North Cook ISC
February 2023 Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE
- A Message from Dr. Kevin Jauch
- Student Attendance Success Stories
- Artists Recognized
- Congratulations to National Board Certified Teachers
- Professional Learning Offerings
- Free Mental Health Services for McKinney-Vento Students
- Leadership Coaching Team Featured in ILASCD Journal
- Spelling Bee Set for March 15
- Virtual Resume Service
- Licensure Reminder
A Message from Dr. Kevin Jauch
Over the last several years, through my role here at the North Cook Regional Office of Education, I have had the opportunity to participate in several meetings and functions with our recently retired State Superintendent Carmen Ayala. I greatly appreciated the passion she brought to the table and her drive to improve educational opportunities for all of Illinois’ students. Her relationships with and advocacy for the Regional Offices of Education and Intermediate Services Centers demonstrated that she viewed us as essential partners in serving our educators, students and their families. I want to take this opportunity to thank her for her leadership through the pandemic, as she did her best to address competing political agendas and social opinions, while prioritizing the need to educate our children and assure their health and safety. I wish her much happiness and peace as she rides off into the sunset!
It is also my great pleasure to welcome Dr. Tony Sanders into his new role as Illinois’ State Superintendent and extend to him whatever support the North Cook ROE/ISC has to offer! As my neighbor to the west, Tony’s path and mine have crossed on numerous occasions, and I have always been impressed by his authenticity and genuine care for those he interacts with. I am truly looking forward to working with him. Tony is the kind of person who makes you feel like you are the only person in the room when he talks to you. He is a leader among leaders yet perfectly balanced with humility and a tremendous sense of duty to those he serves. I can confidently say, we’re in good hands!
Dr. Kevin Jauch
kjauch@ncisc.org / 847.824.8300
Two Success Stories
Here are two actual examples that show how our Student Attendance efforts are working and what we can also do for your students!
Three siblings from the same family, two in high school and one in elementary school, were referred to the NCISC Student Attendance Liaison for poor attendance. The referral schools were having difficulty connecting with the children’s mother via email, text and phone. When she did eventually respond to an email from our Student Attendance Liaison, a meeting was scheduled and held with the mother, grandparents, and Director of Student Services, Dr. Allison Slade, at the North Cook ISC office.
As it turns out, the mother was not uncooperative, but rather overwhelmed and needed support with encouraging her children to attend school. During a follow up on-site home visit, individualized attendance plans with all three children, including incentives for improved attendance, were created.
So far, two of the students have attended school every day since the plans were created. The third sibling has a pending IEP meeting, and we are hopeful attendance improves after school accommodations are implemented.
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We received another referral from a middle school about two siblings with poor attendance. After connecting with the school and family, we discovered that the mother had a chronic illness that shifted the family’s daily routine. The father and main breadwinner for the family worked many hours and was minimally involved with anything school-related.
A meeting was scheduled with the school, father, and North Cook Student Attendance Liaison Adriana Chavez to discuss barriers, concerns, and devise an attendance plan for the children. Adriana shared various resources available to the family and the school provided a gift card for groceries. There is daily communication with the parent(s) to encourage the children’s attendance, and ongoing communication with the school about both students’ attendance, which has improved greatly since interventions were put in place.
The NCISC Student Services Department continues to grow and now includes 10 Student Advocates reaching students and families to devise plans to increase school success in behavior, academics and/or attendance.
Contact Dr. Allison Slade with any questions about Student Services at aslade@ncisc.org or 847.803. 5606. We are happy to work with you!
Student Artists Recognized
Such a festive evening when we hosted a walk-through and small reception on February 8th for students whose artwork was selected for our Student Art Display to adorn the interior walls of the NCISC office! Student artists, their family members, art teachers and school leaders attended the reception. Students also received an Award of Achievement certificate. Quite a talented group of artists and very proud families and school staff who support them!
National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT)
We congratulate 35 North Cook educators who achieved their NEW National Board Teacher Certification or RENEWED their certification in 2022-2023. The eight newly certified educators represent four North Cook elementary districts and two high school districts. The 27 educators who renewed their certification come from nine elementary and four high school districts within the North Cook area. Well done!
