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Dr. David R.
Schuler
Township High School
District 214
Cook North
• Helping keep all six high schools in the district among the best in the state despite poverty numbers
that have tripled, from 10 percent to 30 percent, in the past 10 years.
• Helping establish the Northwest Educational Council for Student Success, a partnership of districts
and the community college to infuse innovation in the classroom, and Harper Promise, a multi-district
partnership with Harper College to provide full-tuition scholarships to students who meet specific
criteria during their high school career.
• Creating the Power of 15 program that stresses the importance of entering college with at least 15
credits through dual-credit courses. District 214 students have earned more than 27,000 early college
credits.
• Guiding staff to create a comprehensive Career Pathways program that offers personalized learning
experiences through early college credit, internships and career credentials.
• Identifying and supporting future teachers through the Educator Prep program, a teacher preparatory
program that provides resources, dual-credit, mentoring and job placement through partnerships.
• Engaging industry and community partners in an internship program that has been recognized by the
White House and annually offers more than 3,000 internship experiences.
• Helping to write, champion and pass legislation requiring every Illinois public college and university to
accept Advanced Placement (AP) scores of 3 or higher to eliminate disparity and ensure better access
to early college credit. Also, expanding AP class access, resulting in the number of AP exams taken by
students in District 214 having tripled in the past 12 years, with 75 percent of the students receiving a 3
or higher.
• Encouraging students to complete career certifications, with more than 600 earning certifications in
areas like healthcare, manufacturing and computer programming since 2008.
• Creating a district-wide Education Foundation to provide assistance for things such as AP tests for
students who cannot afford them and college visits for first-generation students and their parents.
• Introducing a 1:1 iPad initiative, resulting in transformational learning.
• Increasing the number of students with Individual
Education Plans (IEPs) who are in general
education classrooms as part of the state board’s
Least Restrictive Environment data cohort study.
• Partnering with the Mental Health Center of
Illinois through the MOSAIC project to support K-5
students’ social and emotional needs.
• Utilizing a team approach to collaboratively develop
and implement a new teacher evaluation tool.
• Providing teachers monthly professional
development opportunities and developing a two-
year mentoring program for all new teachers.
• Improving curriculum resources and instructional
technology.
• Upgrading the elementary facility (roof, HVAC,
lighting, ceiling, tuck-pointing and bathroom
renovations) and utilizing the Adopt-A-Classroom project to have
more than 50 volunteers paint the entire building over one summer,
saving the district an estimated $43,000.
• Working with a committee of 30 to develop and implement a
District Strategic Plan.
• Partnering with Gen-H to provide healthy school lunches.
• Implementing a “Helping Hands for the Holidays” to support Tri-City
students and families as well as hosting school and community
food drives for the school food pantry.
Jilinda (Jill) Larson
Tri-City CUSD 1
Abe Lincoln
Kyle R. Ganson
Colona District 190
Blackhawk
• Upgrading technology,
going from worksheets and
chalk to Chrome books
and web-based content
that is available to students
and staff
• Introducing Chess
Clubs, Astronomy
Clubs, Scholastic Bowl
competition, 21st Century
Programs, music programs
and increased athletic
activities
• Expanding the use of
individual and small group
instructional interactions
21
for all your
hard work and
leadership
UPERINTENDENTS
17
endents
inction