LM Sept 2021

The changes began with narrowing the district’s three mission statements to one, as well as surveying staff to learn more about what they need and how the district can support them. “We all need to be on the same page and work together toward one unified mission to help our districts, families and students succeed,” Fair said. “The service we offer to students and our districts is critical, so it’s incredibly important we make sure our staff is feeling valued and supported.” Fair also hired a consultant to target Social and Emotional Learning, both at the organizational and instructional levels. The process has provided teachers and support staff with the tools and strategies they need to better support students with behavior issues. In addition, Fair is overseeing the transition of bringing the LIFE (Learning in Functional Environments) program under one roof at a new addition to their facility in Jacksonville. Previously, Four Rivers Sp. Ed. District #810 rented rooms in member districts. Housing the program in Jacksonville allows the district to offer more community-based learning opportunities, such as taking students to a grocery store or making meals in the facility’s kitchen. Furthermore, the transition allows students in the LIFE program to interact with students who may be more functional but struggle to regulate their emotions. “It’s only been a few days since the school year began, but we have already noticed that having everyone together has created positive interactions that will help our students succeed,” Fair said. Elevat g Fair ...cont’d.

DuRoss ... cont’d. supports for teachers that focused on collaboration, including Professional Learning Communities (PLCS). “We are very intentional around who we hire,” DuRoss said. “We want to know how you will respond when things are tough, if we have staff that will rise up and do what is best for kids no matter what.” The efforts provided a framework for the third P, “Positivity.” DuRoss embraced the concept in 2015 after he read The Happiness Advantage authored by Shawn Achor (IASA Annual Conference keynote speaker in 2019). In the first year, the district prioritized a deep understanding among staff of Achor’s research in positive psychology and its impact on their overall personal and professional growth. Once teachers learned how to bring their best selves to work, the district focused on creating a school culture of positivity and interconnected happiness. Schaumburg CCSD #54 has adopted a social-emotional learning curriculum that focuses on the core principles of positive psychology and research related to the impact of a positive mindset on a person’s resilience. DuRoss has presented at the IASA Annual Conference, Humanex Leadership Summit and other events about the district’s work. “I think what we have done in the last 10 years is focus on balancing a rigorous learning environment with one that is highly supportive of the social-emotional needs of students,” DuRoss said.

Looking for the Perfect Candidate? IASA’s Illinois Education Job Bank can help you. • Set up the RSS feed option to automatically post your district vacancy to your district website. • Easily flag your favorite applicants. • Create job posting templates to save you time in the future.

illinoiseducationjobbank.org