From the Desk of the Superintendent | | |
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Human Resources & Finance |
National Board Certification for Teachers (NBCT) was
Featured Topic at April HR Advisory Group Meeting
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Jennifer Smith, Director of the National Board Resource Center at Illinois State University, was the featured guest speaker at the February Human Resources Advisory Group meeting. Hosted by ROE 4, the main topic of this month's virtual networking session was National Board Certification for teachers.
Established in 1987, the NBRC is an independent nonprofit whose reason to support teacher certification is to ensure that students have an accomplished teacher driving learning in their classroom. Of note, both teachers and counselors can become NBCTs.
In FY22, there were 127 new National Board Certified Teachers in Illinois and 136 NBCTs who renewed. That is a healthy number of educators who chose to take the time and effort to become certified. If you are wondering about the advantages of becoming an NBC teacher, check it out:
- Students taught by NBC teachers demonstrate better academic gains
- NBC teachers go through an extensive process of reflection during the course of certification and often reevaluate teaching practices and goals
- 97% of NBC teachers then make changes to or improve their practice
- National Board Certified teachers are an "effective signal of teacher quality"
If you're thinking about becoming certified, be sure to check out the FAQs, candidate instructions, and important deadlines to keep in mind. There may also be state funding available for eligible candidates, but be aware that the application deadline closes on May 10, 2023.
Other topics touched on during the April HR Advisory were employee health and wellness initiatives, FMLA, and Faith's Law and forms associated with documentation of this.
The next Human Resources Advisory Group will take place the second Tuesday of May. Featured speakers for the May meeting will be from Grand Canyon University. They will share reduced cost and affordable programs they offer for employees and their families. If you'd like to attend the monthly virtual HR networking opportunity, please contact Jamie Watts at jwatts@roe4.org to connect.
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ROE 4 Hosts Area 2 Superintendents' Meeting | |
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Boone-Winnebago Regional Office of Education hosted the Area 2 Regional Superintendents' Meeting at the ROE 4 office on April 21st. The regional administrators continue to rotate ROE sites for each monthly meeting, providing an opportunity to see the work that takes place under different area administrations.
During their trip to ROE 4, the group stayed at Rockford's Embassy Suites Downtown location and experienced the area's vibrant riverfront and downtown businesses for dinner. The following morning Summit Academy hosted a meeting, where the administrators were included in the morning staff huddle and announcements, as well as the student body morning welcome routine.
Summit Executive Director Nicole Corbett then held a breakfast for the group of approximately a dozen, sharing site data and program information, followed by a campus tour by student ambassadors. The Area 2 superintendents ended the day on site at ROE 4 for their scheduled monthly business meeting. For the few who could not attend, Regional School Superintendent Scott Bloomquist and Assistant Regional Superintendent Allison Pierson utilized an Owl Labs 360-degree Owl Meeting device to incorporate both in-person and virtual attendees into the hybrid meeting.
Thanks to the Area 2 Superintendents for joining us for the 2-day event!
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License Renewal Season is OPEN! | |
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April 1st was the first day of license renewal season for 2023! If you are an Illinois teacher, paraprofessional, or substitute and your Professional Educator's License (PEL) cycle is scheduled for renewal in 2023, then you can officially renew your license NOW.
You'll complete this process directly through your ELIS account by visiting www.ISBE.net. The Illinois State Board of Education offers clear, step-by-step instructions in PDF format. If you'd like to easily bookmark links to instructions for renewing different licenses for use now or at a later date, you can find them conveniently located at the BOTTOM of this page on the Boone-Winnebago Regional Office of Education website.
Keep in mind, the renewal deadline for this year's cycle is June 30, 2023!!
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For additional questions about licensure or deadlines, please contact ROE 4 Licensure Director Leah Blake at lblake@roe4.org at any time. | |
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Other Important Updates
- Governor Pritzker announced the Covid 19 Illinois public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023. The waived or reduced professional educator license requirements during the public health emergency and the extended grace periods will no longer be in effect following that date.
