Tag Archives: climate

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Communication is Essential – Leadership in #ENGAGE109

“In union there is strength.”
– Aesop

I’m proud to share via the blog a recent Journal article I co-wrote with Dr. Brian Bullis and Dr. John Fillipi, principals at Charles J. Caruso Middle School and Alan B. Shepard Middle School, respectively, in Deerfield Public Schools District 109.

We have focused on organizational culture as a core foundation of our leadership and service.

Please click the image below to link to the article (also linked here)

Our article starts on Page 44

Our article starts on Page 44

 

We seek input on a regular basis through various modes of collection, including, but not limited to:

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Summer – Same Focus on Excellence – #ENGAGE109

“As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.”
– Ben Hogan

Photo of Music and Art classroom/learning space redesign 2016

Photo of Music and Art classroom/learning space redesign 2016

It’s Summer and that means construction, re-design, and recharging in the Deerfield Public Schools District 109! For the past three years we have re-designed and re-imagined learning spaces in kindergarten, middle school STEM/STEAM/Science and hallways, and this summer we are embarking on a major set of projects to continue our transformation.

This year the middle school art and music wings will be re-designed and upgraded, taking us from 1960’s era learning spaces to the present and future. And each of the four elementary school library learning spaces is undergoing a complete “face lift” and redesign process as well. A major highlight of this work is the renewed focus on STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics K-8. Each elementary school library learning space will get a PTO (Parent-Teacher-Organization) funded SMART lab!

In addition to summer construction we have many teacher learning and professional development sessions underwIMG_20150421_093844ay. From our focus on problem based learning with a cohort of 35 teachers and administrators and iCoaches from around the district’s six schools to math curriculum mapping, to data assessment review, our teachers hardly get the “summer off”. On the contrary, our educators spend the summer recharging for the next school year! As we review the data from the past three years we focus on far more than simply student test performance. Of course, as responsible educators and leaders we do focus on student learning and test performance, that is part of our 360 degree view of success and growth in our district.

 

As we have shared in various formats, including the 2016 State of the District video, the District takes great pride in measuring and reporting to the community. We look at multiple measures to inform our decisions in support of educational excellence and student learning, growth, success, and safety.

  • Organizational Culture (part of the Big 5 started in 2013)
  • Student Engagement (new for students in grades 3-8 started in 2015)
  • Climate (started in 2013)
  • Impact of 1:1 Transformation of Learning Environments (BrightBytes started in 2014, students in grades 4-8, parents, all staff)
  • “Pulse” surveys (ongoing at various grade levels across the district)
  • Illinois Youth Survey (students in grades 6 and 8 every other year)
  • PARCC – mandated by law since 2014
  • Measures of Academic Progress (MAP tests in reading and math, three times per year K-8 since 2013)
  • Coming in the Fall – STRATEGIC PLANNING input surveys and focus groups (ECRA group)

In addition, a new feature to find out the PULSE of the district is live via this blog (top right) and via the Superintendent’s Web Page via our District website – please take a moment to rate the quality of our district!

As a public school district it’s imperative we measure and report on the

Return on Investment!

This past year I was fortunate to share the DPS109 story of excellence and share the leadership impact of the Board, the Leroiadership Team, the Teachers, the Staff, the Students, the Parents, and the entire community across the county, state, nation, and world!

 

Throughout the summer months we will continue to share updates, photos, information about the Deerfield Public Schools Journey on the road of excellence and innovation! During the summer our District Center and each of the two middle school offices are open and ready to serve every day (the hours are different but our commitment to excellent customer service is a 12 month, 24/7 commitment!).

Please remember that the Text-a-Tip hotline is open 24/7 as well! If anyone needs confidential help from a trained counselor, remember that they can text a message to 224HELP (2244357).

Text a Tip to 224HELP

 

 

ENGAGE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER

ENGAGE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER

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Innovation Has Many Forms – #ENGAGE109

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking of yourself less.”
– C.S. Lewis

IL In our school district we take pride in the words and actions ENGAGE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER. We aim to do this each and every day with and for each and every student, staff member, and the community! Since July 2013 our Big 5 have been driving our actions and initiatives:

Common Core State Standards (a/k/a Illinois New Learning Standards), Next Generation Science Standards
Teacher Evaluation – Charlotte Danielson Frameworks for Effective Teaching
Technology
Organizational Culture
Superintendent’s Task Force for Middle Level Education

ENGAGE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER

ENGAGE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER

We often write about innovation and we often share examples of the teacher’s innovative practices in blogs, Twitter, Facebook, principal newsletters, emails from the district, in person events, etc. Today I’m writing to celebrate an innovative project experience from 7th grade English Language Arts. In the 7th grade ELA class this year the students had to complete a project entitled:  Change the World. One of our students sent a letter to the Illinois Department of Homeland Security. The boy’s letter was so impressive to the staff that the Deputy Director, James Joseph, called principal, Dr. John Filippi, and he shared his delight at the letter. In addition he offered to come visit the student and his classmates!

