Back to School 2024
Highland Park – Highwood, Illinois (North of Chicago)
Each year we get a “do over” in public education! We get students each year ready to learn, ready to grow, ready to learn citizenship skills, ready to make friends, ready to belong. Reading, writing & arithmetic, the arts, the sciences, civics, geography, physical health and wellness, critical thinking skills – and more – in education we create conditions that provide the possibility and reality for everything else. Everyone working today as an adult can look back at school experiences.

We have a lot to do in elementary education, PK-8th grade – we have many standards to teach. We have a lot of activities to facilitate. We have a lot of socialization and friendship Raising Consciousness in education, enhance society, celebrate humanity! We are here for a great purpose, many call teaching/education a calling and a profession vs a “job”.
Welcome back to school year 2024-2025
North Shore School District 112, born in 1992 out of a consolidation of three historic districts, proudly serves nearly 4000 students in grades PK-8 in nine campuses on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan! Predecessor districts started in the 1800s. Education in the community has been ongoing since the emergence of the community. Highland Park was founded in 1869, public schools have been part of the fabric of the community since then (and before). In our 13.2 square miles of geography, we have railroad tracks running through the towns with five Metra railroad stops. Homes on the lake, homes along the tracks, homes east of the highway, and homes west of the highway. All children are welcomed in our public schools! All children are entitled to a sense of belonging and value in D112.
In District 112 we focus on raising consciousness levels and efficacy in teaching and leading. We teach, learn, and implement culturally responsive pedagogy.
What is culturally responsive education? What is culturally responsive pedagogy? What is culturally responsive consciousness. What’s your level? “Culture is the air you breathe” – “it’s who you
are” – “it’s the impact of your experiences”. Our culture is not just tied to the color of our skin or our native language (Credit to Dr. Sonya Whitaker). We bring our culturally “baggage” each and every day – raise consciousness – know, learn, understand, and do something.
Students learn best in an environment where they feel safe – connected – seen – heard – valued – cared for – loved! Teachers who connect with their children in appropriate, prosocial relationships can see greater growth and learning – it’s proven in research studies and experience. Students learn from teachers who like them and from whom they like!
Each child learning and growing in every content area, skill area, social area, learning area — that’s what we seek! We measure culture (organization/staff, engagement/students, service quality/families) and we measure impact of teaching on learning (arts, sciences, math, reading, writing, etc.). Our aim is high levels of rigor in each classroom every day. Our aim is for high levels of learning as measured by growth, perception, achievement, and all metrics/measures over time. In our district, we have children in grades PK through 8. We can have an 11 year impact on a child’s life – that’s HUGE – the impact is powerful!!
Culture is to humans as water is to fish! – Dr. Wade Nobles. Who we are matters. Who our students are matters. Who our families are matters. How we inspire, innovate and engage matters.
This year Deputy Superintendent Dr. Monica Schroeder and I started out the New Staff Orientation Welcome with our messages of welcome, care, mission, vision, hope, expectation, and our “why” for our 41 new staff members. We aim to share the “who we are” as chief educational leaders in the organization as well as “why we are proud that the new staff are here with us”.
In this blog post, I’m sharing the slides we used to help tell our story and welcome our newest #112Leads team members!!
Part 1 Is the Part where I address my “why”, the concept of being Unfinished, and the themes of the Unfinished Teacher (images are AI Generated from Dall-E)
My initial messages are grounded in my sense of purpose and “why” – why am I excited after all these years? Why am I still as motivated today as I was in 1993 on my first “first day” as a teacher. Many of the themes I shared come from and our present in the 2024 book I co-wrote, the Unfinished Teacher: Becoming the Next Version of Yourself. The mindset or concept of being unfinished – seeking to become the “next” version of yourself, not your “best” version of yourself – grounds me in all of my work and professional impact.
I have created a custom GPT via Open AI’s Chat GPT called Unfinished Teacher Book Study – anyone can access this via Chat GPT, LINK: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-9bDnz2jRe-unfinished-teacher-book-study-buddy
Using that “GPT “bot”” I said, please provide an executive summary of the Unfinished Teacher for a blog post I am writing – please highlight the main points. Here is what the large language model produced …
### Key Takeaways for Blog Post
– **Continuous Growth**: Emphasize the importance of being an “unfinished” teacher who is always evolving and improving.
– **Personal Well-being**: Highlight the need for self-awareness, emotional health, and financial wellness as foundations for effective teaching.
– **Professional Adaptability**: Stress the importance of adapting to new technologies, evolving curriculum standards, and meeting diverse student needs.
– **Community and Morale**: Discuss the significance of fostering a positive school culture and supporting teacher and staff morale.
– **Inspirational Stories**: Share anecdotes from the teacher vignettes to illustrate real-life applications of the book’s principles.
### Executive Summary: The Unfinished Teacher
**Purpose and Context**
“The Unfinished Teacher: Becoming the Next Version of Yourself” aims to support educators in enhancing their teaching practices and nurturing a culture of continuous learning and development. This book emphasizes the importance of personal and professional growth in the education profession, addressing current challenges such as the politicization of education and the ongoing teacher shortage.
**Section 1: Personal Growth**
This section focuses on individual development, encouraging teachers to reflect on their personal and social-emotional health, financial wellness, and self-awareness.
1. **Being a Great Teammate**
– Explores teamwork, self-awareness, collaboration, and adaptability.
– Encourages teachers to be reflective and proactive in their interactions and growth.
2. **Awareness**
– Highlights the importance of self-awareness and empathy.
– Discusses the impact of personal experiences on teaching and the need for cultural responsiveness
3. **Personal and Social-Emotional Health**
– Addresses the causes of burnout and emphasizes the importance of physical and mental health.
– Introduces the SEEDS framework (Sleep, Exercise, Eat, Drink, Socialize) for maintaining well-being.
4. **Financial Health and Wellness**
– Provides practical advice on financial planning, stress management, and investing in oneself.
– Stresses the importance of financial literacy and retirement planning
**Section 2: Professional Growth and Change**
This section covers the professional aspects of teaching, including curriculum development, technology integration, and teacher morale.
5. **Curriculum, Standards, Assessment, and Data**
– Balances the demands of curriculum standards with creative teaching methods.
– Emphasizes the importance of using assessments to enhance learning and inform instruction.
6. **Meeting the Needs of Each Child**
– Focuses on equity and personalized learning.
– Encourages teachers to address diverse student needs through responsive and inclusive teaching practices.
7. **Technology**
– Advocates for the use of technology as a tool to enhance learning.
– Discusses emerging technologies like AI, AR, and gamification, and their potential in education.
8. **Teacher and Staff Morale**
– Explores the factors impacting teacher morale and the importance of a positive school culture.
– Provides strategies for improving morale through recognition, collaboration, and supportive leadership.
**Teacher Vignettes**
The book includes personal essays from educators, sharing their journeys and reflecting on the themes of personal and professional growth. These stories provide practical insights and inspiration for teachers at all stages of their careers.
**Conclusion**
The book concludes with a powerful message about the importance of embracing change and remaining “unfinished.” It encourages teachers to continually evolve, adapt, and strive for personal and professional growth, while acknowledging the inherent challenges and rewards of the teaching profession.
