School District 57

From the Desk of the Superintendent

August 21, 2023

Dear District 57 Families,

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!

My name is Kimberly Fay, and I have been a part of the District 57 community as a parent for the past ten years. I am in my fifth year of serving on the Board of Education. During this time, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible dedication of our educators, staff, parents, and students. Our shared commitment to providing quality education and nurturing a supportive environment is what makes our school district truly exceptional.

It has been an honor to step into the role of Board of Education President these past few months. One of my goals as Board of Education President is to connect families like yours with the information they need to understand the inner workings of the District better.

So…

What is the Board of Education?

The Board of Education is a group of volunteer (unpaid) elected individuals from our community who are entrusted with clarifying the District’s purpose, employing & evaluating the superintendent, connecting with the community, and monitoring the District’s performance, among other responsibilities. The members of the Board of Education are dedicated parents, educators, and community members who are deeply invested in the success and well-being of our students. Currently, our Board is comprised of myself, Corrin Bennett-Kill (Vice-President), Eileen Kowalczyk, Vicki Chung, Pamela Nelson, Chris Lettow, and Jennifer Ciok.

Can you tell me more?

Sure. Let’s take these 4 areas and define them a little.

We clarify the District’s purpose. As its primary task, the Board of Education sets the vision for the district. This vision answers the questions: where do we as a district want to go, and what do we want to accomplish?

We employ and evaluate the superintendent. This vision for the district ties directly to the board's employment and evaluation of the superintendent. That superintendent is charged with effectuating the vision of the board. We tell her what the vision is and she figures out how to realize it.

We connect with the community. The Board of Education engages in an ongoing two-way conversation with the entire community, primarily through community engagement forums. Be on the lookout for the 2023-2024 school year engagement dates coming soon! This conversation enables the Board of Education to hear and understand the community’s educational aspirations and desires, to serve effectively as an advocate for District improvement, and to inform the community of the District’s performance. We are always open to hearing your thoughts and suggestions, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We monitor the District’s performance. The Board of Education constantly monitors progress toward District ends and compliance with written Board of Education policies using data as the basis for assessment.

While there are other Board of Education responsibilities, I hope these are enough to get an idea of the Board of Education’s role in our District.

How Can You Get Involved?

We encourage you to attend Board of Education meetings, which are open to the public, to learn more about the discussions and decisions that affect our schools. Your insights, questions, and suggestions are valuable contributions to the ongoing improvement of our District. Additionally, your participation in community events and town halls can help shape the direction we take as a District.

Our Board of Education members are dedicated to maintaining open lines of communication with all stakeholders. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are committed to transparency and collaboration as it is essential in ensuring a positive educational experience for all of our students. You might even consider running for a Board of Education spot yourself!

As Superintendent Gorr’s recent message highlighted, the launch of the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan means we are on the cusp of great change in the District, change meant to improve student and staff experiences, encourage deep personal growth, provide financial wellness & transparency, and strengthen the ties of our community. I, for one, am excited to be a part of this change.

As a reminder, here is a list of the upcoming Back-to-School Nights. I will be attending the Lions Park and Westbrook nights, and Corrin will be attending the Lincoln and Fairview nights - stop us and say hi!