IMG_0039 IMG_0035 IMG_0034 IMG_0028 (1)

Today Mr. James Joseph, the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor came to Alan B. Shepard Middle School and visited with the student, his classmates and teachers.

In addition he made a brief presentation and answered questions from the students. In the pictures shown to the left we also show another special guest, retired Major General Robert G.F. “Bob” Lee. Gen. Lee was visiting the Governor’s office and it fit into his schedule to join Director Joseph. Gen. Lee shared information about his fascinating service to our country as well as to his home state of Hawaii. Security is a national concern and it’s nice to know we have such able, knowledgeable, talented and able leaders helping defend our nation and our state.

The power of a letter, the power of a communication, the power of an inquisitive student can lead to the highest levels of government, society, agencies, companies, etc. Our amazing teachers are taking learning to new levels with engagement, inspiring lessons and empowerment of students to reach out to “real people” in the world who do the work about which we are learning!

Check the podcast for a 5 minute excerpt of today’s visit:

In Deerfield we truly believe, and we teach our students, that, in the words of Margaret Mead:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

Our students, through agency and voice, are learning that they matter not only in school and at home, but as part of the larger world. It’s wonderful, especially as a public school leader, to show the power ofittakesavillage education and the value of our innovative public education in terms of meaning and relevance.

We are grateful to General Lee, Director Joseph, as well as other dignitaries who have visited our schools like Governor Bruce Rauner, U.S. Congressman Hon. Robert Dold, Illinois Senator Hon. Julie Morrison, Illinois Representative Hon. Scott Drury, Lake County Regional Superintendent of Schools Hon. Roycealee Wood, Deerfield Mayor Hon. Harriet Rosenthal, and many others who visit to engage with students, learn from our teachers, interact with our world class facilities, and in one way or another, show support for meaningful, effective public education!

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Inspiring a Shared Vision in DPS109 – #ENGAGE109

“There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there.”
– Indira Gandhi

b8077f18-ce80-4257-b717-ea878b099ad9In this blog post I am highlighting the great work of the teachers, students, parents, support staff members, administrators, community members and the Board of Education of the Deerfield Public Schools District 109. Our leadership team has been following the research of Kouzes & Posner. In their book The Leadership Challenge they share decades of leadership research across industry and they proffer that the five practices of exemplary leadership are: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart (MICEE). The focus of this post rests with the Inspire a Shared Vision Practice, and at the end of the post I share a recently published journal article about our District’s shared vision and its direct connection to actions.

From an August 23, 2013 post:
Leaders build relationships. I believe that each person is a leader in one way or another. Some are leaders by nature and talent, some are leaders by situation or role. Leadership is both an art and a science, and there are many books, articles, research reports, and findings about what leadership is and leadquotewhat leadership can do. Two great books on school and district leadership are: School Leadership that works and District Leadership that works. One of the main charges that I have as the superintendent of schools is to support leadership so that leaders emerge in all parts of the organization to Engage, Inspire, and Empower. While I am visible in the schools, and while the classroom is the most important “place” in the school district, I also work very closely with the administrative team in an effort to support their work and their leadership.

This year [2013-14] as a leadership team (district center administrators, and building level administrators) we are working on a book study with The Leadership Challenge. The authors of this classic and highly regarded leadership book Kouzes and Posner detail and describe Five Main frameworks for leadership (Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart).

Our Leadership Challenge is to fulfill our district mission every day in every classroom and in every interaction. One tangible, observable way in which we can guide our leader’s work is found in the Five Main frameworks.

Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart (MICEE)

The Mission of the Deerfield Public Schools, DPS109:

Provide educational experiences of the highest quality that engage, inspire and empower each student to excel and contribute in a changing world.

Our Vision: District 109 students will excel and contribute when they have the knowledge and skills to be: • Lifelong, self-directed learners, • Critical and creative thinkers, • Effective communicators,
• Collaborative team members, • Respectful and responsible members of society

This month (March 2016) Deerfield Public Schools District 109 Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations, CSBO Greg Himebaugh & I published an article in the Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO) Journal UPDATE (see below). This article is about how WE in DPS109 have been inspiring a SHARED vision that has lead, leads to, and will continue to lead to ACTION and LEADERSHIP on behalf of students, staff, and community!

