Post by southsidesignmaker on Apr 20, 2011 8:52:27 GMT -6
Indian Prairie School Board honors Special Olympic champs
By Erika Wurst ewurst@stmedianetwork.com Apr 20, 2011 2:18AM
napervillesun.suntimes.com/4908215-417/indian-prairie-school-board-honors-special-olympic-champs.html
Indian Prairie District 204 school board members celebrated a plethora of achievements during Monday evening’s board meeting, ranging from athletic wins to administrative appointments to academic progress.
Superintendent Kathryn Birkett announced the approval of Elizabeth Pohlmann and Sarah Nowak to be principals at two of the district’s elementary schools.
Both women will be leaving positions as assistant principals at Crone Middle School when they take their newly appointed spots July 1.
Pohlmann, who received her master’s degree from Northern Illinois University, will take her leadership skills to Steck Elementary School.
Nowak will also say farewell to the middle school she has served since 2006 to become principal at Clow Elementary. Nowak received her master’s in educational leadership from Aurora University.
But it wasn’t just administrators who were praised for their success during Monday’s meeting; several student athletes received applause for their recent accomplishments.
With wide smiles on their faces, members of the Neuqua Valley Special Olympics varsity basketball team were honored for their state title. The team won their final game, played in Normal, making them state champions for the fifth time.
Also on the agenda were presentations about two district-wide board goals: increasing education techniques to cater to 21st century learning, and increasing the percentage of students who exceed norms on standardized tests.
Board members were given updates on the district goal to raise the average percentage of students who fall within the “exceeds” category for grades 3, 8 and 11 in reading, writing, math, and science by 4 to 10 percent by 2013.
Administrators from Nancy Young Elementary presented techniques they have implemented to reach this goal. These factors include increasing student engagement, creating consistency in the classroom and broadening advanced placement by casting a wider net for student qualification.
The school has been a leader in implementing practices that have resulted in the increase in test scores.
When it came to the goal of equipping students with 21st century skills,—presenter Jay Strang said the district continues to progress.
“We have made tremendous strides since our last update,” Strang told the board. “We’re focusing on how learning is changing. Educators got schooled themselves on 21st century learning techniques during an Institute Day which took place in late February.”
The presenters received rave reviews.
“This was the best Institute Day I have attended in many years (maybe the best ever),” one elementary school principal said. “The presenters were all excellent, knowledgeable and practical.””
By Erika Wurst ewurst@stmedianetwork.com Apr 20, 2011 2:18AM
napervillesun.suntimes.com/4908215-417/indian-prairie-school-board-honors-special-olympic-champs.html
Indian Prairie District 204 school board members celebrated a plethora of achievements during Monday evening’s board meeting, ranging from athletic wins to administrative appointments to academic progress.
Superintendent Kathryn Birkett announced the approval of Elizabeth Pohlmann and Sarah Nowak to be principals at two of the district’s elementary schools.
Both women will be leaving positions as assistant principals at Crone Middle School when they take their newly appointed spots July 1.
Pohlmann, who received her master’s degree from Northern Illinois University, will take her leadership skills to Steck Elementary School.
Nowak will also say farewell to the middle school she has served since 2006 to become principal at Clow Elementary. Nowak received her master’s in educational leadership from Aurora University.
But it wasn’t just administrators who were praised for their success during Monday’s meeting; several student athletes received applause for their recent accomplishments.
With wide smiles on their faces, members of the Neuqua Valley Special Olympics varsity basketball team were honored for their state title. The team won their final game, played in Normal, making them state champions for the fifth time.
Also on the agenda were presentations about two district-wide board goals: increasing education techniques to cater to 21st century learning, and increasing the percentage of students who exceed norms on standardized tests.
Board members were given updates on the district goal to raise the average percentage of students who fall within the “exceeds” category for grades 3, 8 and 11 in reading, writing, math, and science by 4 to 10 percent by 2013.
Administrators from Nancy Young Elementary presented techniques they have implemented to reach this goal. These factors include increasing student engagement, creating consistency in the classroom and broadening advanced placement by casting a wider net for student qualification.
The school has been a leader in implementing practices that have resulted in the increase in test scores.
When it came to the goal of equipping students with 21st century skills,—presenter Jay Strang said the district continues to progress.
“We have made tremendous strides since our last update,” Strang told the board. “We’re focusing on how learning is changing. Educators got schooled themselves on 21st century learning techniques during an Institute Day which took place in late February.”
The presenters received rave reviews.
“This was the best Institute Day I have attended in many years (maybe the best ever),” one elementary school principal said. “The presenters were all excellent, knowledgeable and practical.””