Deep Dive with Dr. Hinz- A D47 Podcast

Is a 3 minute passing period enough time? How do lockers actually work? Bernotas 6th graders Joey, Finnley, Gael, and Rosalyn join Dr. Hinz to answer the questions every soon-to-be middle schooler is wondering. From navigating new schedules to calming those first-day nerves, they’ve got the inside scoop—and some solid advice—for current 5th graders gearing up for the big leap! Whether you're a student, parent, or just curious, this episode is packed with real advice and tips.

In this episode, we’re highlighting the friendships formed through the Lion Buddies program at Lundahl Middle School! This program is designed to strengthen the LMS community by pairing students in general education with students in the ASPIRE program, creating leadership opportunities and building lasting connections. These relationships help students develop social and communication skills, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Tune in as Victoria, Ashlyn, and Asher share their experiences as leaders in Lion Buddies, and the meaningful ways they’ve supported their peers.

Go behind the scenes with Hannah Beardsley Drama Club directors Chandra Kwayzer and Alexandra Sebastian, plus two of the talented 8th grade stars bringing Cinderella to life—Anna and Britin! From auditions to opening night, get the inside scoop on all the hard work and heart that went into this production.

In this special episode of Deep Dive with Dr. Hinz, we explore how schools are bringing families together—one book at a time! Coventry’s LMC Director Jennifer Weichle joins 4th grader Diego and 2nd grader Sydney, while Woods Creek’s LMC Director Kerri Hurckes is joined by 1st grader Roman to share the magic of a community-wide reading experience.

Get to know Kathryn Cruz, West Elementary's incoming principal, in our latest podcast episode! She shares a little about herself, her journey in D47, and what she’s looking forward to at West Elementary. 

While most of us are still warm in bed, our grounds crew and TJA mechanics are already braving the ice and snow to keep things running. Inclement weather has them up before dawn, making sure schools and buses are safe and ready. In this episode, special guests Tim Oppenhagen, TJA Shop Foreman, and Sean Smith, Grounds Lead, share what it takes to battle the elements behind the scenes.

This short & sweet podcast episode dives into the magical world of kindergarten and is one you don’t want to miss! With registration for the 2025-2026 school year opening on February 3rd, we’re joined by some special North Elementary kindergarten guests—Ella, Isaac, and Frida. They share their favorite parts of kindergarten, ask Dr. Hinz some big questions, and even sing a song for us! It’s a heartwarming glimpse into this exciting milestone.

In this podcast episode, we feature Gina Stevens, Multilingual Learner Teacher at Bernotas Middle School, who recently received a national grant to support her classroom. Tune in to hear about the inspiration behind her project and how it will empower her students and celebrate their diverse backgrounds!

This special holiday podcast episode highlights the annual ‘Shop with a Cop’ event at Glacier Ridge Elementary. Organized by McHenry County Police Charities and the Sheriff’s Department, this heartwarming program brings holiday cheer to local children. Glacier Ridge Principal Dr. Anastasia Gruper, Officer Kris Stolzman from the Crystal Lake Police Department, and Lieutenant Sandra Rogers from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office join us to share the story behind this impactful tradition.

"Inclusion isn't about geography and where the student sits; it's about meaningful participation in the curriculum and with their peers." Dr. Paula Kluth joins us in this podcast episode to reflect on her recent workshop with staff, "Don't We Already Do Inclusion?: Creating Schools & Classrooms for All." Tune in as we discuss what the district is doing to support all learners, fostering growth and confidence. 

Catch up with Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Aimee Kasper as she unpacks our Illinois State Report Card results, FastBridge insights, and 5Essentials data. Listen in to explore trends, tackle challenges, and celebrate successes- a continuation of the presentation to the Board of Education in November.

This episode spotlights Project B3, where students promote online safety! Hear from Bernotas Middle School's Alex, Delainey, and Lilly, their advisor Justin Banaszynski, and Assistant Superintendent Dave Jenkins on the importance of being safe, smart, and kind online, including advice for parents/guardians.

"Every time I have a newcomer family I say to myself, remember that one person who helped you when you first came here and be that person now for the newcomer family." Our Newcomer Family Support Facilitator, Tatiana Balaur, plays a crucial part in helping families new to our country and our district navigate the school system. Tune in to this episode to hear some of the unique challenges newcomer families face and how Tatiana provides essential support and resources to ensure a smooth transition in District 47.

In this episode, we turn our focus to the new math curriculum, exploring what problem-based instruction means and what it looks like in the classroom. We’re joined by Dr. Carolyn Stadlman, Director of Math, Science & STEM, along with Krystal Winsor, Kindergarten teacher at West Elementary, and Hannah Martel, 7th grade math teacher at Hannah Beardsley Middle School.Whether you're curious about how these changes will benefit students or just want to learn more, this is the perfect listen. It’s all about helping our students become stronger problem solvers and creative thinkers!

