Voices of District 303

This school year, the Voices of D303 Podcast is taking you inside our schools and classrooms, to hear from our staff about how we’re advancing our mission of…Together, Building Pathways to Excellence. In this episode (which also includes video of the full conversations), we visit several classrooms and student spaces at Wild Rose Elementary School and North High School. These are two of the schools that members of the D303 Communitywide Education Facilities Committee visited as part of their work in prioritizing potential facilities investments for the Committee’s report to the D303 School Board in April. All of the details of the Committee meetings and discussions are available here.

This school year, the Voices of D303 Podcast is taking you inside our classrooms, to hear from our educators about their work in advancing the D303 mission of: Together, Building Pathways to Excellence.In this episode, we navigated the teeming Thompson Middle School hallways. There we talked with 8th grade teacher Sandy Ishaq’s and Principal Matt Clark about the critical middle school years and the importance of the "teaming" model. Learn how Thompson educators work together to support and provide students with individualized attention while also fostering independent learning and growth skills, along with the challenges posed by Thompson’s exceptionally large (nearly 1400-student) enrollment.

As part of D303’s Student Attendance Campaign this year, the district hosted a parent-education and empowerment series with contextual-behavioral psychologist Dr. Megan Schmitz of Vital Living Wellness Solutions. In this special episode of the Voices of D303 Podcast, we talk with Dr. Schmitz about the topics covered in her three-part series and how her expertise can help remove barriers that may be in the way of strong and regular student attendance.Families interested in accessing the video recordings of the parent-education and empowerment series can contact Dr. Schmitz at [email protected].

In this episode, we visit the classroom of Bell Graham 4th grade lead teacher Ruth Vostal to talk with her and Principal Amy Kleuppel about how educators come together in Professional Learning Communities to build a culture around the D303 core values of Achievement, Belonging, and Perseverance. We also discuss how the entire Bell-Graham community works together to build pathways to excellence for their kindergarten through 5th-grade students.A big congratulations to Bell Graham Elementary School, which is one of D303’s 7 schools that just received the highest “Exemplary” rating on the 2025 Illinois State Report Card. 

This school year, the Voices of D303 Podcast is taking you inside our classrooms, to hear from our educators about their work in advancing the D303 mission of: Together, Building Pathways to Excellence.In episode 2, we’re talking and thinking in the Think Tank located inside the library at St. Charles North High School. Our guests are two fabulous Department Chairs at North: Stephanie Dodd (Fine Arts) and Jennifer Anderson (Mathematics). They bring such a rich depth of experience to their work with students, educators and North. Our conversation brings to life the power of the D303 focus on “Together” in building pathways to excellence for our students.

This school year, the Voices of D303 Podcast is taking you inside our classrooms, to hear from our educators about their work in advancing the D303 mission of: Together, Building Pathways to Excellence.In our first episode, we stopped by Classroom B218 at St. Charles East High School to talk with the school’s Department Chairs Cara Drexler (English) and Andy Ehrhardt (Social Studies) about the classroom work they do and how they support other teachers in ensuring East students get a solid foundation in these core subjects to help put them on their pathway.

This is Part 2 of our special Class of 2025 Episode of the Voices of D303 Podcast. To close out the 2024-25 school year, we’ve spotlighted some outstanding members of our Class of ’25. When we recorded Part 1, St. Charles North High School Student Body President Anna Gagne was traveling overseas with her family. So we waited for her to return to St. Charles so she could talk with us about her fabulous summer travel, her time at North, and her college plans and future pathway.

This year-end episode of the Voices of D303 podcast spotlights three outstanding members of our Class of 2025–James Shimon, Ellen Jahoda, and Tanner Karsjen. They talk with Dr. Gordon about finding their pathways and their “people,” as well as the experiences they most treasure and most look forward to as they get ready to head off to college.

