LM May 2025

Education Elevat g Angelaccio ... cont’d. Taylor ... cont’d.

At Prospect Heights SD #23, Dr. Angelaccio and his team have helped cultivate a strong culture where the school district and community form collaborative partnerships to enhance student success and well-being. “Because we’re a smaller district, we really do know the families and the families know us,” he said. “It’s a characteristic we lean into.” During the pandemic, the district offered synchronous learning opportunities and put a strong emphasis on social-emotional learning, inclusion and trauma-informed practices. Combined with strategic professional development for staff in those core areas, the district built a foundation for strong academic growth — including having schools named Exemplary by the Illinois State Board of Education — as well as favorable scores on the 5 Essentials Survey. “We prioritized continuity of relationships above all else during the pandemic,” Dr. Angelaccio said. “We focused on ensuring students could still see each other’s faces and maintain connections, even when physically separated. By preserving those vital interactions through our hybrid model, we created stability during an uncertain time, which ultimately supported both emotional well-being and academic progress.” Creating communities of belonging has been a hallmark of Dr. Angelaccio’s tenure at Prospect Heights SD #23. Under his leadership, the district provides comprehensive in-house special education services and behavioral classes for low-incidence situations. This commitment to inclusive practices extends beyond the classroom to after-school programming, contributing to MacArthur Middle School’s prestigious, two-time recognition as a 2021 and 2024 National Banner Unified Champion School by the Special Olympics. Only seven schools in Illinois met the 10 rigorous national standards of excellence set by the Special Olympics. Outside of the district, Dr. Angelaccio has prioritized networking and relationship-building. He currently serves on the IASA Board of Directors, Governing Board of the North Cook Intermediate Service Center and Midwest Principals’ Center Advisory Board. “The most important thing IASA does is bring people together,” Dr. Angelaccio said. “We learn from one another and, most importantly, recognize that we’re not alone in this challenging role as superintendents. It’s comforting to know others are going through the same experiences and support is only a phone call away.”

Today, as superintendent of Heyworth CUSD #4, Dr. Taylor’s personal experiences have helped guide her in creating a modern educational ecosystem that focuses on the whole child as well as college and career readiness. Under Dr. Taylor’s leadership, the district has transformed its physical infrastructure, completing construction of a modern high school gymnasium, refurbishing both school libraries into contemporary learning hubs, and building a new administrative complex while reimagining classroom spaces with adaptable furnishings and seamlessly integrated technology. “We have very few traditional classrooms and want our learning environments to be flexible, comfortable and have the capability to accommodate larger group learning,” Dr. Taylor said. To prioritize foundational learning, the district has invested in smaller class environments by adding three full-time teachers in grades K-2, ensuring a maximum of 15 students per classroom. This commitment extends to individualized support through two certified academic interventionists who provide targeted assistance to students who need it most. Beyond staffing, Dr. Taylor has championed early literacy initiatives, regularly refreshed curriculum resources, dedicated time for teacher collaboration, and cultivated community confidence through transparent leadership practices. At the high school level, the district has expanded dual credit offerings from two to 17 courses, with the goal of eventually making it possible for students in the district to earn their Associate’s Degree before high school graduation. “Our main goal at Heyworth is preparing kids for whatever comes next - college or a career,” Dr. Taylor said. “We invested in hiring a Career Coordinator, which has been really successful. Students are getting the skills they need for life, with the added bonus that many save thousands each year by taking college courses while still in high school.” All of the accomplishments at Heyworth CUSD #4 the past nine years have come with the taxpayer in mind. The district went from the highest school district property tax rate in McLean County in 2016 to the lowest thanks to good fiscal management and an emphasis on seeking grants and sponsorships. Outside of the district, Dr. Taylor serves as IASA Region President in the Corn Belt Region and has taken a more active role in mentoring young female superintendents.

19

LM May 2025