North Cook ISC

• Optimism and Energy - A Message from Dr. Kevin Jauch
• NCISC's New Student Services Director
• We're Hiring! Career Opportunities at NCISC/NCYAA
• Fall Professional Development
• NEW! Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEIB) Collaborative Series
• NCISC Student Art Display
• Become a National Board Certified Teacher
• Teacher Institute Day Approval
• Summer Construction Projects

The beginning of a school year is always exciting, but even more so at North Cook where, as you walk through our halls, you can practically feel the optimism and energy of soon to be realized potential. Through an increase in our state grant, we are building a Student Services Department solely dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of students in the North Cook region. Over the summer, we hired Dr. Allison Slade to serve as our Director of Student Services (you will read more about her further down) and her first charge is to hire 8 Student Advocates and 2 Student Attendance Liaisons.

Building on the success of year one of our on-site NCISC Alternative Learning Opportunities Program (ALOP), we are piloting a Student Advocacy ALOP at 4 North Cook schools and have partnered with our neighbors at West40 to offer a High Needs Virtual ALOP for medically and/or emotionally fragile students who are best served via a remote setting.

You’ve all heard that many students were “lost” due to the pandemic. Our two new Student Attendance Liaisons (SAL) will be devoted to finding them. Unlike a traditional truancy officer, which we still have and will utilize when necessary, our SALs will work with families to identify barriers that prevented kids from coming to school and ultimately remove those barriers to get students back in their classrooms.

I can’t wait to realize the impact of our Student Services Department and am confident that this is just the beginning of great things to come!

Dr. Kevin Jauch

kjauch@ncisc.org / 847.824.8300

We would like to introduce Dr. Allison Slade as our new Director of Student Services. Allison brings diverse experiences in both public and private education. A Chicago area native, she has been in education for more than 25 years as a teacher and principal in both urban and suburban settings. She also founded Namaste Charter School in Chicago, where she still sits on the board.

Allison is a fluent Spanish speaker, an accomplished grant writer, and adjunct professor at Roosevelt University where she helped grow their Dual Language Teacher Leadership Program and Principal Preparation Program. She earned her bachelor's degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, a master's degree in Public Policy from University of Chicago, and her doctorate in Instructional Leadership from National Louis University.

As Director of Student Services, she will oversee North Cook's Regional Safe Schools Program, three Alternative Learning Opportunities Programs (ALOPs), McKinney-Vento services, and truancy/chronic absenteeism efforts.

"I am most excited about building a team of Student Advocates who will actively support students' academic and socio emotional success in our middle and high schools by building relationships with students and their families. My hope is that students will see school as a place for support and guidance, in addition to academic learning," said Allison.

Feel free to send Allison a welcome message and introduce yourself!

aslade@ncisc.org

847-803-5606

The North Cook Intermediate Service Center has several NEW positions available:
• Student Advocates (8 openings)
• Student Attendance Liaisons (2 openings)

If interested in either of these positions, read more HERE. Both are 12-month, IMRF jobs. We will begin the interview process as applications are received.

• September 22 - Addressing Racial Disparities in Special Education: Working for More Equitable Outcomes for Students of Color (AA-3799) • IN-PERSON
  
• October 19 - Connected Leaders: Leveraging the Power of Social Networks for Professional Growth (AA-1788) • IN PERSON
• November 2 - Fundamentals of Health Life Safety and Compliance (AA-3700) • ZOOM
• November 10 - Upping Your Game with Teacher Coaching: Modeling Reflective Practices in Challenging Times (AA-3874) • IN PERSON

See more Administrator Academies, including many Evaluator Trainings & Retrainings.

September 21 - Safe2Help IL: Addressing 21st Century Threats Facing Students, 12-1 pm • ZOOM

Learn more about this 24/7 program for students, parents and communities that uses a free app, text/phone, website & other social media to report safety issues confidentially. Coincides with National Suicide Prevention Month in September.

November 10 - TRS Benefits for Educators, 3:30-4:30 pm • ZOOM

Find out what you can expect from TRS and how you might ensure you'll have enough money to enjoy the retirement you've earned.

Our first DEIB Collaborative meeting will be held in-person at our Des Plaines office on September 29 from 8:30-10:00 a.m. Please R.S.V.P. to ajordan@ncisc.org if you wish to attend this meeting.

This new DEIB Collaborative Series is the result of a survey we conducted last spring to gauge:

1) new DEIB leadership positions that were created across our North Cook area

2) those who may have absorbed additional responsibilities of DEIB

We're happy to see many districts have either added new roles or prioritized DEIB work.

Our DEIB Collaborative Series will be an opportunity to put new names with faces – or see the smiles of fellow colleagues we already know – to assist us as catalysts for change. This is a safe space to share, learn, and laugh. Please join us; no one is alone. Contact ajordan@ncisc.org for more info.

The North Cook Intermediate Service Center (NCISC)/Regional Office of Education #5 is looking for student artwork to adorn the interior walls of our office. We want to highlight our North Cook districts and students through the joy of the visual arts! Themes of the entries should center around PEACE, HOPE and/or POSITIVITY. Learn more.

Key Dates:

• December 2 - Finished art due to NCISC (digital image of the artwork)
• December 15 - NCISC staff select artwork
• February 8 - Art Walk-Through & Reception

NCISC will host a cohort for teachers and counselors pursuing National Board Certification during the 2022-23 school year. This cohort meets 12 times throughout the year and is led by a trained National Board Certified Teacher to guide teachers through the process at no cost. Teachers can earn 24 Professional Development hours (PDHs) as they complete their National Board components.

The State offers a subsidy to pay fees associated with becoming a National Board Certified Teacher (other than $75 registration fee). The subsidy application window is open until October 11.

View this 15-minute presentation and brief video from National Board Certified Teachers. Informational webinars will be held on various evenings in September. Participants may register using this link. Reach out to the National Board Resource Center at (309) 438-1835 or nbrc@illinoisstate.edu with questions.

An official WELCOME to these superintendents who stepped into their new role over the summer:

River Trails District 26: Jodi Megerle

Northbrook District 28: Jason Pearson

Winnetka District 36: Kelly Tess

Des Plaines District 62: Mike Amadei

East Maine District 63: Shawn Schleizer

Lincolnwood District 74: David Russo

Evanston Township HS District 202: Marcus Campbell

Niles Township HS District 219: Tom Moore

1. File and submit online forms to North Cook ISC for approval of your Teacher Institute Day.
2. We will email you a TI Day Letter of Approval if all requirements are met.
3. Make sure the Teacher Institute dates are listed and coded as TI Days on your IWAS calendar.
4. Maximum 4 Teacher Institute Days per year + minimum 5 hours duration each (excludes registration, lunch, breaks)
   

Background information and online forms can be found on our website.

A plethora of construction projects took place over the summer, including the addition of full-day kindergarten classrooms at several North Cook districts, providing a colorful beginning for many of our youngest students.

A large desert tortoise happened to enter the building and was spotted waiting to ride the elevator! The ETHS Science Department and students oversee the care of this big fellow plus two smaller tortoises. (Amusing photo courtesy of ETHS 202)

When visiting our office, masks are optional. You can always contact us by phone or email, too. For information about specific departments see our Contact Info.

Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4 pm

~ CLOSED ~

October 10 • Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day

November 8 • Election Day

November 11 • Veterans' Day

November 23-25 • Thanksgiving Break

December 23 - January 6 • Holiday Break

Email newsletter@ncisc.org
Website www.ncisc.org
Location 1001 E. Touhy Av. Suite 200, Des Plaines, IL 60018
Phone 847-824-8300