DPSLOGO

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Magic happens in 4th grade!

“The secret of joy in work is contained in one word–excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.”
– Pearl S. Buck

Walden1

Today I had the opportunity to view school through the lenses of Mrs. Johnson’s 4th grade class at Walden School in our District. Mrs. Johnson facilitates learning for 22 wonderful students. As part of our administrative commitment to leading through learning, I “shadowed” or spent the entire day (lunch, art, recess too) with my new friends at Walden School. The focus of today’s shadowing was to learn what it’s like to learn in a typical classroom in Deerfield Public Schools – District 109. Each year our holiday presents as a leadership team is a holiday “presence” where we administrators substitute teach for a full day – that experience is wonderful and over the past two years I have taught self-contained special education, 7th grade math, and after the new year in 2016 I will teach 1st grade!

lunchatwaldenToday’s leadership focus was learning about our work and our leadership through the experience of the students we serve. I’m drafting this post during writing time; it’s the first time today I’m doing my own work; I was doing the actual 4th grade student coursework all day. I participated as a student in number corner, language arts whole group and small group, art,lunch/recess, match, science and around the world!

With the help and support of the awesome students I learned the routines, rules, procedures, expectations, essentially “how” to be a 4th grader at Walden School. The students were really busy all day and the day flew by. The students and I were busy pursuing authentic learning tasks. We analyzed complex text, we reviewed multiple sources of informational text. The conversations were high level, complex, meaningful and quite impressive. Mrs. Johnson runs an active classroom and she clearly puts in tons of time planning, preparing, reviewing, teaching, helping, listening – she is an excellent teacher! In

workwithkids floorwork math class we followed the Illinois New Learning Standards and we worked collaboratively and with multiple methods of discovery and presentation. Mrs. Johnson respects the individual needs and abilities and interests of her students.

Our teacher, Mrs. Johnson is amazing! She is kind, considerate, well planned, organized, authoritative, focused, diligent – truly excellent in every sense of the word and per all criteria I have studied, read, and implemented over the years about effective instruction. As a student I participated in guided learning,

CSWju_OUsAAJMueindependent practice, individualized activities and personalized opportunities. I had clear expectations and clear outcomes to produce yet often I was able to select the way in which I could produce the learning.

Through deliberate conversation and teaching I was reminded naturally of the Illinois New Learning Standards as a normal part of the vocabulary and discussion. It’s as natural for Mrs. Johnson’s students to speak the language of Standard NF.3d as it is for them to use the “real” vocabulary of mathematics. The students are learning to become fluent in math vocabulary, concepts, practice, and mastery of standards based learning. In art class I learned about Wassily Kandinsky, the color wheel, and how to make colors out of paint using the primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. My one hour as a fourth grade art student was fun, engaging, informative, and active. I completed the primary and secondary color abstract painting with the help of my fellow students and wonderful teacher Ms. Summers.

artphoto

 

Today, in “real life” I saw examples of learning on the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. The students routinely performed thinking tasks, considered the feelings of other and they were moving around all day long. This was a classroom preparing students for today and tomorrow! This was a modern, contemporary, relevant learning environment for some wonderful students.

I saw and I experienced the 4C’s: Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking. The natural integration of multiple processes, routines, actions, and learning make me quite proud. Mrs. Johnson spoke in the language of high expectations and kindness and courtesy and focus. The students roiwere normal, typical kids – a little rambunctious, funny, fun, interactive, and to a person – ENGAGED in the learning. Mrs. Johnson is teaching students and they are learning. They learn how to work with one another, they focus on social emotional learning (they use the Botvin Life Skills program as do all 4th and 5th grade students in the district). The students with whom I learned today truly were engaged in their tasks, learning, content, subject, one another, and school in general. They inspired me as their superintendent and their performance all day – bell to bell – truly was inspired. They were empowered to select from a variety of resources and tools both technological/digital and in print throughout the school day.

The students were learning and engaged in authentic learning tasks aligned with best practices from the minute they walked in to the minute the bell rang at 3:25pm. Mrs. Johnson is an outstanding representative of an outstanding faculty! What a great experience! I am fortunate to work, lead, and serve in the Deerfield Public Schools.