Join Dr. Hinz as she chats with Molly Alfonso, PreK Family Support Professional, about the Glacier Ridge PreK program and how family events build strong connections between home and school. Listen now to learn how we support and empower our youngest learners’ families!

We're talking school safety with two experts! Discover how the I Love U Guys Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is enhancing safety and creating a unified approach across District 47, other districts, and first responders in our community. Hear from Jim French, Training Director at I Love U Guys, and Gary Snep, District 47's Director of Safety.

Our PTOs and PTAs provide so much for students, staff, and families, but the biggest challenge is finding volunteers. Hear from three of our PTO/PTA presidents about the impact these organizations have and how you can get involved. "There are many opportunities to help out, even if it’s just 15 minutes. We need the help to continue providing activities, events, and everything for our students, staff, and parents." Plus, getting involved has its own rewards: "I like being in the schools and seeing the kids happy, especially when we run an event. The smiles on their faces—there's nothing more fulfilling than that." Get inspired by their stories and learn how you can make a difference!

Season 2! Our first episode of the year highlights the District 47 Resource Fair, bringing our community together to offer essential resources and services to families. This Saturday, D47 families in need can access physical exams, immunizations, vision and hearing screenings, school supplies, haircuts, and more!

Our goal in District 47 is to prepare our students for the future . While we are incredibly proud of our 8th grade students , it is always bittersweet to see them leave. This podcast is dedicated to our 8th graders! Joining Dr. Hinz to represent the class of 2024 and reflect on their journey, share memories, and discuss their biggest influences are John, Aryn, and Ethan from Bernotas; Jacquelin, Kaitlen, and Joey from Hannah Beardsley; and Lily, Lily, and Alex from Lundahl.

Dr. Hinz had the opportunity to chat about our annual exhibition of kindergarten through 8th grade artwork with Heather Evans, art teacher at Glacier Ridge and two of her students Wiktoria and Callie, and Sarah Cunningham, art teacher at Woods Creek, accompanied by her student Tym and Jason Brogan, assistant principal at Woods Creek. Tune in to hear about featured artwork, the planning process, our Dole partnership, and what students' love about art class! Open house for this exhibit took place on May 2nd and 3rd, however all art will remain on display through May 14.

In celebration of Earth Day, our latest podcast episode explores one way D47 schools are providing students with hands-on opportunities to learn about the environment and sustainability! Two dedicated parent volunteers, Hannah Pfaff from North Elementary and Andy Reinhard from South Elementary, join Dr. Hinz to discuss school gardens  and the impact the experience has on our students' learning and growth.

This year all three D47 middle schools have teams participating in the Fluid Power Action Challenge, a STEM-based competition sponsored by Durabar, where students design and build a fluid power mechanism.  In this episode, Dr. Hinz is joined by a team from Hannah Beardsley—Dane, Keshav, and Maddox—and their sponsor, Ms. Mooney, to discuss their mechanism design and what they've learned as they prepare for the competition on April 23rd. 

For the past two years, 70+ staff members from every school in the district have convened for eight full-day training sessions to delve into the concept of deep equity and understand the district's ongoing efforts to foster inclusivity and equity, empowering all students, staff, and families. In this episode, Corwin representatives John and Trudy, who have been facilitating these crucial conversations, along with Amy Frank from Canterbury and Meagan Powell from Coventry, join Dr. Hinz to discuss the journey, the changes already implemented, and what lies ahead.

What is a Hope Squad? In this episode, Dr. Hinz is joined by Hope Squad advisors Amy Hoven from Hannah Beardsley, Katie Staggs from Lundahl, and Katherine Albavera from Bernotas, alongside Hope Squad members Madison, Aiden, and Sam. Together, they highlight the impactful work being done in schools to train students in assisting their peers with mental health issues. "It’s clear that Hope Squad isn't just a program—it's a source of support and connection for our students." - Dr. Hinz

Schools throughout the district are celebrating literacy in March with the National Education Association's Read Across America initiative with guest readers and events. We're shining a spotlight on Indian Prairie Elementary School, where the spirit of Read Across America will come to life on March 1st. Joining Dr. Hinz on the podcast are 4th grade teacher Mrs. Isby and 5th grade teacher Mrs. Oliver, and young readers Sean, Max, and Emaline. They'll share how they're bringing families and community members together to foster a love of reading. 

"I love my community. I felt like student council is one way to show my love for my community"From finding ways of celebrating and lifting up their peers to community fundraising and outreach, D47 Student Councils are doing amazing things! In this podcast, Dr. Hinz is joined by Riley, Kameron, Ms. Tilton, and Ms. Vedder from Husmann Cougar Council and Hannah Beardsley Student Council Vice President Theola, who share their experiences, projects, and what being part of the Student Council means to them.