Effective Collaboration is one of three key priorities in the District 303 Strategic Plan, and Professional Learning Communities, or PLCs, play a vital role in bringing this priority to life. PLCs are thriving in every school across the district, including Corron Elementary, where educators are seeing a significant impact from collaborative teaching. Corron Principal Christine Balaskovits and 5th Grade PLC Leader Erik Robinson recently joined the Voices of District 303 podcast to share their insights on what makes PLCs so effective.A key theme of their discussion was the importance of vulnerability—teachers openly sharing data and welcoming peer feedback. Even veteran educators are prioritizing transparency and continuously reflecting on their strategies to ensure the best outcomes for students.“Because it’s all about the students, they’re not afraid to ask for help,” Balaskovits said. “Just because you’re the leader doesn’t mean you’re always going to have the best data, the most growth.”Many PLCs, including Robinson’s, bring together educators with a range of experience levels. This mix of perspectives allows teams to blend time-tested teaching strategies with innovative, research-based approaches to enhance student learning. Robinson explained how this collaboration leads to dynamic problem-solving. “We are bringing not only the old tried and true methods, but we are also bringing the new methods that research is uncovering. We’re able to try a lot of different things to see what works,” he said. “Some classes try one thing, other classes try another thing, we all come together to see what’s working, what we can go forward with, what do we need to adjust, what did you do that I want to try, or what can I give you that you might want to try to help your students achieve more.”

For many educators in District 303, formative assessments serve as a diagnostic tool, helping them to analyze the effectiveness of their teaching methods. Receiving real-time feedback on student achievement encourages flexibility, as instructors are able to tailor lessons to each individual class and revisit concepts that kids may be struggling with. Tina King, Senior Director of Learning and Teaching,  compares formative assessment data to mission control.  “If I don’t get good feedback along the way when we’re flying the shuttle, we’re not going to hit that target,” King said. “[Formative assessment] is that super clarity for teachers on learning targets and that input along the way, so we don’t get to the end of a unit of study and realize that we didn’t get students where they need to be.” Formative assessments can take many different forms, from entrance slips, to homework checks, to short quizzes. Jennifer Anderson, Math Department Chair at St. Charles North, believes that no matter how they look, formative assessments emphasize ongoing learning, rather than one-time evaluations. “That’s really important for students to be explaining their work as they go because then those misconceptions can come to light. That’s our teaching moment, for our teachers to jump in and say ‘I’d like to add on to that’ or provide some clarification,” Anderson said. “Or turn it to other students [and ask] ‘anybody want to add to this?’ to help provide and get that conversation going amongst them.”

Extracurricular academic programs or internships take learning outside of the classroom and can be instrumental for students looking to discover their passions. St. Charles East juniors Kunal Gaind and Rahil Bukhari recently joined the Voices of District 303 podcast to talk about what they’ve learned by getting involved. Kunal discussed how rewarding it was to take STEM classes at Johns Hopkins University, while Rahil shared that volunteering to learn more about health care professions through the Northwestern Medicine Discovery Program was a life-changing experience. “(I learned a lot that was) science-related: this is how we analyze DNA, this is how we approach patients,” said Rahil. “But I think something more valuable is honestly the rudimentary skills you learn. Just having empathy for other people and learning the value of kindness.” Now, the pair is encouraging other D303 students to seek out similar opportunities. Working with East teachers and administrators, they’ve created a spreadsheet that details some of the summer programs in the area, laying out any associated costs and how to apply. “Ultimately, at the end of the day, we’re all residents of St. Charles and we all want these amazing opportunities,” said Kunal. “We all care for our futures.” The students also talked about the importance of self-advocacy, and discussed ways to take ownership of your own learning. 

