August 28, 2017
News from the August Board Meeting
Strategic Planning Effort
to Kick Off With Survey
The Board of Education hired the Consortium for Educational Change to help guide the District through a strategic planning process.

The non-profit organization will help the district measure where we are, where we should go, and how to get there based on input from parents, staff, community and students.

The CEC will work with a Strategic Planning Team that will draw representation from a diverse cross section of the district including parents, staff, board members and administration.

The effort, tagged “Navigate 28: Strategic Planning for Continuous Success,” will kick off with an electronic survey of parents, students, staff and community members Sept. 15 to Sept. 30.
Strategic Planning Timeline

  • An online survey will be conducted Sept. 15 - Sept. 30 for parents, staff, students and community members.

  • Public Forums Oct. 23 and Oct. 26

  • Updated Mission, Vision and Goals presented to Board of Education March 2018
In addition to the survey, there will be public forums Oct. 23 and 26. The Strategic Planning Team will continue to seek feedback from all groups at each step of the process, with the end result being a multi-year plan developed around an updated mission, vision and goals. The team is expected to finalize a plan in February 2018 and present it to the Board of Education.

One of the key components to the CEC’s proposal is establishing a process that ensures the plan comes to life by reporting and monitoring progress in goal objectives.

“I am pleased with the process outlined and we will work hard to gather voices of parents, teachers, community residents and students,” said Board Member Michelle Kohler, who together with Tony Forchetti will represent the Board on the planning team. 
New Teachers Receive Two Years of Support
New teachers got a jump-start on the school year by participating in the district’s mentor program. New teachers and their mentors start school early to attend a two-day orientation and spend one-on-one time together.

The mentoring program continues for two years with monthly Learning Strands to provide professional development as well as individualized collaboration.

 The program includes advice, leadership, and observation opportunities for both the mentor and the mentee, said Ellen Feeney, a Greenbriar teacher who oversees the program.

“It is easier to do your job well when you feel personally connected to your work environment. These relationships help to foster that connection and help all of the staff members consistently evaluate and develop the best learning opportunities for District 28 students,” she said.
In brief...
New Teacher Hired For Added Section of 1st Grade
The Board approved hiring Shana Silver as a first-grade teacher at Meadowbrook School. A fourth section of first grade was added in August to accommodate newly enrolled students. Ms. Silver graduated from the University of Hartford in May 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She taught second grade at Arie Crown Hebrew Day School in Skokie for the past two years. In addition, Ms. Silver is currently working on her master's program with a focus on English learners. 

Transgender Procedure Reviewed
Dr. Hewitt introduced an administrative procedure regarding transgender students that is modeled after the procedure from a nearby district. The procedure is not a formal board policy, but instead offers guidelines for principals to follow that are family- and student-centered and provide flexibility to address issues on a case-by-case basis. The next step is to offer training to the administrative team. 
Happenings Around the District
The Clean Team

The District 28 maintenance and custodial crews are responsible for cleaning the schools top to bottom during the summer -- in between summer school, park district programs and special projects. A big thank you for all their hard work! The buildings looks sparkling clean with shiny floors and clean lockers for the start of school. They are treated to a summer thank-you lunch from District administration.
A Solar Eclipse and
Meet the Teacher!

The school year got off to a spectacular start with each elementary school holding an eclipse viewing party prior to Meet the Teacher on Aug. 21.
From Classmates to Colleagues

Northbrook Junior High School has two new teachers -- who walked the halls as students in 2008. Mary Claire Seeberg teaches 8th grade math and Rachel von Holst teaches 8th grade social studies. Read their story.
#TLC28
District 28’s official hashtag! You can search the hashtag on Twitter or Facebook to monitor posts from teachers, administrators and the district accounts. This hashtag helps us tell the story of Teaching, Learning and Caring in District 28.