LM april 2021 final hi

Education Elevat g We continue our series highlighting tremendous educators across Illinois who have given their time and energy to ele- vating the superintendency and public education as a whole. Each month, we will feature two educators who are going the extra mile and truly making a difference beyond their school districts and local communities. While we are aware of many of the contributions administrators are making, we are open to any suggestions for someone to feature next month. To make a recommendation, contact Jason Nevel, IASA Director of Social Media and Publications, at jnevel@iasaedu.org or by calling 217–753–2213. Dr. Gabe Schwemmer Sparta CUSD#140 Dr. TravisMcGuire Hinckley-Big Rock CUSD#429

Who: Dr. Travis McGuire, superintendent.

Who: Dr. Gabrielle Schwemmer, Superintendent. What: Sparta District #140 Leos; Teacher internship program; Reducing burnout and promoting mindfulness strategies. Where: Sparta CUSD #140, Southwestern. When: Superintendent of Sparta

What: Illinois Personalized Learning Network; Career Readiness Plan, Hinckley Lions Club. Where: Hinckley-Big Rock CUSD #429, Kishwaukee. When: Superintendent of Hinckley Big Rock CUSD #429 since 2013.

CUSD #140 since 2017. Why: For students to be successful, Dr. Schwemmer recognized the basic needs of families had to be met first. In 2018, the district launched Sparta District #140 Leos in partnership with the local Lions Club. The club operates a community store where any resident can come in and pick out clothes, shoes, apparel, bags, toys and household items for free that have been donated. Dr. Schwemmer has helped her peers in other communities start similar programs. “It is something that has paid mass dividends in our community,” Dr. Schwemmer said. “We have had people in the community who experienced fires and have lost everything who come in and get critical supplies.” In addition, Dr. Schwemmer created a teaching internship program for high school seniors who’ve earned enough

Why: Seeing the wide range of emotions on students’ faces during high school graduation is something Dr. McGuire hasn’t forgotten. “When I was a high school principal, you could just see some students had this look of trepidation on their face because they had no clue what they were going to do next,” Dr. McGuire said. “That’s not where we want our students to be.” When he was hired as superintendent at Hinckley Big Rock CUSD #429, Dr. McGuire pushed the district to develop a career readiness plan. The plan, developed in coordination with Northern Illinois P-20 Network, lists benchmark expectations for students by 5th grade and then at each stop from eighth to 12th grades. “The objective is to make sure our students are ready to go when they walk across that stage,” Dr. McGuire said.

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LM April 2021

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