. It is for this reason and many others that District 81 celebrates our professionals EVERY day. On behalf of our learning community I thank SD81 professionals for your unwavering support of our students.

Teacher Appreciation Week 2016

May 2, 2016

Today begins a week long celebration of our dedicated professionals who bring enthusiasm and passion to our schools every day. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!! We are excited to celebrate the talents of our amazing teachers and staff this week!  The students of the SD81 learning community are blessed with outstanding educators who are dedicated to their success. On behalf of our learning community I extend sincere appreciation to our professionals who make SD81 an exceptional place to work and learn. Have a great week!

Kennedy Groundbreaking Brings SD81 Community Together!!

April 21, 2016

Last night’s groundbreaking ceremony surpassed every single one of my expectations for the evening. Representatives from the entire community came in support of our children and to share their excitement as we build a better place for them to learn. I am grateful for the passionate commitment of our Board members, parents and professionals in our learning community who continue to amaze me each and every day!

The student voices that you will hear in this video explain why we are so passionate about providing stellar learning experiences for these children in a facility that gives them everything they need to grow and be successful! I am overwhelmed with pride by how well these young ladies and gentlemen articulated their gratitude and excitement.

Please know that your support is a critical piece to the success of the children in this community. Our parents and community members are needed and appreciated, and on behalf of the Board of Education and entire learning community, I offer sincere gratitude for making amazing things happen in School District 81!!

Congratulations, SD81 Board Members

April 13, 2016

District 81 was recently notified that our outstanding board members are being recognized for their dedication and countless hours they volunteer to our professional learning community! It fills me with pride that the members of the Schiller Park District 81 Board of Education are the recipients of an Award of Excellence for Distinguished Service from the Illinois Chapter of National School Public Relations Association.

The children and professionals of Schiller Park School District 81 are truly blessed to have board members Maryann Desecki, Allison Downs, Tina Ewanio, Richard Flanagan and Jeremy Hargus providing leadership to the District.

District 81 Board Members, on behalf of our professional learning community, I offer sincere gratitude for your dedication and extend congratulations for this long overdue accolade. Thank you for your influence, perspective and sincere commitment to keeping our students at the forefront of your decisions.

81 in :81 Jimmy Kennedy

April 8, 2016

Dear District 81 Learning Community,

I am thrilled to share the next video from our 81 in :81 video series.  This video highlights Jimmy Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy is a Physical Education Teacher at Kennedy School. He began his career in District 81 as a para-professional serving our special needs population. Jimmy is a talented and gifted educator who forms sincere connections with our students.

Please enjoy 81 seconds of Mr. Kennedy’s remarkable story. The video is a small snapshot of Jimmy’s presence and the impact he has had on our entire learning community.

We proudly present his extraordinary journey in the link below!

District 81 hosts Special Guests!

March 24, 2016

Schiller Park School District 81 was thrilled to host members from the Schiller Park Historical Society, Autumn Leaves and Grace Park Condominiums today for a luncheon followed by the LMS performance of Peter Pan. It filled me with pride to see our students interacting with our guests in such a polite and respectful manner. Our luncheon ended with a birthday celebration for our special guest Nellie who was kind enough to share her birthday with us.

The final performance of Peter Pan was outstanding! Members from the Historical Society, Autumn Leaves and Grace Park Condominiums could not have been more appreciative and we look forward to their next visit! A special thank you to our Lincoln Middle School students for providing amazing entertainment that was truly a pleasure! I also offer my sincere gratitude to our drama directors, Mrs. Prichett and Ms. Williams for the leadership and support they provided our students.

Lincoln’s Peter Pan Jr. Enjoyed By All!

March 23, 2016

Our middle school students did a fantastic job performing Lincoln’s Peter Pan Jr. and I am very proud of them! Thank you to the professionals at Lincoln Middle School who worked hard to make this happen.

We’re excited to welcome the Schiller Park Historical Society, residents from Grace Park, and the Autumn Leaves club to view this fun production tomorrow! Making these connections and bringing community members into our school district has been a special and rewarding experience for me.

Thank you to our Board of Education members for always supporting our students and sharing your time with us.  And to our parents, thank you for sharing your children with us, and all that you do to make our school community such a wonderful place.

81 in :81 Featuring Eric Humbles

March 18, 2016

Dear District 81 Learning Community,

I am thrilled to share the next video from our 81 in :81 video series.  This video highlights Eric Humbles. Mr. Humbles is the District 81 Technology Director. Mr. Humbles provides outstanding leadership in all areas of technology from the district level to the classroom.

Eric’s calm demeanor is a true asset. Mr. Humbles is an innovative leader and as a result District 81 provides dynamic and engaging learning experiences to our students.

Please enjoy 81 seconds of Mr. Humbles’s remarkable story. The video is a small snapshot of Eric’s presence and the impact he has had on our entire learning community.

We proudly present her extraordinary journey in the link below!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

March 17, 2016

Schiller Park School District 81 has many traditions that are embedded in our culture. One of my favorites will always be watching our kindergarten students try to catch a Leprechaun in our classrooms! While at Kennedy School this morning I was fortunate to take a leprechaun trap tour with my new little buddy Andrew!