District 303 graduates Cheryl Denz, Rick Gibson, Jeffrey LaDeur, and Karen Schmidt were recently honored as the Distinguished Alumni Class of 2024. As part of their return to their former schools, the four award winners joined the Voices of D303 podcast to discuss the honor and what it means to be recognized. “My time at this school is very close to my heart, but I haven’t lived here in 15 years,” said LaDeur, a 2004 graduate of East High School who now works as a  successful pianist and music mentor. “It brought back a lot of beautiful memories and gratitude for this place–just a real honor.” The alumni offered advice for current students, emphasizing that they remember what it’s like to be young and unsure what lies ahead. “Not every kid is the star student,” shared Denz, a 1991 graduate of St. Charles High School who still lives in the area and provides mental health support to children as a licensed counselor. “I wasn’t that kid, but I still had a lot of potential and I still had the wherewithal to succeed and hopefully make a difference in the world. It doesn’t necessarily start in high school, and that’s okay.”Several honorees also reflected on their time in District 303, and how they believe the educational system has progressed since they attended school. “I was impressed by a lot of the different opportunities that are given today,” said Gibson, a 1985 graduate of St. Charles High School and lawyer who has also joined with his wife, Beth, to create a non-profit focused on improving the lives of children with Down Syndrome. “(Classes in) business, accounting, marketing–all those different disciplines that we didn’t have an opportunity in. It’s really refreshing to see that District 303 continues to evolve and keep up with the demands of the world.” All of the graduates agreed that they enjoyed the chance to pay it forward by meeting with current students and staff. “As a parent, I’m sure that there’s a little bit of uncertainty of what happens when the student walks out the front door,” said Karen Schmidt, a 1996 graduate of St. Charles High School who works as the managing partner at an executive search firm. “Every single parent of every single student I interacted with should know with certainty that their kids are making them proud by how they went into those conversations (with us).”Learn more about the Distinguished Alumni recipients on the District 303 website.

District 303 educators are embracing new brain research that suggests that caring teachers can alter a student's brain chemistry for the better. Gifted Coordinator Yvette Stahl cites one study that showed students may respond more favorably to stressful situations when in the presence of a trusted adult. “The results were clear, and they weren’t behavioral in nature- they were biochemical. Those children who had an established caring adult in the room with them did not have any of the stress hormone release,” said Stahl. The research is reinforcing for educators the value of building relationships to improve classroom learning. For Jackie Balster, AT Math Teacher at Ferson Creek, it means thinking about “how I can best support them and create a caring environment where they can really thrive.”East Science Teacher Ben Provencher adds it’s important to be open with students about the “why” of this work.“You don’t have to hide the punchline,” he said. “I think it’s important that we are transparent and make kids feel comfortable.” 

Homecoming week is a time for high schoolers to showcase their school pride while making lifelong memories. Three students who are involved in planning their school’s homecoming celebrations recently joined the Voices of District 303 podcast to discuss their favorite traditions at both East and North, and offer advice to underclassmen who may not know about all the different ways that they can participate. Between Small Games competitions, class volleyball, and the parade and football game, organizers stressed that there is something for everyone. “It’s not about always winning- it’s honestly just about having fun,” said Haylee Kaliski, a junior and member of the Student Council Executive Board at East. “It’s so much fun to see your whole school community come together. Seeing the school spirit, especially when you drive down Main Street and see all the windows, the golf carts, everything like that.”Anna Gagne, a senior at North who serves as the student body president, talked about how there are plenty of opportunities to get involved early. “Ask questions if you don’t know what time an event is, or what an event is, or what’s happening in homecoming week. Ask someone, ask a teacher, ask someone who is in the student council who might be involved, ask a friend who might be very well-aware,” Gagne said. “ You don’t have to compete, but you could go. Because the spirit that you’re giving, the cheers that you’re making, it goes to your team. And it brings a lot of positive energy as well.” Aliya Clayton, senior class president at North, shared how she was apprehensive about going to events as a freshman before ultimately finding her friend group. “You’ll set yourself up for so much success, meet so many new friends and staff members, students that you’ve never seen before. I think you should put yourself out there- who cares if you don’t have a date?”Homecoming week at St. Charles East starts September 9, with the parade and football game taking place on September 13.Homecoming week at St. Charles North starts September 23, with the parade and football game taking place on September 27.

