The following 2009-2010 Showcase School Webinars are stories of Illinois Middle and High Schools that have shown significant improvement in academic achievement in the past year. Each one of these schools was recommended by their RESPRO Coach to share their success story. Click on the + sign next to the school name and watch a 15-30 minute webinar. Handouts and other materials are also available to download for each recording.

• Buffalo Grove High School: Embracing Restructuring for Action
  
  Presented by Principal Carol Burlinski and Associate Principal Susan Carley (2114 students, North Suburbs of Chicago).
  
  

  • Take away themes:
    Restructuring with a well-defined purpose
    Book studies
    Professional learning communities
    NSDC Learning School Alliance

    Buffalo Grove High School has set its sights on preparing students for college and career by creating systems to ensure that students will be successful. To that end, the restructuring efforts of the school bring focus far beyond simple AYP deficiencies. Building on a district culture that is using data and results as a foundation, district staff established three key benchmarks for success:
    1.Each subgroup will show 10% increase in EXPLORE to ACT growth over the previous year’s cohort
    2.Reduce D and F grades by 5% a year until students achieve a 95% success rate
    3.50% of all students will be successful in one Advanced Placement course prior to graduation

    A school leadership team serves the staff using data as the trigger for change, fostering teacher collaboration, providing substantive professional development embedded in the school weekly calendar.

  • View the webinar (32:44)
  
  
  • Additional Resources:
    Download the Power Point Presentation
    Download the Intervention Responsibilities Template Tier 1-3
    Download the Closed Study Document
    Download the Credit Recovery Center Document
    Download the Goals Cover Sheet
    Download the Counselor Referrel Form
    Download the Test Make-Up Document
    Downlaod the Resources Document
    Visit the School's Website
  
  
• Danville High School: Radical Redirection Towards Student Learning
  
  Presented by Principal Mark Neil of Danville High School (1755 students, Central Illinois) and Erica Uskali RESPRO Consultant from Regional Office of Education 54.
  
  

  • Take away themes:
    Broad overhaul and redirection
    Small learning communities
    New tech high
    Rigor, relevance and relationships

    Danville High does not take the opportunity to influence students’ futures lightly. In recent years, staff realized that the traditional high school approach was failing great numbers of the students. Instead of soft steps to restructure the school, district and school planners took bold action to especially a strong core curriculum serving students in four distinct learning communities. Teacher buy-in, well-focused preparation and ongoing professional development are paving the way for the plan to be rolled out over time. Rigor, relevance, and relationships underpin the roll out in the small learning communities.

  • View the webinar (31:54)
  
  
  • Additional Resources:
    Download the Power Point Presentation
    Download ACE Brochure
    Download Global House Brochure
    Download New Tech Brochure
    Take the Virtual Tour!
    Visit the School's Website

    Take the Online Webinar Evaluation
  
  
• Egyptian MS-CUSD 5: Differentiated Instruction Utilizing Technology
  
  Presented by Technology Coordinator Melody Rose, Special Ed Coordinator Betty Green (577 Total Students, 101 MIddle School, Southern Illinois), and RESPRO Consultant Linda Davis.
  
  

  • Take away themes:
    Using Technology to Improve Student Achievement

  • Melody Rose, Technology Coordinator, Betty Green, Special Education Coordinator and Linda Davis, RESPRO Coordinator, share their story on how integrating technology into the curriculum improved teacher instruction and student achievement in the Egyptian middle school. Egyptian CUSD#5 received an Enhancing Education Through Technology (E2T2) grant to enable this rural middle school to provide technology tools and professional development for their middle school classrooms.

  • View the webinar (19:41)
  
  
  • Additional Resources:
    Download the Power Point Presentation
    Download the Presentation Handout
    Visit the District's Website
  • Take the Online Webinar Evaluation
  
  
• Elgin District U-46: It Takes a Village...Improving Student Achievement
  
  Presented by: Carol DePue, Director of Career Education in District U-46
  
  

  • This webinar presents an overview of the continuous journey of a large, suburban, unit school district to improve student achievement. An instructional model involving staff in the SIP process of developing and delivering rigorous, relevant, BEST practice instruction will be shared.

    About the presenter:
    Carol DePue, Director of Career Education in District U-46 and Northern Kane Region 110 Systems Director brings 30 years of teaching and administrative experience to her current position. Her passion for curriculum and instruction and vision for education provide insight into the challenges posed in the SIP and instructional process. She has a BS in Education from Eastern Illinois University, MS in Education from University of Illinois and Type 75 certification from Aurora University. She has taught HS/MS and was a CTE Instructional Chair prior to accepting her current position with District U-46.

