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Education Elevat g Simon ... cont’d. Crider ... cont’d. administrators, first responders, law enforcement and community organizations. The Peoria ROE has also partnered with Dr. Roger Alvey, Superintendent of Illini Bluffs CUSD #327, to offer site-based assessment training.

grades six and above. Based on the success of the pilot program, the state expanded the use of 5 Essentials Survey in earlier grades. Gower SD #62 has also pushed the state to adopt the classic colors of red, yellow and green to help stakeholders identify issues and trends more quickly. “It’s nice to know that the voices of our 4th and 5th grade students across the state have the opportunity to be included because of the forward- thinking in Gower,” said Dr. Simon. In 2019, Gower SD #62 was the first school district to adopt an eLearning plan outside of the state pilot. In fact, the approval process used by ISBE was designed by Gower SD #62 and shared with the state agency as a way to streamline the process and ensure that school districts met every aspect of the new program. Dr. Simon has also shared that Gower SD #62 has an approved Remote Education Program as well and encourages other districts to consider adopting one for themselves. “Public education has shifted to more personalization, more options, more choice and more flexibility,” Dr. Simon said. “I suppose each school district has to decide if it’s better to have such programs available and not need them rather than find themselves in a situation where they need them and don’t have them in place.” When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Dr. Simon recognized early on the value of school districts being able to test students and staff members on site. “He researched how the district could make COVID-19 antibody, antigen and PCR testing available on site for students, teachers, staff and community partners. Gower District 62 was one of the first districts in the state to receive a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment certificate to administer tests. Dr. Simon shared his insights with his peers on two webinars hosted by IASA. He also helped numerous districts individually set up COVID-19 testing sites. “Anytime there is uncertainty, it’s important as a school leader to try to find the best information available in order to make decisions that move us forward; even if that means getting it yourself,” Dr. Simon said. “We do our best to avoid a sense of being caught on our heels, so we did our homework, rolled up our sleeves and figured out how to get it done in a way that best serves our community.” Dr. Simon has also pushed school administrators to become stronger leaders. He created an “Emerging Framework for Effective Leadership” that he has shared at conferences, in publications, as a leadership consultant and with his graduate students at the University of Illinois Chicago and Concordia University Chicago. He can be contacted by clicking here . “Facing adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it,” Dr. Simon said. “This is true for individuals, and the last couple of years have certainly proven this to be true at the organizational level as well.”

“We help districts determine points of weakness, challenges and what they can do differently to improve the overall safety of their school buildings,” Crider said. The Peoria ROE has also moved much of its professional development to a virtual format, making it easier for teachers and other educators to fulfill licensure requirements. Furthermore, her office employs two professional learning staff members The Director of Culture and Climate helps schools strengthen social-emotional learning and restorative justice practices. A component of the work is Orange Frog training, which is based on the works of positive psychology researcher Shawn Achor, a keynote presenter at the IASA Annual Conference. The ROE’s Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment helps districts with continuous improvement plans, aligning instruction with assessments and running an alternative high school. The Peoria ROE also oversees a preschool program. “We are deeply committed to running supports and programs that address the needs of the whole child,” Crider said. “If you are only doing one component then you are missing out.” Crider is also a member of the Illinois 60 by 2025 Network and supporter of its goal of ensuring that 60 percent of all adults have a college or career credential by 2025. The Peoria ROE has pushed to have college and career readiness indicators embedded into schools and expanded internship and job shadow opportunities for students. After Gov. JB Pritzker closed schools for in-person learning in March 2020, her office organized weekly virtual meetings for superintendents to network and discuss challenges. “When we started it, we thought it would last a couple weeks,” Crider said. “But the group has continued to meet throughout the pandemic. It has turned into a support group and a great way for superintendents to bounce ideas off each other.”

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