High school is a transformational time for students, as they begin to establish their independence as young adults. Four members of Dr. Gordon’s Superintendent Student Advisory Council recently joined the Voices of District 303 podcast to talk about their high school experiences and share secrets for success. One key takeaway from their conversation was the importance of getting involved. “While academics are such a big important thing, having the different clubs and extracurriculars to be a part of, that gives you more of a drive to go to school. You meet so many new people, and you learn so many different skills. It really changes your perspective on school, and it made it a better place for me,” said Maddy Spaeth, a senior at East High School. Each student detailed how devoting time to hobbies and passions outside of the classroom has helped them develop into more well-rounded people. These experiences gave them the chance to discover new talents, increase social interactions with peers who shared similar interests, and improve time management skills. “It does get pretty hectic and busy sometimes, and there’s definitely a balancing act to it,” said Evan Reck, a junior at North High School. “But I do think you should try to do as many things as you can, within reason. That’s how you’re going to find the most friends and opportunities.”They also addressed misconceptions that people might have about high schoolers, as well as how to navigate peer pressure. “I just feel like it’s very important to say no, and to learn to say no, because I was never someone who would say no to anyone. Now, I constantly say no if that’s not something I align with,” said Nishi Patel, a senior at East High School. “The first time is hard, but eventually it gets easier-just take the first leap.”The students took time to celebrate educators who have been influential to their academic journeys and their view on what makes a great teacher. “I would say the majority, if not all, of our teachers are exemplary at what they’re teaching.  But I think moving past that, it’s the relationships built that really makes someone their favorite teacher,” said Keshav Gupta, a senior at North High School. “The times they might see them in the hallway or outside of school and spark that conversation. It’s the little things, those extra moments.”

Renewed emphasis on professional learning communities (PLCs) is elevating student growth in District 303. Chief Academic Officer Dr. Christine Igoe, ELA Coordinator Dr. Amanda Wojcik, and Davis Primary School Instructional Support Coach Meghan Madigan recently joined the Voices of District 303 Podcast to share their perspectives.“Our teachers are really taking the time to come together and collaborate, and think about what we want our kids to be able to do,” said Igoe. Topics of discussion included how educators are leveraging PLCs to share effective strategies and best practices, and the impact that is having on student learning. “Having common units, common texts, common writing experiences, common assessments. All of those pieces are essential in a guaranteed and viable curriculum,” Wojcik said.This episode also explores priority standards, and how they’ve helped foster consistency throughout District 303 while allowing teachers the ability to be creative in their lesson planning. “Take some things off the cognitive load of teachers and then they can be more responsive and focused on the kids, which is where they need to be,” said Madigan. Wojcik added that English/Language Arts (ELA) proficiency is on the rise in District 303. Based on results from the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), ELA achievement improved by 8% district-wide in 2023. District 303 recently held a Listen Learn Return community presentation focusing on the power of PLCs. You can learn more and watch the presentation in its entirety by clicking here. 

School finance can be confusing. From the size of a school district’s budget and types of funds it includes to the percentage of local, state and federal revenue it receives, there’s a lot to understand. Chief Operating Officer Justin Attaway shares insights into District 303’s budget, the tax levy process, and addresses school finance misconceptions. This episode also reviews the financial considerations of maintaining and improving District 303 facilities. Additionally, hear an update on the school attendance boundary process and how you can get involved and stay informed. Learn more from this episode on the District’s website on the Business Services Department and boundary updates pages. 