  • View the webinar (27:47)
  
  
  • Additional Resources:
    Download the Power Point Presentation
    Download the Handout
    Visit the District's Website
  • Take the Online Webinar Evaluation
  
  
• Harper High School: School Stabilization - Improving Climate and Culture
  
  Presented by Principal Kenyatta Stansberry, Chief Dean Angel Johnson and Deputy Cleo Aquino (730 students, Chicago Public School).
  
  

  • Take away themes:
    School Turnarounds
    Total staff involvement for well managed classrooms
    Before and after school opportunities and partnerships
    Behavior Incentives and Compensations
    Peer Juries
    Peace Circles
    Parent Meetings
    In/After School Personal Development

    The persistence of single digit scores for students on the PSAE was just one reason why the City of Chicago significantly disrupted the status quo to turn around Harper High School. The district released all but about 10% of the staff to participate in the restructuring effort with a principal provided tools and resources to effect needed change. Whole staff commitment, consistency, and ongoing collaboration with the Office of School Turnarounds have been key ingredients. The pay off in the school culture already shows significant benefits for students. Harper High is becoming a place where students want to be and where staff are working to be in tune with student needs and their achievement.”
    

  • View the webinar (35:24)
  
  
  • Additional Resources:
    Download the Power Point Presentation
    Visit the School's Website

  
  
• Moline High School: Using Data to Raise Student Achievement
  
  Presented by Dr. William "Bill" Burrus, Principal, Wayne Cabel, Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Assessment, and Terry Gackle, RESPRO Coach for Moline High School and Rock Island County ROE.
  (2152 students, Northwestern Illinois).
  
  

  • Take away themes:
    Using Data
    Teaming
    Shared responsibility for learning acroos the curriculum
    Moving from content to skills based curriculum

    Moline High School worked to reorganize their administrative team and embedded regular time for staff. Collaboration paved the way for Moline High School to establish data teams as the hub of their continuoous improvement efforts. The result is a learning community moving together as one team, sharing responsibility for learning. The leadership team trained the whole staff over time to collect data. The data are the concrete proof that efforts are paying off.

  • View the webinar (21:57)
  
  
  • Additional Resources:
    Download the Power Point Presentation
    Download the Data Team Checklist
    Visit the School's Website

  
  
• Mundelein High School: Continuing the Journey of Curriculum Alignment at the Secondary Level
  
  Presented by Superintendent Dr. Jody Ware, Principal Lauren Fagel and Lake County ROE RESPRO Consultant Margo Schmitt (2317 students, Northern Chicago Suburb).
  
  

  • Take away themes:
    District-Wide Vision
    Shared Belief System
    Power Standards
    Instructional Objectives
    Common Assessment
    Professional Learning Communities

    Keeping “all the planets aligned” with the glue of a district-wide vision is bringing about needed change at Mundelein High. Staff is keeping a tight rein on their practice through the development and implementation of power standards, instructional objectives, and common assessments—the product of their professional learning communities.

  • View the webinar (21:46)
  
  
  • Additional Resources:
    Download the Power Point Presentation
    Visit the School's Website

  
  
• Rockford East High School: Creating a Culture of Academic Change
  
  Presented by Principal Mark Wallace, and School Improvement Coaches Sherry Guarino and Barbara LaSalle from the Boone/Winnebago Regional Office of Education (1457 students, Urban School in Northern Illinois).
  
  

  • Take away themes:
    Rigor/Relevance/Relationship Framework
    “Bell to Bell Teaching”
    Teacher Collaboration for Change
    Quick Wins for Struggling Students in the Core Programs

    Rockford East High School is revamping school culture to bringing relevance and rigor to teaching and learning. Change process reflects the specific flavor of the staff in the culture and traditions of the school. The principal and school improvement coaches share key experiences that can be readily replicated in other schools .

  • View the webinar (24:05)
  
  
  • Additional Resources:
    Download the Power Point Presentation
    Download Literacy Brochure
    Download Numeracy Brochure
    Download Rigor and Relevance Brochure
    Download Student Empowerment Brochure
    Download Unity of Purpose Brochure
    Download Quadrant Lesson Plan
    Download Quadrant Lesson Plan Example
    Visit the School's Website

  
  
• Southview Middle School, Danville: Putting the Essential Pieces Together
  
  Presented by Principal Brenda Yoho of South View Middle School (620 students, Central Illinois) and Erica Uskali, RESPRO Consultant from Regional Office of Education 54.
  
  

  • Take away themes:
    Co-teaching
    Shared mission
    Student relationships

    A success story: this school staff implemented restructuring and “got off the list”! But implementation continues as staff build strong relationships with students and keep track of their learning.

  • View the webinar (23:55)
  
  
  • Additional Resources:
    Download the Power Point Presentation
    Download RtI Checklist Handout
    Download Weekly Team Summary Handout
    Download Essential Questions Handout
    Visit the School's Website

  • Take the Online Webinar Evaluation
  
  
• Urbana High School: Living Out Our Mission
  
  Presented by: Dr. Laura Taylor, Principal of Urbana High School (1,100 students, Central Illinois) and Erica Uskali, RESPRO Consultant from Regional Office of Education 9.
  
