LM May 2017 Final

• Improving student outcomes each year for nine consecutive years. • Winning four Blue Ribbon Awards from the U.S. Department of Education. • Fully implementing a 1:1 iPad program for grades 1-8. • Completing an $8 million Early Learning Center construction project, making it possible to open both a blended early childhood and full-day kindergarten program. • Creating a local special education collaborative, helping 70 students with significant special needs attend neighborhood schools. • Fully implementing Common Core (K- 8), Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Creativity, Challenge, Community (C3) standards with aligned formative assessments. • Being recognized by Apple as a Distinguished Program for innovation, leadership and educational excellence. • Having Woodlawn Middle School named Illinois and National Junior School of the Year (2015-16), as well as the Outstanding Energy Engineering Design Project. • Developing a new mission, vision and set of core values along with a curriculum model and instructional model to guide educational improvements. • Rolling out a 1:1 initiative, including the use of Blackboard technology. • Expanding summer school offerings, including a Summer Bridge Program. • Developing an advanced pathway for students, including dual credit opportunities in U.S. History, Psychology, Speech, College Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus, PE, Music, Computer-Aided Design and Welding as well as Advanced Placement and Honors courses in Honors English 1 and 2, Honors Chemistry 1 and 2, and AP Language. • Expanding co-curricular opportunities, including Art Club, Dance Team, GSA Club, the Conservation in Action science club, and a soccer co-op with Newark. • Implementing the Student Success Period with academic centers to assist student achievement. • Initiating a freshman orientation program.

• Opening the Urbana Early Childhood School in 2013 and having the school earn the Educational Environments Award from the Illinois Association of School Boards in 2015. • Implementing a state and nationally recognized two- way immersion Spanish Dual Language program. • Having Urbana High School named a School of Opportunity by the National Education Policy Center in 2016. • Being recognized by the Illinois Lieutenant Governor’s Office for

Julie A. Schmidt Kildeer Countryside District 96 Lake

Dr. Donald D. Owen Urbana District 116 Illini

2017 rintendents istinction

Local Government Shared Services Best Practices in 2017 for partnership with the Urbana Park District in the operation of the Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center. • Being named an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Spotlight District in 2013 for the afterschool SPLASH (Students Playing and Learning after School Hours) program. • Having a graduation rate of 89 percent, which is above the state average, and reducing the graduation rate gap between white and black students. • Implementing a restorative practices program at the middle school and the high school, resulting in a decrease in the number of suspensions and the number of days students are suspended. • Implementing technology infrastructure upgrades and Chromebook/tablet purchases for all elementary students. Plans are for similar upgrades for middle school and high school students to be completed by 2019.

• Overseeing several major brick-and-mortar infrastructure improvements to facilities in the district. • Implementing a Danielson-based teacher evaluation system. • Implementing a 1:1 computer program for students and staff and increasing bandwidth. • Implementing a modern electronic communications system and organizational system for the Board of Education.

Dr. James (Jim) E. Carlson Seneca High School District 160 Starved Rock

K. Scot Reynolds Spoon River Valley CUSD 4 Western

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