19 / 39
Dr. Donald D. Owen
Urbana District 116
Illini
• Opening the Urbana Early
Childhood School in 2013 and
having the school earn the
Educational Environments
Award from the Illinois
Association of School Boards
in 2015.
• Implementing a state and
nationally recognized two-
way immersion Spanish Dual
Language program.
• Having Urbana High School
named a School of Opportunity
by the National Education Policy
Center in 2016.
• Being recognized by the Illinois
Lieutenant Governor’s Office for
Local Government Shared Services Best Practices in
2017 for partnership with the Urbana Park District in
the operation of the Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center.
• Being named an Illinois State Board of Education
(ISBE) Spotlight District in 2013 for the afterschool
SPLASH (Students Playing and Learning after School
Hours) program.
• Having a graduation rate of 89 percent, which is above
the state average, and reducing the graduation rate
gap between white and black students.
• Implementing a restorative practices program at
the middle school and the high school, resulting in
a decrease in the number of suspensions and the
number of days students are suspended.
• Implementing technology infrastructure upgrades
and Chromebook/tablet purchases for all elementary
students. Plans are for similar upgrades for middle
school and high school students to be completed
by 2019.
Julie A. Schmidt
Kildeer Countryside
District 96
Lake
• Improving student outcomes each year for
nine consecutive years.
• Winning four Blue Ribbon Awards from the
U.S. Department of Education.
• Fully implementing a 1:1 iPad program for
grades 1-8.
• Completing an $8 million Early Learning
Center construction project, making it
possible to open both a blended early
childhood and full-day kindergarten
program.
• Creating a local special education
collaborative, helping 70 students
with significant special needs attend
neighborhood schools.
• Fully implementing Common Core (K-
8), Next Generation Science Standards
(NGSS) and Creativity, Challenge,
Community (C3) standards with aligned
formative assessments.
• Being recognized by Apple as a
Distinguished Program for innovation,
leadership and educational excellence.
• Having Woodlawn Middle School named
Illinois and National Junior School of the
Year (2015-16), as well as the Outstanding
Energy Engineering Design Project.
K. Scot Reynolds
Spoon River Valley
CUSD 4
Western
• Overseeing several major
brick-and-mortar infrastructure
improvements to facilities in
the district.
• Implementing a Danielson-based
teacher evaluation system.
• Implementing a 1:1 computer
program for students and staff and
increasing bandwidth.
• Implementing a modern electronic
communications system and
organizational system for the
Board of Education.
Dr. James (Jim) E.
Carlson
Seneca High
School District 160
Starved Rock
• Developing a new mission, vision and set
of core values along with a curriculum
model and instructional model to guide
educational improvements.
• Rolling out a 1:1 initiative, including the
use of Blackboard technology.
• Expanding summer school offerings,
including a Summer Bridge Program.
• Developing an advanced pathway
for students, including dual credit
opportunities in U.S. History, Psychology,
Speech, College Algebra, Trigonometry,
Calculus, PE, Music, Computer-Aided
Design and Welding as well as Advanced
Placement and Honors courses in Honors
English 1 and 2, Honors Chemistry 1 and
2, and AP Language.
• Expanding co-curricular opportunities,
including Art Club, Dance Team, GSA
Club, the Conservation in Action science
club, and a soccer co-op with Newark.
• Implementing the Student Success
Period with academic centers to assist
student achievement.
• Initiating a freshman orientation program.
19
continued next page...
2017
rintendents
istinction