District 303 is in its first year of implementing a new five-year Strategic Plan, which was approved by the Board last summer. The plan guides the District’s long-term priorities, resources and intended outcomes in order to drive student success. The plan is the culmination of work from the Strategic Plan Development Committee. Over the course of eight months, the committee of nearly 20 individuals from across the District met often to research and deliberate elements of the plan, and gathered feedback from staff and stakeholders. Two members of the committee, Becky Prebble and Sabreena Kapadia, recently discussed their involvement with the plan’s development and its overall impact.Prebble, an English teacher at Compass Academy, signed up to help support the innovative work within the District. “So to be involved with helping to work that into the fabric of what we’re doing over the next five years and make sure that all of those voices were heard was really important to me,” said Prebble.  “The plan affects staff members, community members and students. It was really important for us to always be changing and growing and trying to better ourselves,” said Kapadia, a senior at North High School. “Having a small part in that and sharing my voice I thought was cool for me to be able to do and important for the future.”You can view the Strategic Plan online. 

District 303’s Norton Creek Elementary and St. Charles North High School have been named 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. They are among 297 schools in the nation to be recognized and just 17 in the state of Illinois.Norton Creek Principal Tony White and North High School Principal Shanna Lewis discuss how they were notified of the honor, the celebrations that ensued, and how this recognition speaks to the strengths of the District and community as a whole. “The system that we’ve built here in St. Charles really kind of nurtures this to happen,” said White. “If you just execute the St. Charles playbook while also listening to your staff and listening to your students and listening to your parents and implementing at a pace that makes sense, good things are going to happen.”“I think the structure of a unit district really lends itself to that,” added Lewis. “We’ve talked a lot this year about the concept of collective responsibility. I think we’re always looking at ways to improve our relationships with the schools that feed in as part of that whole unit system.” 

New D303 Superintendent Dr. Paul Gordon talks about his professional journey from teacher to superintendent and getting reacclimated to the Midwest. Prior to joining St. Charles on July 1, Gordon held roles in Colorado as a high school football coach, principal and chief academic officer, and later served as superintendent for school districts in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and Wenatchee, Washington.It’s what drives me,” said Gordon on helping students succeed. “It’s my why for doing the work that we do. It’s really to engage students and to help each of our students find their journey in life… Being a small part of that just fires me up.”Gordon also discussed the importance of the District’s upcoming community engagement sessions, Listen Learn Return, taking place on August 31, September 6 and 8. 

St. Charles North junior Sara Tenbrock spent the first 16 years of her life in Texas and attended her entire sophomore year virtually. During that time she noticed that social media often had negative messages and she wanted to find a way to spread positivity on Instagram. Using her iPad and an apple pencil, she began creating positive messages and posting them on her Instagram account.  The simple gesture gained her followers and she realized she had the power to do more. Join Dr. Pearson as he talks with Sara about her journey from posting on social media to creating a sticker company that has sold positive messages to people in 20 states.

When two St. Charles East freshmen noticed they were only part of a small number of girls in their Introduction to Business class, they decided to find a way to encourage more girls to be interested in business. The Women in Business Speaker Series was formed.  In this episode, Dr. Pearson talks with now juniors Natalie Gibbard and Elyse Jens about how their series has evolved into Women In Leadership and what the students who attended the forums both in person and virtually have learned from the women leaders who have shared their stories. Natalie and Elyse also talk about the ways in which this experience had helped them develop skills they will use throughout their lives. 

A standout athlete in track and field since middle school, Joshua Duncan set his sights on competing at a Division 1 college. The pandemic and an injury at the state track meet derailed those plans. Little did Joshua know that a coach from one of our nation’s oldest and most prestigious military academies watched him race at state before he was sidelined with his injury. Dr. Pearson talks with Joshua about how “plan B” is now his dream of a lifetime. 

Each year a group of students is chosen from around the state to be student advisors to the Illinois State Board of Education. Students have the opportunity to see the State Board’s policymakers in action and work with them to provide student perspectives and concerns on the state’s education policies. Students come together several times throughout the year and work remotely on a research project that is presented to the Board. St. Charles East Senior Serena Thakkar is now serving in her second year on the committee. She talks with Dr. Person about why she applied to serve, what she has learned from working with other students, why the work the committee does is so important, and how it felt to present ideas to legislators.  

