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Suchinski ... cont’d. partnership offers students a 50-minute weekly check-in with a trained therapist, regardless of their parents’ insurance coverage or ability to pay. School social workers help identify students who would benefit from the additional support. The elementary district in Chicago’s west suburbs has also partnered with The Dream Academy to offer an innovative after school and mentoring program. Furthermore, Hillside SD #93 conducts an SEL screener three times per year with students and utilizes a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), which provides a comprehensive system where students are encouraged to ask for help and then receive the support they need to build their mental fitness. Moving forward, Hillside SD #93 wants to continue to build on its mental health support system by partnering with the Proviso Public Partnership non-profit, which will allow the district to have a medical clinician on site. “We want to take away the stigma and remove any barriers for our students to receive mental health services,” Dr. Suchinski said. Hillside SD #93 has also partnered with local health officials and city officials in the communities of Hillside, Berkeley and Westchester to offer mobile immunization and vaccine clinics as well as services like expanded after-school programming. The district is a member of the West Suburban Consortium for Academic Excellence. Leaders in the consortium of 14 school districts come together to celebrate student successes and provide different opportunities such as civic action opportunities, leadership conferences and an art expo. “These programs allow kids to interface outside of the Proviso area and build connections with other students and offer equitable opportunities outside of Hillside School that will help them grow,” Dr. Suchinski said. Dr. Suchinski is also a member of the Cook County Department of Public Health School Committee. The group looks at various ways to leverage county resources to tackle problems in schools and provide much needed countywide resources for schools. “We’re able to interface together to discuss issues and also have the opportunity to leverage grant opportunities that we might not have known were out there,” Dr. Suchinski said. “It’s another way to collaborate and cultivate partnerships that will help our students.”

Savage ... cont’d.

said. “We felt strongly that what kids needed most was a certified teacher. We worked with our union, not knowing if anyone would bite. Thankfully they did, and we’re incredibly grateful we made that decision to invest in people.” Moline-Coal Valley CUSD #40 was able to lower classroom sizes and offer more personalized instruction. The educators also acted as co-teachers, assisted with assessments and provided academic interventions and support for students. “We offered more one-on-one learning and could meet kids where they are,” Dr. Savage said. “We’re very proud of the academic recovery process and the positive results we’ve seen. It was a collective effort made possible by a positive relationship with our bargaining groups.” In addition to aiding with academic support, Moline-Coal Valley CUSD #40 has insulted itself from the national teacher shortage. When teachers have retired or left the district, the district has replaced them with educators from the pool of 30. “It’s been such a positive experience because many from that group were brand new teachers out of college. They received on-the-job training and now come in much more polished, prepared and confident than someone might be out of the gate,” Dr. Savage said. Moline-Coal Valley CUSD #40 has also experienced positive results from its decision to move its alternative school back under one roof at Moline High School. Students in the alternative program now have access to the district’s full suite of social workers, counselors, nurses as well as elective courses and the career pathways program. “We tried to think outside the box and provide a smaller and more therapeutic environment for these students,” Dr. Savage said. “We’re seeing great results and have had more students in the alternative program graduate than ever before.” Outside of Moline-Coal Valley CUSD #40, Dr. Savage serves as co-chair of the Vision 2030 Student Success Workgroup. She will also be a panelist at the Women in Leadership event at the Joint Annual Conference this year and is a member of the IASA-ISBE Advisory Committee.

23 LM October 2023