ENGAGE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER

ENGAGE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER

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Culture is Everything – Relationships are Everything – #Engage109

“The test of a leader is taking the vision from me to we.”
– John C. Maxwell, Leadership expert

In the Deerfield Public Schools – District 109, one of the “BIG 5” initiatives under which we operate is Organizational Culture. Our unwavering focus on employee engagement and satisfaction is demonstrated in our annual measure of culture and the individual school action planning around measures of culture at each school. It’s also felt each and every time one walks the halls of our schools or interacts withPeter-Drucker-Culture-Strategy our amazing teachers, support staff, administrators, board members, students, and members of the community. With a strong organizational culture reflecting intentional relationship building, our District is humbled and proud of the three year culture trends (see below from a recent Board presentation from one of our research partners):

All school teams deserve a lot of credit for identifying culture dimensions in need of attention. It is essential to replicate that which works and to remediate that which does not! Our aim is success for all students and staff and community. Our Board of Education continues to lead strategically and govern from “the balcony” allowing staff to do the necessary work on behalf of student learning. As a futureleadership team we have been in office for 26 months and a tremendous amount of positive growth and change is underway. I cannot thank our administrators, teachers, support staff members, students and board members enough for their dedication to intentional and deliberate excellence!

At the most recent school board meeting I shared a highlight of where we have been, where we are and where we are going organizationally. See below for details:

ENGAGE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER

ENGAGE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER

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Engagement with Community – Listen, Share, Respond – #Engage109

“I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.”
– Vincent Van Gogh

Upon entry into a school system (or company) one of the first things leaders do is listen to stakeholders and find out what’s going on. They ask questions like: “what’s on your mind?”, “what is working here”, “if you were in my position, what advice would you give me”, and so on. Any impactful leader’s entry plan involves engagement and listening! As I have learned and as I continue to learn on my leadership journey, it is necessary to listen and respond throughout one’s tenure – not just at the beginning. In our District we value strategic and ongoing communications to engage our stakeholders.

In our District we highly value survey data, focus group data, stakeholder input, and action. Each year we administer a Culture Survey and every other year we administer a climate survey. I have shared posts

The Mandarin Chinese symbol "listen" - the heart, ears, eyes ... together - Listen.

The Mandarin Chinese symbol “listen” – the heart, ears, eyes … together – Listen.

about our community engagement efforts over the past few months. From the earliest days of my administrative career I have had a Chinese symbol in my office: this is a reminder to LISTEN with both ears and my heart!

As part of our data informed decision making processes we engage with thought leaders and thought partners around various endeavors on an on-going basis about a multitude of topics (including but not limited to): curriculum, teaching, engagement, innovation, communication, etc. With respect to communication, the following four slides show graphics about our recent strategic engagement efforts. While our tag line is Engage, Inspire, Empower – our energy is devoted to seeking out thoughts, reactions, feedback and input into how we can continue to best fulfill our bold mission!

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Highlights of success after two years – getting ready for year #3 – Engage, Inspire, Empower

“Every organization must be prepared to abandon everything it does to survive in the future.”
– Peter Drucker

We continue to embark on ways to improve learning opportunities for students, staff, leaders and members of our community. The upcoming school year will focus on full day kindergarten, enhanced science curricular resources for all students in grades K-5, completely renovated science lab classrooms for all students in grades 6-8, elective choice for 8th grade students, instrumental music during the school day, and so much more! Stay tuned as we highlight our continued innovative approaches to learning and teaching.
future
 

What have we done since July 1, 2013 – we’ve had a busy and productive first two years as we Engage, Inspire, and Empower in Deerfield, IL – School District 109 – We are proud of our teachers, students, staff, Board and administrative team! As a listing, we share highlights of success from the past two years as we embark on an exciting year #3!

 

 

