February 2011 - School District U-46

TEACHING, LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP
February 2011
Twenty-nine Elementary Schools to Offer Dual Language
Beginning in 2011-12, 29 U-46 schools will offer a dual language program for students who are learning
English. Six of those schools, in addition to Channing Memorial Elementary in Elgin, will also offer
two-way dual language enrichment for English-speaking students who will join Spanish-speaking
students, as all work towards being bilingual. The schools were chosen due to the results of interest
surveys completed by the families of current kindergarten students and incoming kindergarten students.
The new two-way dual language schools include: Glenbrook Elementary (one 1 st grade class), Hanover
Countryside Elementary (one 1 st grade class), Harriet Gifford Elementary (one kindergarten class; one
1st first grade class), Heritage Elementary (one 1 st grade class), Nature Ridge Elementary (two 1 st grade
classes), and Otter Creek Elementary (two 1 st grade classes). These schools will continue to serve
students who live within their attendance boundaries. However, the district’s first dual language
program located at Channing Memorial Elementary will continue to be an option for English-speaking
students who do not live within the attendance zone of a school that offers two-way dual language.
Under the new dual language model being implemented, students in Pre-K and kindergarten will receive
80% of their instruction in Spanish and 20% in English. The amount of English instruction increases in
each subsequent grade level until half of instruction is in English and half in Spanish with the ultimate
goal of having students literate in both languages.
The 29 elementary schools that currently have bilingual education will transition to a one-way dual
language model in grades Pre-K through 2 nd beginning next school year. The one-way dual language
program follows the same model for English Language Learners, but will not provide the enrichment
opportunity for English-speaking students. These schools are Century Oaks, Channing, Coleman,
Creekside, Garfield, Glenbrook, Heritage, Hillcrest, Hilltop, Hanover Countryside, Harriet Gifford,
Highland, Huff, Laurel Hill, Lincoln, Lords Park, Lowrie,
McKinley, Nature Ridge, Oakhill, Ontarioville, Otter Creek, Parkwood, Ridge Circle, Sheridan,
Sunnydale, Timber Trails, and Washington Elementary Schools as well as Illinois Park Early Learning
Center (K).
ELL staff members have conducted numerous meetings at the elementary schools with ELL programs to
make parents aware of the opportunities. In addition, they have provided updates to the
Superintendent’s Staff and ELL teachers throughout the process. ELL administrators, teachers, and
parents also presented at the February Citizens’ Advisory Council general meeting to explain the
program and answer questions. Additional information continues to be updated on the U-46 web site:
www.u-46.org/ell.
Administrators Announced for Key Leadership Positions
On January 24, Dr. José M. Torres announced his selection for key positions, including Chief Operating
Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer, two cabinet-level positions. Retiree Jim Feuerborn has
been the Interim COO this year until a full-time administrator was named. The Human Resources
department full-time position has been vacant for two years with other administrators sharing the work.
Jeff King assumed his duties as the new Chief Operating Officer on February 15, returning to U-46
where he worked from 2001-2009. Mr. King has been the Assistant Superintendent for Finance and

Operations in Lake Zurich School District 95 since 2009. Prior to that, Mr. King served for three years
as the Executive Director of Operations in U-46, overseeing key operational areas including purchasing,
food and nutrition services, plant operations, and pupil transportation. He was originally hired by U-46
in 2001 to the position of Director of Business Services.
Debbie Zelinski is the new Chief Human Resources Officer. Most recently, Ms. Zelinski served as
the Vice President, Human Resources for iPCS Communications, Inc.
Prior to working at iPCS Communications, Ms. Zelinksi was the Director of Human Resources at
InteliStaf Healthcare in Oakbrook Terrace, at PrimeCo Personal Communications in Itasca, and at
Ameritech in Hoffman Estates.
Jennifer Bond-Stoever has been selected to serve as the Director of Instruction, Elementary
Education, effective April 4. She currently serves as the Principal at Heritage Elementary School.
Before joining U-46, Mrs. Bond-Stoever served as a principal in the Taylorville, Illinois, school district,
and as an assistant principal for an elementary school in the Alton, Illinois, school district. She also has
been an elementary school teacher.
Andrea Dombrowski is the new Coordinator for Teacher Effectiveness Initiatives (TEI), effective
immediately. She is currently a teacher-leader for TEI. In that role, she has been involved in long-term
planning and goal setting, training and professional development, and collecting and analyzing data
related to the Teacher Appraisal Program (TAP). Ms. Dombrowski also has been a teacher at Nature
Ridge Elementary School.
Dr. Annette Acevedo has been chosen as the Coordinator of the Family Welcome Center beginning
July 1. She now works as a social worker at Ellis Middle School. Her responsibilities include engaging
parents and working closely with community support services. She has collaborated in the
implementation of parent support groups and trainings, primarily for Spanish- speaking families. Dr.
Acevedo has worked at several other U-46 schools including Streamwood Elementary and Ridge Circle
Elementary.
Board Updated on Teacher Appraisal Plan Implementation
Bill DuBois, Team Leader of Teacher Effectiveness Initiatives, updated the Board on the second full
year of the implementation of the Teacher Appraisal Plan (TAP). Mr. DuBois stated that, while the new
appraisal plan is being phased in over four years, we are actually a year ahead of schedule. Completion
of implementation has been planned for Fall, 2012. Currently, 60% of our teachers are using the new
TAP system, a response that exceeded original expectations.
He shared information about how administrators—supervisors of certified staff—are receiving support
for the implementation of the TAP with their teachers/ETA members. Their training, ATAP, can be
taken for academy credit through the Kane County Regional Office of Education as part of their
recertification process. Mr. Dubois and other TEI staff provide ongoing support for teachers and
administrators is provided through emailed newsletters—ATAP News. He also explained to the board
members that progress is being monitored via surveys and anecdotal observations.
As Mr. DuBois retires in June, the board members used this opportunity to publicly acknowledge the
successes of his long career in U-46 as a teacher, leader of the Teacher Mentor Program, and the TAP
initiative.
New Event for Middle School Students – “You Be the Chemist” Challenge!