October is manufacturing month and Dr. Pearson takes the opportunity to talk with 3 students enrolled in both Autos and Woods at St. Charles East High School. They have a conversation about what they like about being hands-on in the classroom, some of their favorite projects, and what they hope to do in the future. They also discuss how the challenges of learning during the pandemic from a book and videos provided important background knowledge about vocabulary and tools that helped them hit the ground running when in-person school resumed. These 3 passionate, articulate, and skilled craftsmen share how they hope to build upon what they learned at East into successful meaningful careers. 

Empower is now part of the school day in all District 303 elementary schools. Although the launch of the innovative program was delayed due to COVID, students and teachers alike are excited to create, problem-solve, collaborate and learn during the time allotted for all students in kindergarten through 5th grades. Dr. Pearson talks with Sarah Cann, Assistant Director of Instruction, and Empower teachers Tanya Hernandez and Lauren Schaaf about the origin of Empower, skills students are building,  and how parents can talk to their children about what is happening in the classroom.  

National Board Certification (NBC) is a voluntary, advanced teaching credential that goes beyond state licensure. NBC has national standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. Dr. Pearson talks with District 303 educators Michelle Poelsterl, Lindsay Boynton, and Dr. Katherine McCleary about how earning their National Board Certification transformed the way they teach, interact with students, collaborate with peers, and reflect on their practices to improve student outcomes. 

St. Charles North High School senior Tyler Strohl was able to put his love of science and engineering to work while interning at Fermilab. He worked with Dr. Mark Adams, QuarkNet Cosmic Ray Coordinator on a project to build and study Muon Detectors. Listen to this fascinating episode where Dr. Pearson and his guests take you into the world of astrophysics and give you a glimpse inside America's particle physics and accelerator laboratory. 

The Accelerate College program, in partnership with Elgin Community College, allows students to earn their high school diploma and Associate’s degree simultaneously. This unique program meets the needs of students who are ready to engage in college coursework, experience the college environment, and develop skills and mindsets that support the transition from high school to postsecondary life. In this episode, Dr. Pearson talks with three students who are part of the second  Accelerate College cohort.

In this episode, Dr. Pearson talks with Teacher on Special Assignment Tina King and Director of Professional Learning Jennifer Phillips about iReady. This interactive tool that is used in kindergarten through 8th grades supports student learning, provides teachers with immediate feedback about students' progress, and provides a dashboard students can use to share their learning with parents. They also talk about ways in which students can use iReady, including games, over the summer to enhance the learning they did during the school year.  

How does a photography assignment about shadows turn into an award-winning piece of art? Dr. Pearson interviews St. Charles North junior Natalie Lamb about how she convinced her brother to be the subject of a photo that resulted in her receiving a prestigious Silver Medal from the 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Now in its 98th year, the awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for young artists and writers in grades 7–12. Natalie is joined by Mrs. Sally Vincent, Lead Teacher Art Department, and Mrs. Stephanie Dodd, Photography teacher who assigned the project. 

What does it take to transport 10,000 District 303 students safely to school and home every day, and how do we keep all those buses running? Dr. Pearson gets answers to these questions and more when he interviews District 303 Transportation Director Terry Primdahl and Head Mechanic Chris Bork. They go into detail about safety protocols, building bus routes, and the benefits of being a bus driver in District 303. If you are interested in becoming a bus driver, visit the District 303 website to apply.

In this week's episode, Dr. Pearson has a conversation with three women who are passionate about reading. Whether they are working one on one with a student who needs some additional help or providing professional development to District 303 staff members about phonics and the way that sound production can affect writing, Reading Specialist Becky Jordahl, Lead Speech-Language Pathologist Meghan Martin, and Instructional Interventions Coordinator and Lead School Psychologist Karen Pratt find ways to collaborate. They decode the science behind reading and encourage parents to do one simple task over the summer that will build their child's love of reading. 

