LM August 2024

Education Elevat g

Larson ... cont’d. In collaboration with the union, Larson developed a robust mentoring program for new and early-career teachers as well as any teacher who receives an evaluation rating of Needs Improvement. To facilitate the mentoring program, the district pays three lead mentors stipends to work with designated teachers. The mentors collaborate with participants on curriculum development, analyzing data, engaging in continuous learning and collaboration skills. A partnership with Education Lane has also been transformative because it has shifted the way math is taught by emphasizing backwards mapping. “We want our new teachers to be mentored, coached and to be able to problem solve,” Larson said. Another layer of support New Berlin CUSD #16 provides is an extended new teacher orientation. The district of about 850 students just west of Springfield allots four days before the start of the school year for the professional learning opportunity. “Our philosophy is we try to hire the best teacher or coach our educators to be the best teachers,” Larson said. “We have seen success by spending significant time with new teachers before the start of the year.” Professional development at New Berlin CUSD #16 is a joint effort. The work is a shared responsibility between administration, teachers and consultants. “We don’t want the weight to fall on administrators and believe our teachers are often best equipped to lead the presentation,” Larson said. Larson is overseeing major additions and renovations at the New Berlin Junior/Senior High School. The project will provide modern learning spaces, a renovated gymnasium, new band and chorus facilities, a commons area and a career suite. “There hadn’t been much work done since 1970, so it was expensive to simply maintain,” Larson said. “With the support of the community through a referendum, the new facility will greatly improve the environment for our students and staff. We want everyone to feel part of, and invested in, being a member of the (New Berlin) Pretzel family.”

Cross ... cont’d.

to bring everyone together toward clear and shared goals,” Cross said. “People may not always agree, but they will almost always come together and move forward when there is clarity with the vision and direction at the district level.” At both Peru ESD #124 and Cass SD #63, Cross led successful referendums that resulted in dramatic improvements to facilities. In the first, at Peru ESD #124, Cross worked with the school board, mayor and city council to develop a unique sales tax agreement that fully funded a new state of the art middle school and eventually led to a complete rebuild of all district schools. With the funding arrangement in place, the referendum passed in 2007 by a 4:1 margin. The district moved from three crowded and outdated buildings, to two modern and spacious schools for the students and community, all of which was done without a property tax increase. “It took some teamwork and out-of-the-box thinking to get there, but the community continues to be very proud of the schools,” Cross said. “Certainly, the most important thing is the magic that takes place in the buildings, but it sure helps when the facilities provide the perfect environment to allow that magic to happen.” When he arrived at Cass SD #63 in DuPage County in the midst of the pandemic in 2020, Cross was tasked by the Board, despite a tight budget, with updating outdated HVAC systems. Cross led an effort to improve district finances and develop a long-term facilities plan that resulted in the passage of a referendum in 2022. “It is, and was, a challenging time to ask for a tax increase, but the support of our community is so transformational with the new geothermal system in our schools, not to mention the enhancements to safety and security,” Cross said. “We are really proud of our growth and progress in District 63.” Throughout his two decades as superintendent, Cross has led targeted strategic planning and facilitated growth in the areas of district communications, student services, social and emotional learning and STEAM. He is a strong believer in providing clear direction, communicating openly and transparently. “I am a planner and a communicator but, ultimately, I feel that my role is to clear a path and support the people with jobs far more important than mine,” Cross said. “This includes our teachers, school service personnel and building administrators, as they are the ones working directly with our kids every day. Teaching is a hard enough job today, so whatever we can reasonably do to support them in their roles is not something that is hard for me to align with as a leader.”

15 LM August 2024