Calling all incoming kindergarten families! This podcast is for you!  Kindergarten registration opens this Monday, February 5! In this episode, Dr. Hinz is joined by two kindergarten teachers, Hannah Jaconetti from West Elementary and Casey Suh from Coventry Elementary, sharing what to expect in dual language and monolingual classrooms. West Elementary kindergartener Emily steals the show, explaining why kindergarten is so much fun and showcasing her amazing reading skills! Director of Student Information Systems, Aaron Knoth, gives the 'why' behind the importance of early registration, and Rebecca Morton, Director of Multicultural Programs, dives into the dual language lottery. New or current D47 families, this is your sneak peek into the world of kindergarten in District 47! Make sure you listen to the entire episode, it contains a special offer for listeners!

Lundahl Middle School 7th grade dual language students made it to the final round of a worldwide competition held by UNESCO called the Human Rights and Multicultural Challenge. They are the only United States school to move on to the finals. In this episode, Dr. Hinz is joined by dual language teacher Miren Ogando, principal Angie Compere, and students Sebastian, Joshua, Charlie and Bri, who share more about this incredible achievement! 

Canterbury principal Stacy Graff joins the podcast to talk about a program they launched this holiday season called "We CAN Give" where staff members generously contributed gifts that students could select and present to the adults in their lives. This program aimed to provide every student with the opportunity to experience the joy and satisfaction that comes with giving and highlights the generosity of Canterbury staff. 

Using a branch of ESSER funding, the district was able to provide 36 staff members with 30 hours of training in the Orton-Gillingham ‘decoding reading’ technique to utilize in class- an effort to address students struggling with reading disabilities. In this episode, Dr. Hinz is joined by Director of Special Education Holly Lyman, and special education teachers that were trained in the OG method- Erin Blake from Hannah Beardsley Middle School and Julia Lambert from Husmann Elementary School.

Clubs, Athletics, and Activities! There are so many ways for students to get involved and explore their interests. Join Dr. Kathy Hinz on episode 9 of 'Deep Dive with Dr. Hinz' as she talks with North Elementary students Claire and Corey, and Hannah Beardsley students Chaylee and Keshav about their experiences in extracurriculars at school.

This week we dive into the role of an interventionist and why it's essential to our mission of Empowering All Students! Dr. Hinz is joined by D47 Interventionists Stephanie Brual from Husmann, Christina Barranco from Canterbury, and Lindsay Huart from Bernotas, as well as Monica Peterson, our Director of Continuous Improvement, and Brittany Stefani, MTSS Instructional Coach. 

Join Dr. Kathy Hinz on episode 7 of 'Deep Dive with Dr. Hinz' where Jackie Rhew drops by to discuss some strategies parents can use to deal with childhood anxiety, fostering motivation at home and at school, and mental health. The district is once again partnering with Ms. Rhew for a 4-part virtual parenting series, starting with the first session on November 15- Engaging Learners. 

What does it mean to be a student leader? Join Dr. Kathy Hinz on episode 6 of 'Deep Dive with Dr. Hinz' where this question is answered by Bernotas Viking Mentors Cadence and Luke, and program leaders Brittany Stefani (MTSS coach) and Rachelle Dool (6th grade social studies teacher). This episode dives into the program, the importance of making connections, and the power of being a role model for all grade levels.

This week Dr. Hinz is joined by  some very special guests highlighting the D47 dual language program- Sarah Morgan, a 2nd grade teacher at Coventry Elementary with her student Galilea, and Raul Salas, a 6th grade teacher at Lundahl Middle School and his student Tomas. This episode dives into the program, some recent changes, and what the students love the most! 

This week Dr. Hinz is joined by Sarah Goodlow, Nicki Dindia, Kristin Ziemba, and Janet Sjurseth, our District 47 Behavioral Coaches. 

This week Dr. Hinz is joined by Dr. Anastasia Gruper, principal of Glacier Ridge Elementary School. This episode dives into the recent merge of Wehde Early Childhood Center, with Glacier Ridge to form Glacier Ridge PreK-5th. 

Join Dr. Hinz in discussion with Dawn Dvorak, Head of Youth Services and Ashlee Tominey, Youth Services Librarian at the Crystal Lake Public Library! District 47 and CLPL have a long history of working together to strengthen student literacy, here, Dawn and Ashlee share a little about how we continue to partner and about the student access cards available to all D47 students.

Welcome to D47's podcast, Deep Dive with Dr. Hinz! In this first episode, we sit down with our Director of Safety, Gary Snep, to delve into the vital world of school security. Tune in as we explore the insights and strategies the district has implemented to enhance the safety and security of our learning environments.