As Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 readies for the return of students on Tuesday, August 26, new Superintendent Laurie Heinz has set this year’s focus on keeping students “challenged, engaged and reaching greater heights.”
In her back-to-school letter to parents, Dr. Heinz noted that in addition to student safety, her top priorities would focus around teaching and learning. “I have been impressed with the investment District 64 has made in curriculum revision and the 21st Century Learning Plan. Our focus should never waiver from meeting the needs of our students,” she said.
As part of the learning plan, this year District 64 students in grades 3-8 will each receive their own Chromebook device as a learning tool, while students in grades K-2 will move toward a 1:1 ratio with iPads.
In support of this commitment, Dr. Heinz noted that professional development for teachers was a major effort this summer, with the Department for Student Learning receiving over 600 registrations for courses.
Led by District 64’s Instructional Technology Coaches, a dozen of the 18 in-house workshops targeted the use of 1:1 technology, with sessions ranging from establishing expectations for digital citizenship to promoting student communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity through the use of digital devices across the curriculum.
In addition, renowned author and researcher Dr. Jim Knight was scheduled for a full-day workshop for more than 100 teachers on high-impact instructional strategies; more than 60 other teachers attended an earlier workshop this spring.
“Mathematics also was a particular focus this summer,” Dr. Heinz added. District 64 last year introduced the new Common Core Standards aligned mathematics curriculum along with new math instructional resources.
“Building on lessons learned with the rollout, teachers this summer created a month-by-month guide that outlines topics, specific student learning targets, instructional activities, and how to best use supplemental resources,” she noted.
“I look forward to spending time in classrooms to see their hard work pay off with students,” Dr. Heinz said.
District 64 also debuted a newly redesigned website over the summer break.
Dr. Heinz reassured parents that it “represents part of our commitment to you and the community to improve our communications, particularly your ability to access information to help you support your child’s learning.”
Looking ahead to 2014-15, Dr. Heinz noted that District 64 will be “spotlighting three key initiatives: implementing our 1:1 learning plan; continuing to implement our math curriculum and beginning a revision of our science curriculum; and initiating a new strategic planning effort.” District 64’s current five-year Strategic Plan is entering its fifth year.
“I am proud of the intense focus we have – and will continue to place – on teaching and learning” as the new school year gets underway, she added.