  • Communication/Community Engagement
  • opened Twitter
  • established #engage109
  • increased usage of social media as part of strategic communications
  • School Facebook and Twitter and You Tube
  • Blogs, internet radio interviews, video/screencasts to the community
  • Let’s Talk!
  • Regular communication with the Village, Police, Park District, Library
  • Engaged in Emergency Training (twice) with Deerfield Police and Deerfield Bannockburn Fire Departments
  • Sucessfully applied for $76,000 IL FEMA grant for additional security
  • Revised Building Emergency Maps, crisis plan, student handbook
  • Food Allergy Management Plan
    Overhauled teacher evaluation and staff selection process
  • 2013-2014 – 1st Cycle for new STEP Procedures
    2014-2015 – 2nd Cycle for new STEP Procedures
    Updated Job Descriptions for DEA and Admin
    Updated and revised AP job descriptions & roles
    Complete Overhaul of Hiring Protocols
    Superintendent’s Task Force for Middle Level Education
  • Science Labs – middle school – Phase I and Phase II
  • alternative energy
  • STEM and CMA labs and revamped exploratory at middle school
  • Band/orchestra brought into the school day
  • tried out Rachel’s Challenge for social emotional at MS
  • gifted tracking changes
  • studied world language program
  • Piloted Botvin Life Skills for social emotional at ES
    1:1 Transformative Learning Environment:
  • 1:1 Innovation Grants – Pilot program 2013-14
  • 1:1 roll out 2014-15 including the purchase of 3,000 new tech units, supported by a robust wireless infrastructure
  • 1:1 Celebration/Information Nights at each school
  • parent tech training nights
  • Dev Heitner program for parents
  • Dev Heitner workshop for 5th grade students
    Professional Development
  • Mentoring program with the Illinois Principal Association
  • Deerfield College
  • Edcamp 109
  • Edcamp NS with 112, 113, 109
  • teaching and learning conference
  • Tom Guskey to DPS109
  • NGSS – Emily Alford
  • Discovery Education
  • iCoaches
  • Twitter/#engage109 for PD sharing
  • Multiple admin doctoral completion
    Surveys:
  • Climate survey
  • Culture survey
  • Exploratory surveys
  • BrightBytes 1:1 roll out impacts /environment survey
  • EDK – pilot for extended day kindergarten intervention

OTHER

  • Full-day kindergarten
  • Text-A-Tip social emotional partnership
  • Skyward Leader in Excellence District
  • IASBO….many awards
  • INSPRA Distinguished Service Award of Excellence (Task Force)
  • INSPRA Communication Contest Award of Merit (HR Communication Packet)
  • Meritorious Budget Award, Certificate for Excellence in Financial Reporting
  • PARCC Pilot 2014/PARCC roll out 2015, implementation of map and dca tests
  • Online registration/online summer school registration through Skyward
  • Increased leadership development – leadership retreat focus/book study/self evaluation
  • Principal /admin presentations at national, state, local conferences
  • Increased partnerships with local corporations (Takeda, Siemens)
  • New standards-based progress reports for K-5
  • Grade level PLC and develop standard based strands and habits of success at the middle school level
  • Classroom of the Future
  • Increased grandparent connections
  • Trained staff in facilitated IEP meetings
  • Redesigned the district special education programs
  • Implemented the new regulations for early intervention
  • Created and implemented K-8 Curriculum Maps ELA and Math
  • Deerfield Vertical Alignment committee with Deerfield High School and middle school teachers
  • Literacy Design Collaborative
  • $100,000 IL DECO grant
  • Had a successful audit of internal controls
  • Completed $18 million in capital projects with zero change orders or cost overruns including the $15 million
  • HVAC project, Caruso roofwork, Walden and Kipling casework, emergency backup generators, automated lighting, Kipling ceiling upgrades, elementary school restrooms, and new South Park parking lot

future

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Reflections from teaching and researching – voice/input/respect – keys to success and growth

“The best index to a person’s character is how he treats people who can’t do him any good, and how he treats people who can’t fight back.”
– Abigail Van Buren

Early in my career I learned that student choice in how they could produce learning increased their engagement levels. I also learned that by teaching students how to think about thinking (metacognition) their understanding and reasoning skills were enhanced. When I was a middle school teacher I believed ALL students could learn and I believed ALL students deserved rigorous, relevant, results focused learning. I was successful as a teacher because I built a foundation based upon trusting relationships and respect. It is part of my mission, passion, and calling to this profession to ensure that all educators believe in ALL students and that learning remain the focus of our business. We are in the business of learning. We produce learners and thinkers.

About 12 years into my career I was fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue and complete post-graduate studies earning the degree of Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in curriculum & instruction. I published my dissertation: Effective Instruction in Middle School Social Studies. One statistically significant finding from my research and studies was in the area of student voice/choice. Statistically significant essentially means that what occurred did so as a result of something other than chance … meaning, the deliberate conditions (in the case of my study student choice in learning assessments) yielded higher levels of student satisfaction. The purpose of the study was to analyze student learning in 8th grade social studies classes with both traditional and constructivist philosophy based instructional settings, and to analyze the impact upon student learning in three areas: achievement, satisfaction, and perception. The findings that were significant refer to satisfaction.