Dr. Pearson talks with Dr. Amanda Wojcik, Dr. Elizabeth Vander Woude, and Dr. Monica Boehle, three Instructional Support Coaches about the program that has been a part of the District 303 culture for the last 13 years. The coaches discuss how they partner with teachers in their buildings to promote professional learning in a "just in time" model to improve student learning. They also discuss the impact the pandemic had on their positions, how they support each other, and the lessons they learned this year that will help them in the future.  

St. Charles North Senior William Laskey talks to Dr. Pearson about his love of music, his District 303 band experiences, and the Tri-M National Honor Society community service project with the organization Hungry for Music. William and his fellow musicians collected more than 30 instruments that will be donated to students in need across the country. You will get a chance to hear a snippet of music recorded by William's band and produced by him.  William also shares his future plans to study music at Dr. Pearson's alma mater Belmont University. 

Dr. Pearson interviews St. Charles East senior Bilal Karim about his volunteer work as one of 10 students from across the State of Illinois who have been chosen to serve on the Illinois Science Olympiad Youth Advisory Committee. Students were chosen based on their outstanding leadership skills and their passion for science. Bilal has shown his leadership skills through his work in school, at the St. Charles Public Library, with Rotary, and as part of the D303 Reopen Task Force Committee.

Wredling Middle School Social Studies teacher Laura Franklin asked her 8th-grade students to use The Fierce 44: Black Americans Who Shook Up the World to research outstanding contributions made by people of color. Students had to create something to show what they learned. Elin Foreman and Isabella Adriatico chose prominent poets who inspired them to write and perform their own original poems. Dr. Pearson talks to these wonderful articulate middle school students about the project, who they chose, what they learned, and how they were inspired.

Mayor Ray Rogina has dedicated his life to public service in St. Charles. He and Dr. Pearson talk about the Mayor's time as an economics and law teacher at St. Charles High School and the contributions he made to District 303. As he gets ready to retire from City Government, Mayor Rogina reflects on his teaching experience, some notable students he taught, and how he and his wife have created a legacy gift for students who are pursuing careers in education.

In the fall of 2021, District 303 will open Compass Academy in the Haines Center. Key features of the Academy that is open to all students in grades 9-12 include flexible scheduling, project-based learning, interdisciplinary courses, and competency-based education.  Link to Compass Academy page on the District 303 website. Guests:Sharon Stanley, Director Compass AcademyDr. Melissa Byrne, Director of College and Career ReadinessAubree Schuett, Associate Director of Interventions

In 2018, District 303 high school students had the opportunity to take an entrepreneurial class called INCubatoredu. The class takes students on a journey of solving problems through designing a product or service. This episode tells the story of St. Charles East student Chelsea Campagna who has been working to develop and market her product Thermostick over the last three years. She is joined by her teachers and community mentor as she describes the process, challenges and her future plans.GuestsChelsea Campagna, St. Charles East SeniorShannon Stone, INCubator InstructorKeith Glavan, INCubator InstructorKate London, Entrepreneur and INCubator Mentor

Kindergarten looks different than what many of us remember. In this episode, Dr. Pearson talks with veteran kindergarten teacher Julie Fothergill about what a day in the life of a kindergarten student looks like,  how students learn, and tips for parents on ways to prepare their children for school.  Jan Geier, Assistant Superintendent for elementary education and her administrative assistant Lynne Schwartz also  discuss the registration process and how it is different for the 2021-2022 school year.

District 303 Head Nurse, Juanita Gryfinski talks with Dr. Pearson about the role of school nurses. This year, school nurses continued to support students who manage chronic conditions like diabetes, while also being responsible for making recommendations to their districts about contact tracing, data collection, and  communication related to COVID-19.  Mrs. Gryfinski and nurses from around the country collaborated on an article entitled, "Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice," published in the National Association of School Nurses Journal.