Ahead of the start of the new school year, teachers and staff of Lake Zurich School District 95 spent four days preparing for the new academic year and administrators launched new technology tools.
SD95 Superintendent Kelley Gallt shared a report with the school board at its Aug. 10 meeting telling about, among other things, staff training, summer school and new technology initiatives the district is planning for the 2023-2024 school year.
In a summer school survey, Gallt said students and parents reported enjoying classes.
“That is something we strive for every summer,” Gallt said. “Having students come to school during the summer is not the easiest thing to find enjoyment in so we’re very pleased many of the students felt that way.”
She said she received comments requesting a later summer school start and different timing of some classes. Surveys also reported positive information related to consumer education summer courses and improved communication, while staff reported needing access to leveled libraries during the summer months, which she said the curriculum staff will respond to.
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Gallt said a total of 43 students participated in summer internships this year – an increase from 22 students last summer.
A new technology tool offers a free alumni feature which Gallt hopes will enable the district to connect and engage more effectively with graduates. One of the big benefits of the program, called SchoolLinks, the superintendent said, is students currently in grades 8 to 12 will continue to have free access to it into the future to use for resumes and other career development tools.
“This alumni piece is something we’ve been asking for; we just didn’t have a way to do it but it will take time,” said Gallt.
Board members agreed they had been seeking information and insights about alumni and their matriculation for a long time.
Gallt also shared detail on artificial intelligence which was discussed during the teaching and learning Board of Education committee meeting. She explained that AI has been around for a long time but it is evolving, and administrators and staff need to be up to speed on it while encouraging students to maintain academic integrity and ethics when relying on it.
“We need to teach students to utilize the tool in ways that are appropriate, and ethical and use it in a way that promotes integrity,” Gallt said, adding that teachers need to be responsible, as well, in communicating this to students.
She said the district is partnering with other districts to better understand AI.
“We must be responsive to the rapidly changing landscape,” said Gallt.
Additionally, Gallt offered detail on teacher training as the school year set to start Aug. 15.
On Aug. 9, an all-staff meeting was hosted by administrators in the Performing Arts Center with a welcome from the superintendent.
The next day, the district hosted a Zoom video conferencing call with Douglas Fisher, author of “PLC+: Better Decisions and Greater Impact by Design,” which Gallt said was well received by staff. She reported that other staff training that day took place in a school building and included: Standard response protocols, instructional routines, engagement strategies, instructional models, data literacy and supporting student behavior.
On Aug. 11, all staff received trauma training, supporting emotional regulation and multi-tiered systems of support training, as well as SchoolLinks training.
Elementary school students were invited in to “meet the teacher” Aug. 12 while additional time for teachers was provided for mandatory training and instructional planning that day.
Board member Lisa Warren said she was impressed with all of the training.
“There’s so much to do and so much progress. This is all forward-thinking,” Warren said. “It’s really wonderful how much you’re addressing over these four days.”
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelance reporter.