  

  • Take away themes:
    Social justice
    Professional learning community committed to shared mission
    Relationship and student supports
    Shared leadership
    Freshman focus

  • Prior to school restructuring, staff faced the brutal reality that students did not have equitable access to curriculum. This was especially detrimental to black males. Staff did not make excuses but sought solutions that have galvanized them to focus on learning. They have eliminated basic courses and ramped up supports for students. School restructuring efforts have resulted in dramatic changes in discipline referrals, reduced truancy, and suspensions. The freshman team fosters positive student teacher relationships and ensures that all students have staff paying attention to them and their learning. Subgroup performance that jumpstarted redirection of school practices and policies is proving beneficial for all students. An outgrowth of this work is an ongoing focus on social justice.

  • View the webinar (23:54)
  
  
  • Additional Resources:
    Download the Power Point Presentation
    Download Student Support Log handout
    Download RtI Pyramid handout
    Download Team Problem Solving Handout
    Visit the School's Website

  • Take the Online Webinar Evaluation
  
  
• Virginia Schools CUSD 64: Successes and Struggles
  
  Presented by: Superintendent Lynn Carter and Principal Christy Brinkley of Virginia Schools CUSD 64 (409 students PreK-12, Central Illinois).
  
  

  • Take away themes:
    Restructure and redirection
    Small Learning Communities
    Rigor/Relevance
    Relationship building and student supports

  • Lynn Carter, Superintendent and Christy Brinkley, Principal, share the story of leading a small, isolated, rural school through the process of change. This webinar shares how administration, staff, students and community members have worked together to transform the educational experience for all students into a positive, collaborative environment.

  • View the webinar (35:44)
  
  
  • Additional Resources:
    Download the Power Point Presentation
    Visit the School's Website
  • Take the Online Webinar Evaluation
  
  
• Yorkville Middle School: Building-wide Strategies for Improvement
  
  Presented by Principal Jeff Szymczak of Yorkville MS (800 students, large suburban Middle School) and RESPRO Consultant Marge Gallagher.
  
  

  • Take Away Themes:
    CRISS
    Learning vs. teaching
    Middle school model

    Yorkville Middle School district's rapid growth meant that this school physically moved several times until it has landed in a new building constructed with middle school students in mind. This webinar will share steps on how they incorporated programs like CRISS into their existing School Improvement Plan. Examples of implementation and tools used to measure its impact on their educational program will be shared during this online session.

  • View the webinar (19:27)
  
  
  • Additional Resources:
    Download the Power Point Presentation
    Download Items for Higher Achievement Handout
    Download Project CRISS Handout
    Visit the School's Website
    Watch "Eliminate It!" Rap Video by YMS Students

  • Take the Online Webinar Evaluation

  • Click the YMS program titles below to view event pictures.

  • Wheel of Wisdom
    These pictures are a Yorkville Middle School Student Council project. The Advisory class created pumpkin designs and then students donated money to Character Counts! for their favorite pumpkin. They raised over $350.

  • Great Migration Experience
    Yorkville Middle School has many Interdisciplinary Units offered at throughout the school year, including the Great Migration Unit. Students are available to answer questions about their researched area. Some of the teachers also give first person accounts as historical figures (Abe Lincoln and George Washington) to name a few.

  • Square Dance Jubilee
    744 Yorkville middle schoolers square dance at the same time. This could very well be a world record! Yorkville Middle School is going for 752 or more middle school students square dancing at the same time this December 18, 2009.

  • Goblin Gallop
    Yorkville Middle School has an annual tradition of running around their school building (.44 miles). The PTO provides hot chocolate.

  • Academic Olympic International Festival
    Please listen to the webinar to find out more details about the Academic Olympic International Festival held at Yorkville Middle School.

• Zadok Casey Middle School: Working Smarter Not Harder
  
  Presented by Assistant Principal Shannon Marler and Lori Given, ROE 25 RESPRO Consultant (448 Students, Grades 6-8, Southern Illinois).
  
  

  • Take away themes:
    PBIS
    Data Driven Decision Making
    Unintended Positive Consequences

  • Learn how Zadok Casey Middle School implements PBIS to improve student behavior, parent involvement, teacher morale and more.

  • View the webinar (20:10)
  
  
  • Additional Resources:
    Download the Power Point Presentation
    Download the Presentation Handout
    Visit the District's Website
  • Take the Online Webinar Evaluation
  
  

*For Purposes of compliance with Section 511 of P.L. 101-166 (the "Stevens Amendment"), applicants are advised that 100 percent of the funds for the RESPRO program are derived from federal sources.

© All materials copyrighted by IPA and/or presenters.