Serving Students, Educators, and the Community
Early Learning for All
Early Learning for All, an ROE program serving families with children prenatal through five years old, recognizes that parents are children’s first teachers. The ROE provides partnership and collaboration with families who have children under three years old and pregnant moms through our home visiting program. Our highly qualified and trained family educators use the curriculum Parents as Teachers to support better outcomes for children.
The goals of our program through use of Parents as Teachers are:
  • to increase family knowledge of child development and improve positive parenting practices
  • to provide early detection of developmental delays and connection to services
  • to improve family health and well-being
  • to prevent child abuse and neglect
  • to increase school readiness and success
  • to improve family economic well-being
  • to strengthen community capacity and connectedness

Our program is funded through the Illinois Board of Education, Early Childhood Block Grant, making our services 100% free to families. In addition to providing visits inside the home, we offer monthly group connection events where families in the program come together to socialize while learning different topics which support positive parenting practices. We often partner with local organizations for these group events. Recently, a member of OSF’s staff came to teach us about nutrition for kids. Families were able to try foods in fun new ways, such as making raspberries into jam and making pizza with zucchini crust. This month we are looking forward to our After Hours Winter Celebration at the Peoria Play House.

Once children “age-out” of home visiting, they are welcomed into one of our full-day Preschool for All classrooms, until they are ready to head to kindergarten. Our programs ensure that children and families hav support for optimal growth and development starting before birth until we send them off to “Big Kid School” (aka kindergarten). You know of a family who lives in Peoria County who might be interested in this program, please have them contact Anna Hansard at ahansard@peoriaroe.org or 309-296-0840. 
Gov. Pritzker Announces Illinois' Statewide Launch of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
This book gifting program mails free, high-quality, and age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five, regardless of the family's income.
PRLC Holds December Graduation

On December 13, 2023, the Peoria Regional Learning Center held graduation for two students. Limestone High School student Abby J. and Peoria Central High School student Carrigan T. graduated after successfully completing their home high school graduation requirements.

Beth Crider, ROE #48 Regional Superintendent, spoke during graduation encouraging the graduates to continue on with their education. Both graduates plan to further their career goals with Abby wanting to attend Illinois Central College for criminal justice and Carrigan interested in pursuing a mortuary science degree.

In addition, Carrigan was nominated for the Lincoln Senior Award by staff and teachers as she represents everything that PRLC stands for: an empowered learner and leader. Carrigan accomplishes all that she sets her mind to and is a role model for other students. In doing so, she is always positive, humorous, and expressive. Carrigan is confident in herself and is ready to take on the next steps of her life journey.

Congratulations, Abby and Carrigan, for achieving your goals and we wish them all the best!
School Reunification Team Training - January 29th or 30th
The Peoria County and Tazewell, Woodford, and Mason Counties Regional Offices of Education have partnered with the I Love U Guys Foundation to provide free training for reunification teams. Our vision is that the districts within our four counties receive standardized training around reunifying students with parents and then develop mutual aid agreements to lend support in the event of a mass building evacuation. 
The training is designed for entire teams to attend. You should invite your local law enforcement and other first responders if they are part of your reunification plan. Office, custodial, maintenance, and other staff are also important pieces of you reunification plan and should also be extended an invite as appropriate.

This is a one day training offered on both January 29th and 30th to provide districts flexibility. Participants need only attend one of the two days.
Bradley University
Michel Student Center Ballroom
915 N Elmwood Ave, Peoria, IL 61606
Peoria, IL 61606

Parking available in the Main Street and Duryea parking decks.
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Breakfast and Check-in: 7:45am
Lunch: 12pm-1pm

The training, meals, drinks, and afternoon snacks are FREE.
There is a cap of 300 each day. School districts in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, and Mason will have an early window for registering until December 15th. At that point, registration will open to other school districts outside of our counties.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email - gmckenna@peoriaroe.org or phone (309) 672-6906.
ICC's College for Kids Seeking Instructors for Summer 2024
Working at College for Kids is very flexible. Instructors can choose to teach between 1-6 sessions. We are especially looking for people interested in teaching Black Rocket (STEM) classes, coding, social emotional, or anything an instructor finds enriching during the summer.
January and February Volunteer Tutor Training Announced
ROE Adult Literacy will be conducting an Adult Basic Literacy & ELL Volunteer Tutor Training at the Peoria North Branch Library, Grand Parkway, Peoria, IL 61615 on January 22, 24 & 29, 2024 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Advanced registration is required by emailing jmeisinger@peoriaroe.org, or text/call 309-472-2468.
If you cannot make our January training, we are offering our three session workshops in February at the Peoria North Branch Library, Grand Parkway, Peoria, IL 61615 on February 21, 26 & 28, 2024 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

If you are unable to attend either of these two three-session workshop during the day, please reach out by email, and we will attempt to secure a library site to meet during the early evening hours.

Thank you in advance for your help!

*This program was made possible by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds designated for literacy.
Professional Learning
Webinar:
Financial Literacy Curriculum

Date: January 11, 2024
Time: 4:30pm-5:30pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free
Earn 1 PDH

Busey Bank has created a Financial Pathways curriculum free for educators that has the goal of building students financial literacy.


ISBE Social Work Listening Session

Date: January 22
Location: Peoria Public Schools Administration Building
Cost: Free
Earn 1.5 PDHs

This online book study will provide participants with the opportunities to further develop “racial consciousness and conscientiousness” and heal from guilt, shame, trauma, and anxiety that racism and discrimination breeds.
Online Book Study:
Racial Healing Handbook

Runs January 22 - April 14
Location: Online
Cost: $30
Earn 12 PDHs

This online book study will provide participants with the opportunities to further develop “racial consciousness and conscientiousness” and heal from guilt, shame, trauma, and anxiety that racism and discrimination breeds.
Safe Zone Training

Date: January 24, 2024
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: Goodwill Commons
Cost: Free
Three sessions available
during the day!
Cultivating
Holistic Wellness

Starts on January 30, 2024
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: Five Points
Cost: Free
Earn up to 12 PDHs
Google Educator
Level 1 Certification

Date: February 1, 2024
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: Goodwill Commons
Cost: Free
Earn 5.5 PDHs

In this workshop, we will break down the Google Educator Level 1 Certification into smaller segments while preparing you to take and pass the exam.




Online Book Study: Whole-Brain Child

Runs from Feb 5 - May 10
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Earn 12 PDHs

This online book study offers engagement activities and reflective/written work to learn 12 revolutionary strategies to nurture your child's and/or student's developing mind.

Youth Mental Health
First Aid

Date: February 13, 2024
Time: 8:30am-2:30pm
Location: Goodwill Commons
Cost: Free
Earn 6.5 PDHs

The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
Google Educator
Level 2 Certification

Date: February 29, 2024
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: Goodwill Commons
Cost: Free
Earn 5.5 PDHs

Over the course of this training, you’ll learn about the skills and knowledge needed to pass at an incremental pace, allowing you plenty of time to fully understand each before moving on to the next.



Stress Reduction for Educators
A calm and focused class starts with the teacher. Through this 1-hour online self-paced course led by Angie Swearingian, K-12 educators will feel the personal benefits from stretching, breathing, self-massage, and mindful meditation. 

Begin the new year with regulation techniques to navigate stress and compassion fatigue.

Date: Opens in January! .
Location: Online
Cost: $20
Earn 1 PDH
Community Partners
so you don't miss anything from ROE 48!