- The application fee for a short-term substitute teaching license will be $25 beginning May 12, 2023. The application was free during the time the disaster proclamation was in effect.
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Paraprofessional testing dates are now open for registration on the ROE 4 website. Head to tinyurl.com/paratesting and follow the 3-step process to choose your exam date and register!
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FY24 Administrators' Kick-Off Breakfast Information Released | |
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Registration for the second annual ROE 4 Administrators' Kick-Off Breakfast is officially underway! This year's event will once again be hosted by the Regional Office at the Illinois Bank & Trust Pavilion at Aldeen Golf Club.
Award-winning author and national presenter, Dr. PJ Caposey will deliver a timely keynote with wisdom from his book, Manage Your Time or Time Will Manage You. Guests in attendance will be treated to a signed copy of Dr. Caposey's book, courtesy of Scott Bloomquist, ROE 4 Regional Superintendent of Schools.
Limited to the first 75 school building administrators who register, attendees will also enjoy a coffee social time and a delicious buffet-style breakfast by Alchemy at Aldeen. Everyone will have a chance to win great prizes through random raffle drawings, including fun gift baskets created and donated by Regional Office teams.
New for the 2023 event, we've added the option of joining the ROE 4 Team for a round of golf following breakfast. For only $45 per person, you'll receive a round of 18 PLUS a golf cart. We'll play in foursomes with tee times beginning promptly at 10:30am. If you're not interested in golf, we'd still love for you to attend the morning breakfast event at absolutely no charge.
Check out the information in the flyer above. If you're a school building administrator in Boone or Winnebago County, register ASAP to save your spot. Let's kick off the FY24 school year the right way - TOGETHER!
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Visit This Link to Catch Up on the April PL Periodical!
Check out the Page 1 POV: Great content on AI and ChatGPT with a clickable link where you can read an article on the same topic created by AI!
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Share Your Content at RSAC!
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Learning Technology Center of Illinois Monthly ROE 4 #TechTip
Looking to finally organize your data? Snag this opportunity to explore an easy way to do just that with "How to Sort Your Data in Google Sheets" with the April Tech Tip from Learning Technology Center of Illinois.
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Success Story: Meet Student S
I am currently an attendance interventionist for ROE 4 at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. I am excited to share my experience with a student who was recently added to my caseload. I'll call this young man “Student S.”
I soon discovered that Student S was dealing with several challenges, including sensory processing and other issues. Student S was transported to and from school every day via school bus. While on the bus,.he would have tantrums to the point that the bus driver would often bring him back home before even making it to school drop-off in the morning.
Needless to say, this caused an issue getting Student S to school and into a classroom on a consistent basis. His parents were at a loss as to what to do, and this made a very stressful situation even more difficult. Student S was then referred to me as his Attendance Interventionist.
Our initial goal for Student S included having a meeting with the school counselor to assist with strategies for the parents to get Student S calmed down before getting on the bus each day. The parents also were successful in enrolling him into a new school in the area.
We are so pleased to say that since that time Student S is thriving. Reports from our contact at his new school reveal he has only missed ONE DAY of school during the 2022-2023 school year! This puts his attendance percentage at 98%!!!!!
We are very, VERY proud of Student S (as well as his family) and the tremendous turnaround in his attendance situation. This was fabulous teamwork from all involved in this case.
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What's Up at Summit
- As their enrollment continues to grow, Summit Academy is partnering with their teammates at the Regional Office to determine who will step into the roles of MTSS Coordinator and Transition Counselors. There were six internal candidates who completed interviews with the ROE staff during the last several weeks. Summit is excited to continue to grow from within their own organization. This allows the administrative team to utilize the unique alternative school skills current staff have gained during their time at Summit. We can't wait to receive an update, naming the successful candidates who will fill these important positions.
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Abigail Shelton is the first staff member to begin their Master’s journey with Summit and to complete her coursework and LBS1 certification, accelerating through the program quickly since January of 2022. And, she accomplished all of this while becoming a new mom! Abi is a local resident, born and raised in Rockford and graduated from Auburn High School in 2016. Congratulations, Abi!
