Dear Lake County Community,

As we kick off March, I want to express my gratitude for your continued dedication to learning and growth in Lake County. Your hard work and collaboration are what make us a strong and vibrant educational community.

This newsletter highlights some of the incredible programs, innovations, and student successes happening across our districts. From expanded early childhood opportunities to career pathways that prepare students for the future, it’s inspiring to see how our schools are creating meaningful opportunities for every learner.

As always, the Lake County Regional Office of Education remains committed to supporting our schools through professional development, student services, and partnerships that strengthen our entire region. Together, we will continue to ensure that all students have the tools they need to succeed, both inside and outside the classroom.

Thank you for your ongoing support of education in Lake County.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Karner

Regional Superintendent of Schools

Lake County, Illinois

Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 is Preparing Students for Their Futures

Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 measures success not only by academic achievement, but by how well students are prepared for the future. From expanding full-day kindergarten to enhancing career and technical education, District 118 is committed to fostering innovation and opportunity for all learners.

Following the passage of HB2396, which requires full-day kindergarten by 2027-28, District 118 will launch its full-day kindergarten program in the 2025-26 school year — two years ahead of the state mandate. January’s Kindergarten Round-Up events welcomed families for school tours, registration assistance, and a special “Signing Day” to celebrate this exciting milestone.

District 118 continues to expand Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities, including a newly renovated Culinary Arts lab, upgraded Project Lead The Way (PLTW) lab, and expanded partnerships with the Lake County Tech Campus. Students gain hands-on experience in food preparation, precision machining, and advanced manufacturing, along with earning valuable industry certifications.

The district’s Business Incubator program gives students real-world entrepreneurial experience, from product development to financial planning, supported by local business mentors. Plans are underway to expand this into an Accelerator program to further support student ventures.

On the academic front, new curriculum adoptions — including HMH Into Literature for grades 6-8 and iReady Math for grades K-5 — are helping students achieve record-high NWEA MAP scores and continued growth on the Illinois Assessment of

Readiness (IAR). Students also have access to 20 Advanced Placement courses and six Dual Credit courses in partnership with College of Lake County.

Board President Lourdes Chapa noted, “I am proud that District 118 is giving our students real world opportunities in a variety of settings. By expanding programs, we are fostering innovation, leadership, and career readiness.”

An incoming kindergartner on "Signing Day" at Robert Crown School!

Barrington 220 Empowers Student Excellence

Barrington 220 School District strives to empower personal excellence in every learner through innovative curriculum, talented staff and students, and a rich history of serving students. In the 2025 Niche Rankings, Barrington 220 was named the Best Unit School District in Illinois, a recognition that reflects its ongoing commitment to continuous improvement through Framework 220, the district’s strategic plan.

As part of personalized learning, Barrington 220 introduced free, full-day kindergarten at all elementary schools this year. The district also launched the Kindergarten Lab Program (K-Lab) at Barrington High School, where kindergarten students learn in classrooms connected to an observation lab for high schoolers studying early childhood education. These young learners also benefit from hands-on experiences in the high school’s greenhouse and culinary arts kitchen.

To enhance future readiness, Barrington 220 is expanding career pathways aligned to student interests and local workforce needs. These pathways offer work-based learning, career exploration, and hands-on problem-solving to prepare students for life after graduation.

In the area of inclusive education, Barrington 220 implemented building-level hiring committees to promote inclusive hiring practices. These committees complete implicit bias and cultural proficiency training, and the district offers ongoing professional development on culturally responsive teaching.

To support health and well-being, Barrington 220 introduced Character Strong, a comprehensive social-emotional learning program used across all grades. The district also created a Social Media Awareness & Digital Citizenship Advisory Committee to help students and staff navigate technology in healthy, responsible ways.

Finally, thanks to the community’s approval of a $64 million referendum in November 2024, Barrington 220 is launching Transform 220, a series of safety upgrades, STEAM space enhancements, and the construction of a new community auditorium at Barrington High School. Work begins summer 2025.

For more information on Barrington 220, visit the district website. To view Framework 220 details, click here. For Transform 220 project information, click here.

Reminder: Free Financial Aid Help for Students and Families

Students can now complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid for the 2025-26 school year.

To support families through the process, the ISACorps™ — a team of trained near-peer mentors — is available to help students and families with their financial aid applications.

Students can schedule a free, one-on-one virtual meeting with an ISACorps™ member at www.isac.org/booking. Appointments can be booked up to 7 days in advance, with an option to meet with a Spanish-speaking mentor if needed.

Please share this booking link with students, families, and colleagues in your network.

Additionally, ISACorps™ members are available to host financial aid presentations and application workshops for schools and community groups. To request a presentation or workshop, complete the Outreach Request Form at www.isac.org.

Teacher Apprenticeship Funding Opportunity

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has launched the 2025 Apprenticeship Expansion Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support high-impact Apprenticeship Intermediaries.

Program Highlights

• Funding Available: $5-$10 million (from the U.S. Department of Labor).
• Grant Range: $200,000-$1,000,000.
• Eligible Applicants: Community-based organizations, municipalities, education institutions (e.g., school districts, community colleges), industry associations, state agencies, workforce boards, and nonprofits.
• Key Populations: Adults, youth, and individuals with disabilities to be placed in apprenticeships.
• Application Deadline: March 21 to be included in the first application review cycle.
• Anticipated Grant Commitment Date: July 1.

For More Information

Learn more about the 2025 Apprenticeship Expansion grant on the NOFO website. 

Contact Chase.Martin2@Illinois.gov for questions.

AA #1159 Empowering Teacher Leaders for School and Student Success

Tue, Apr 08 | Zoom link will be emailed

School districts and school buildings across the state are recognizing the benefits of formalizing teacher leadership programs to improve instruction and student achievement. Participants will learn how schools have expanded teachers' roles and responsibilities and instituted rewards and recognition programs to give teacher leaders new and increased importance in improving classroom instruction. They will also explore the leadership characteristics and skills that successful teacher leaders must possess and how to initiate a teacher leader culture in one's school.

To register use the link below

https://www.lake.k12.il.us/event-details/aa-1159-empowering-teacher-leaders-for-school-and-student-success-2

AA #3000 Illinois Performance Evaluation Retraining: Student Growth

Tue, Apr 15 | Zoom link will be emailed

This is the one required student growth course for teacher evaluators who are renewing their designations required to evaluate educators.

 To register use the link below

https://www.lake.k12.il.us/event-details/aa-3000-illinois-performance-evaluation-retraining-student-growth-9



Registration Reminder

All licenses issued prior to July 1, 2024, that were not registered lapsed on Jan. 1, 2025. Please remind educators that their license must be registered in order to be valid for employment. To apply for reinstatement, educators must log into their ELIS account and apply by clicking on "Reinstatement" in their Action Center. If the reinstatement link is not available, be sure all required professional development has been fulfilled.

Save the Date: May 7, 2025