LM May 2016

Craig Mathers West Carroll CU 314

Northwest

“This is very humbling experience. I have heard from many former students how I impacted their lives as well as colleagues new to the superintendency I have helped mentor,” said Mathers, who has been an educator for 33 years, serving as a teacher and administrator before becoming superintendent of the West Carroll district in 2008. “At the end of the day, this award is a reflection on the teachers and students who work each day to help every child reach their full potential.” Those nominating Mathers noted that with an increased educational focus, he saw West Carroll

Primary School and West Carroll Intermediate School receive recognition as Illinois Spotlight Schools. In addition, a high school science class on forensics was added and dual credit offerings at West Carroll High School were increased to 41 dual credit hours. Other accomplishments in the district include:  Initiating a 1:1 computer format and upgrades to all technology infrastructures and wireless access  Developing Response to Intervention techniques that decreased special education numbers by meeting needs in the regular classroom  Coordinating truancy efforts in Carroll County to raise attendance rates and decrease chronic truancy  Implementing a freshman transition plan to reduce freshman failure rates and dropouts as well as a Certificate of Employability to assist seniors in job attainment  Increasing the district fund balances by $4.2 million

Dr. Steve Webb Goreville Comm Unit 1

Shawnee

“I am so honored to be considered for this prestigious award,” said Webb, who has been an educator for 23 years, serving as a teacher and administrator at Joppa High School and administrator at Thompsonville Districts 62 and 112 before becoming superintendent of the Goreville district in 2002. “I sincerely appreciate my region’s members for nominating me, but being able to contribute to the betterment of our schools, our communities, and our region and state is more of a calling than career and all I pray for is that it will be better when I’m finished.”

Those nominating Webb noted that he developed and implemented a 1:1 technology initiative that provided Chromebooks to all high school students in 2015 and IPads to all elementary students by 2016. Webb also developed and instituted a District- Wide Technology Strategic Plan for Engaged Learning using interactive whiteboards and enhanced classroom audio/video that prompted recognition as a “Future Ready School” and an International SMART Showcase School. Webb developed a financial restructuring plan that increased district financial integrity, moving Goreville off the Financial Watch List in 2003 to receiving commendation from the Illinois State Board of Education for Financial Recognition in 2006.

Other enhancements to the school district include:

 Implementing a Pre-K/ Head Start joint cooperative program using shared teaching methods  Implementing the first district dual credit transferable college courses in core curriculum areas, now offering 36 college credit hours to district students as well as students in other underserved rural districts  Instituting an after school program to provide tutoring, state-of-the-art technology tools and a safe and secure environment for children as an extended learning opportunity

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