This week is a special time for public education in Illinois. From Nov. 13 to 17, we will celebrate American Education Week, and we will recognize School Board Members Day on Nov. 15. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff and Board for all they do for our students each and every day inside the classroom and beyond.
We have more than 500 staff members at District 88 – from administrators, to teachers, to support staff, clerical staff and maintenance staff – and American Education Week provides a time to celebrate public education and honor those individuals who are building futures for our students. For more information about American Education Week, go to www.nea.org/grants/19823.htm.
As a district, we continue to receive national honors and be named as “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” by The Washington Post and as “Best High Schools” by U.S. News & World Report. We also continue to earn multiple recognitions from Niche Rankings. Those accomplishments are a result of our partnerships – it takes a committed staff, a knowledgeable Board of Education, engaged students and involved parents/guardians and community members.
Already this school year, the passion and dedication of our staff have helped our students attain tremendous success. Below are student and staff highlights from the first semester of the 2017-18 school year:
On Nov. 15, District 88 will join school districts throughout Illinois in celebrating School Board Members Day with this year's theme of "Leading by Learning." School Board members serve their communities without monetary compensation to make public education the best it can be for every child. Their policies and oversight guide the district as tough decisions are made on complex education and social issues that affect the entire community and individual students. Our Board members spend countless hours attending meetings, events and workshops to ensure our students receive a high-quality education.
The District 88 Board of Education is comprised of President Donna Craft Cain (who was honored as an ISBE Those Who Excel award recipient this year), Vice President Jay Irvin, Secretary Sharon Kucik and members Thomas Edmier, Timothy Gillen, Blanca Jessen and Mark Turk. Turk was appointed to the Board earlier this year to fill a seat that opened after Lisa Lullo resigned from the Board (she was a member of the Board since 2011). For more information about School Board Members Day, go to www.iasb.com/sbmd.cfm.
I would like to thank our Board and staff for making a positive difference for the students of District 88. Because of the support we receive from our stakeholders, including our Board of Education and staff members, District 88 continues to accomplish its mission of working for the continuous improvement of student achievement. We look forward to more successes to come, and we know that's possible because of the commitment of our Board of Education and staff members, as well as all of our partners. Thank you for your continued support of District 88.