Students took the Student Satisfaction Survey from the Comprehensive Assessment of School Environments (CASE) from the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). The student satisfaction survey used in this study was part of the Comprehensive Assessment of School Environments (CASE) published and created by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). The satisfaction survey applied to the research in this dissertation study was used to establish satisfaction levels for the two comparison groups, the control group and the treatment group.

Research in the literature shows connections between student success and elements of constructivist philosophy. The ultimate implication for the education community, based upon the data presented in my dissertation study, is the social justice implication inherent in research studies designed to determine student satisfaction, perception and achievement. Students are the primary stakeholders, or constituent groups, in America’s classrooms this should not be forgotten or looked over. That these students have opinions and their ideas can be windows into the best and most appropriate educational methods of instruction should not be forgotten. Today’s student may be the same and he may be different from yesterday’s student, but the fact that student success is a just and viable goal for all school systems lends itself to the need for additional research into how best to educate children.

In my current leadership role, in addition to sharing meaningful research (i.e. Hattie’s findings), I also work to implement meaningful ways to impact student and staff learning. Lessons I have learned from personal research as well as from secondary research continue to govern and inform my work. Increasing satisfaction, engagement, happiness, respect, value – and by holding high expectations for ALL – we will continue to show growth!

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Let’s Talk! Focus on Communication – Big 5 Organizational Culture

“One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.”
– Marie Curie

As part of our District’s Big 5, Organizational Culture plays a huge part of our focus and energy! In support of keeping up with the pulse of the community, we have partnered with K12Insight.com for climate survey development as well as ongoing communication tracking through Let’s Talk.

Let’s Talk! is not meant to replace emails, phone calls or meetings with teachers or staff; it provides an additional (and very easy) way for parents, staff and community members to communicate with the District. Each submission to Let’s Talk! is sent to the appropriate school, department and/or staff members. If you request a response, you will receive it within two business days. If you don’t ask for a response, but simply want to let us know what’s on your mind, please be assured that we are listening! District 109 will track the submissions to Let’s Talk to determine where we need to communicate better, or areas we need to focus our work to engage, inspire, and empower our students and each other.

If you have questions about your child’s academic experience, please contact your child’s teacher directly. Do not use Let’s Talk! for emergency situations. If you have an emergency, please call 9-1-1 to reach the Deerfield Police Department.

From their website:
FAQs: “Let’s Talk About Let’s Talk!”

What is Let’s Talk!?
In short, Let’s Talk! is a simple way for a school district to monitor the pulse of its community while giving parents, teachers, staff, students and community members a 24/7 channel for ideas, questions, concerns and praise. While not every submission requires a personal reply, Let’s Talk! embodies a district’s commitment to listening and responding with care.

Let’s Talk! is prominently featured on your district’s website and accessible anytime, anywhere, on any device. Participants may provide their contact information or choose to remain anonymous. District staff can also update Let’s Talk! as they receive emails, calls, letters and in-person feedback from stakeholders. Let’s Talk! works via mobile app, too — far exceeding today’s “right-now” customer service expectations.

How does Let’s Talk! work?
Districts with Let’s Talk! are committed to authentic communication, which includes reading, reflecting on and responding to stakeholder input promptly. Let’s Talk! eases this process by organizing feedback and ensuring follow-up with appropriate staff. An intuitive “dashboard” manages access and displays common themes, average staff response times and user satisfaction, turning every interaction into an opportunity for progress.

Why is Let’s Talk! important?
Stakeholders are always talking, and their conversations shape your district’s brand — often on social media and without district input. It’s easy for naysayers to cloud perceptions and hinder progress. Let’s Talk! prevents this by opening dialogue, identifying critical issues and promoting solutions. Whether your district responds via phone, email, blog or other means, the result will be the same: Community goodwill, a culture of collaboration and a relationship built on trust.

Won’t I be overwhelmed with negative Let’s Talk! feedback?
Let’s Talk! entries typically represent a manageable range of opinions — many of them positive. Let’s Talk! also addresses concerns at their earliest stages, preventing site-level problems from becoming district-wide issues. Rather than magnifying criticism, Let’s Talk! defuses it by strengthening communication, resolving problems and promoting collaborative success.

Our district handles community feedback well. Why should we add Let’s Talk! to our services?
Let’s Talk! integrates the many ways districts receive and manage input. Say goodbye to countless emails, voicemails, “While You Were Out” messages and sticky notes about wide-ranging stakeholder issues. Let’s Talk! replaces them with organization, efficiency and measurable outcomes. Contact us now to get started.

Why not drop us a line via Let’s Talk!