Administrators' Academies
- February 17 - Empowering Staff & Student Learning Through Feedback - What Real Feedback Needs to Be for Every Learner (AA-3765) • IN-PERSON
- March 17 - Emergent Bilingual Programs: Strategic Planning, Pedagogy & Practice (AA-3921) • ZOOM
See all Administrators' Academies, including many Evaluator Trainings & Re-trainings.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training: Feb 24th @ NCISC or in Your District
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is designed to educate teachers and school staff, peers, parents, family members, caregivers, health and human services workers how to help adolescents experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or are in crisis.
The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-Step Action Plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
Our new certified trainer, Julie Revello, has more than 35 years of experience in special education.
YMHFA Training will take place on February 24, 8:00 - 4:00 (lunch and manual included). Use this link to register. Contact April D. Jordan if you would like to bring this training to your district and staff members (ajordan@ncisc.org).
Educator Workshops
School Refusal
February 21 • ONLINE
3:15 - 4:30 pm
Declutter Your Digital Life
Hey Google, What's New?
March 16 • ZOOM
3:30 - 4:30 pm
Collaborative Series for District Leaders
March 3 - Student Services • ZOOM • 12:00 - 1:30 pm
March 14 - DEIB • HYBRID {In-Person must RSVP} • 8:30 - 10:30 am
March 15 - McKinney-Vento • ZOOM • 1:00 - 2:00 pm
If you would like to be added to an email group for the Collaboratives mentioned above, please email Dr. April Jordan at ajordan@ncisc.org.
Informational Meetings
March 1 - Next Wave STEM: Emerging Technology • ZOOM • 11:30 am -12:15 pm
March 6 - Illinois Student Invention Convention • ZOOM • 12 -12:45 pm
April 10 - Safe2Help IL: Addressing 21st Century Threats Facing Students • ZOOM • 12-1 pm
April 12 - Informational Session on IMRF: Presentation and Q & A • ZOOM • 4-5 pm
Free Mental Health Services for McKinney-Vento Students
ReferralGPS is working with the North Cook Regional Office of Education to create access to mental health treatment for our McKinney-Vento students through the EVERGREEN program, at no cost to the school district or family.
For more information about the EVERGREEN PROGRAM or to submit a referral, see https://referralgps.com/evergreen. Scroll down to the school section; submit a referral form and the Care Navigation team will follow up to get the family connected to care. At this time, the program is limited to McKinney-Vento students, not parents/guardians.
If you have additional questions about this program, contact Dr. Tom Bookler, McKinney-Vento Regional Liaison at (630) 386-0883 or tbookler@ncisc.org.
"Since most of our waking hours are spent at work, it only makes sense that leaders invest in themselves and their well-being by pairing up with a professional coach."
Leadership Coaching Team Featured in ILASCD Journal
We are pleased to share that the North Cook Leadership Coaching Team is featured in the ILASCD Journal's Winter issue.
They saved the best for last! Look for the article on Page 84.
North Cook Spelling Bee Set for March 15
Our 13th Annual North Cook ISC Scripps Spelling Bee will be held at Lincoln Hall Middle School in Lincolnwood District 74 on March 15. There are 24 spelling bee contestants representing 11 public schools, 12 non-public facilities and 1 home-schooled student.
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finalists from that competition will advance to the ISC Regional Scripps Championship Competition at Triton College on March 28.
Corporate sponsors Pepper Construction and Wight & Company will provide an all expense paid trip
for our Regional ISC Champion (and one parent) to compete at the National Scripps Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Maryland. The National Spelling Bee Competition will be televised live on
May 31, 2023.
Free Virtual Resume Service
Essentially, this is an efficient and FREE opportunity to network with our 39 North Cook suburban school districts to help candidates start a new career.
HR Leaders in the North Cook region can contact Dr. April Jordan at 847.803.5604 or ajordan@ncisc.org for more information and register to view virtual resumes of potential candidates for your job openings.
Licensure Department Reminder
Licensure renewal for all licenses due in 2023 begins April 1st. Renewals for all licenses are not available until April 1, 2023. Please see our website for updates on how to renew licenses, including new links to videos and PDF instructions for PEL, Paraprofessional, Substitute, and ELS/CTE licenses and more.
North Cook Intermediate Service Center
Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4 pm
* CLOSED *
February 20 • Presidents' Day
April 7 • Easter Holiday
Email newsletter@ncisc.org
Website www.ncisc.org
Location 1001 E. Touhy Av. Suite 200, Des Plaines, IL 60018
Phone 847-824-8300