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Mark Your Calendar! Summit Academy 2023 High School Graduation is scheduled for May 23rd from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. on the school campus. This is a ticketed event. Please contact Summit Academy directly if you are a community member and are interested in attending.
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Summit Academy Staff Testimonial
"I grew up in Rockford, Illinois and attended Auburn High School. I graduated from Pacific University with a B.A. in Sociology in May of 2020. Unfortunately, due to Covid 19, I had a hard time finding a job in my field of study...until I discovered Summit Academy in December of 2021. My aunt knew I was looking for an opportunity to begin a professional career and called to tell me about Summit. As I learned about what Summit was all about, I knew I had found something that I could grow with.
Shortly after starting with Summit Academy, I was offered the opportunity to start my Master’s degree in teaching. I was apprehensive at first because I was expecting my first child in the middle of that semester. Despite the challenges I thought I would face, I decided to begin my degree. I definitely faced challenges throughout the time I was working on my Master's, although I am on track to graduate a year early with a 4.0 cumulative GPA. I will be the first in my family to graduate from college, with a Master’s degree, a first generation college student.
As I graduate from Rockford University in May, I plan to focus more on my interests outside of school. I play violin, and plan to audition for the Rockford Symphony Orchestra in June. I also enjoy crafting and being creative. I like to make bows for my daughter and create different things with my Cricut. This summer I plan on spending my time with my daughter and visiting extended family and friends. I look forward to the coming school year and the opportunities that Summit Academy has to bring."
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Social Emotional Learning Updates | |
Pictured (above): Kelly Duncan & Heather Hall Present at RPS 205 BPAC in April | |
- Area 2 SEL Hub Specialist Kelly Duncan and SEL Coach Heather Hall presented on Youth Mental Health to the Rockford Public Schools Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) during the month of April. It was deemed very successful, and the attendees were appreciative of the information shared. (Please see testimonial below.) Thank you to RPS 205 for once again inviting our ROE 4 SEL Team to share valuable content with their school communities.
- It's important to note that the deadlne for school SEL teams in Area 2 districts/schools to participate in The REACH Project is April 30th for Cohort 3. If you are interested in information about The REACH Project and how the Area 2 SEL Hub Team can assist in the future, hold tight! Details about Cohort 4 are coming soon!
- ROE 4 and the Area 2 SEL Hub are offering Restorative Practices Institute this summer. Understanding that educators, administrators, and school teams may be at different points in their restorative practices journey, sign-up has been set up to allow registration for Days 1 & 2 and/or the Day 3 deeper dive for those who have previously completed the initial 2-day training. Best of all, the fee is ONLY $15 per day thanks to the Area 2 SEL Hub! Please join us!
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Registration is OPEN!
Registration is now open for the first annual 2023 Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Symposium!
Brought to you by Area 2 SEL Hub and ROE 4 Professional Learning, this event is scheduled for June 15 at Rockford University. The all-day conference will bring national presenter and author Heidy LaFleur to Rockford to deliver the keynote. An additional two dozen thought leaders and community presenters will also be offering breakout sessions and a full-credit SEL Administrator Academy (100% included in the registration fee if you choose this option for your day).
The entire day is brought to you for only $30 per person, courtesy of the Area 2 SEL Hub. Check out the special 2023 SEL Symposium website for more information. And don't forget to smash the SEE SCHEDULE button on the site for details on every breakout session and the Admin Academy!
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Testimonial Following an SEL Presentation at
RPS 205 Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC):
“Thank you so much for the presentation. The parents were asking for more. You really did a great job. If you could come back next year, we would appreciate (it).” ~ Misael Nascimento, Executive Director of Bilingual and Multicultural Services at RPS 205
Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Nascimento, and for inviting us back!
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Quote of the Month:
"Books are a uniquely portable magic."
~ Stephen King ~
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300 Heart Boulevard, Loves Park, IL 61111 • (815) 636-3060
www.roe4.org
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