This event, new to U-46, was held on February 9 at Hemmens Auditorium in Elgin and included 24
students from the eight middle schools. The winning students will go on to the state competition on
April 1. They are: first-place winner Alex Moreno from Eastview Middle School; Matt Gedritis from
Tefft Middle School, second place; and Chelsea Lenart, also from Tefft, third place. Henry Robbins
from Kimball Middle School placed fourth and will serve as an alternate for the state competition.
Winners of that advance to a national event to vie for “Jr. Scientist”.
After holding preliminary competitions at the middle schools, three students from each school advanced
to the event at Hemmens. The competition provided the students the opportunity to participate in a
challenging competition in a game-show format as they answered questions on topics from the scientific
method to atomic structure. Parents, teachers, and friends cheered them on from the audience. All
students participating at Hemmens received gift cards. The winning students received awards, college
savings bonds, and gift cards.
The event was sponsored by UOP, a Honeywell company, and the Chemical Educational Foundation
and is designed to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and chemical industry leaders.
Development of Standards-Based Report Card for Elementary Schools Underway
More than eight years ago, an Elementary Report Card Committee began looking at a standards-based
option for reporting the progress of students in Kindergarten-Grade 6. At that time, a standard district
report card was not adopted; however, since then, many U-46 elementary schools have developed
standards-based tools for their own schools.
In June 2009, members of the Instructional Council requested that the district form a new Elementary
Report Card Committee. In January 2010, an “all-call” invitation was sent to the elementary schools,
seeking committee members. The committee was charged with designing a report card to be used by all
student groups (K-6) that reflects current curriculum and that clearly communicates student
competencies to the students, their parents, and all staff. Outcomes for the committee include: a review
of current best practices as related to elementary report cards; a primary-level report card; an
intermediate-level report card; a computer-based option; a staff development plan; a parent education
plan; and a process for providing ongoing feedback about the new report card from various stakeholders.
Since February, 2010, when the committee was established, members have been meeting on a regular
basis. The group analyzed research from a variety of sources and rated sample reporting tools currently
used in U-46, as well as those used in neighboring districts and from across the U.S. To begin the
development of a K-6 U-46 tool, they formed a Steering Committee to continue the work over the
summer and to prepare a venue to share information with others—staff and parents. Co-chairs of the
Steering Committee are Lynn Glaser, Coordinator of Assessment, and Mary Wojtczak, Huff Elementary
School teacher.
Committee members have reviewed the Illinois Learning Standards, Common Core Standards and the
new U-46 Balanced Literacy Framework to identify grade-level indicators for the content areas; they
also identified behaviors that affect learning.
During this school year, the Steering Committee members have continued their work. Activities include
reviewing the current grade-level reporting tools, meeting with Information Services to develop an
electronic reporting tool, continuing the research on effective grading practices, and planning three
district presentations to communicate with other teachers/staff members. Three meetings were held with
K-6 staff, for the purpose of presenting a draft and seeking teacher feedback; the meetings were held at

Sycamore Trails Elementary School in Bartlett, the Educational Services Center auditorium, and Hilltop
Elementary School in Elgin.
Next steps include revising the reporting tools based on feedback from K-6 teachers and curriculum
directors/coordinators, continuing work with Information Services on an electronic tool, and
collaborating with the English Language Learners Department to prepare for translations and to develop
a tool to support the new Dual Language program.
Meetings will be held with the Citizens’ Advisory Council, Instructional Council, and Board of
Education to ensure feedback is gathered from stakeholders—parents, staff, and community members.
The committee will develop and implement a training component plan for 2011-12 as the new tools are
being used for the first time.