The Board of Education welcomed a new member and voted on leadership roles in a special meeting this Wednesday, May 10. Omar Salem was sworn in for a four-year term after he won a seat on the Board in the April election. Salem is a D65 parent and a high school teacher who’s currently on leave to serve as the Professional Issues Director at the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

“I’m hoping to tap into my 15 years of experience in public education to help shape policies that advance equity and inclusion, and ensure that all students feel safe, challenged, and loved,” he said.

Sergio Hernandez, who was reelected in April, was also reelected as president of the board. Soo La Kim was reelected as vice president, and Adeela Qureshi was reelected as secretary. All motions passed unanimously. The proposed Board meeting calendar for 2023-24 was also approved. Committee and school liaison assignments will be determined at the May 22 meeting.

(From left) Board of Education members Elisabeth "Biz" Lindsay-Ryan, Mya Wilkins, Omar Salem, Soo La Kim, Sergio Hernandez, and Donna Wang Su. Joseph Hailpern attended virtually.

Coding, music composition, and live performance came together recently at the Second Tunepad Showcase! Fifth grade students used the Python coding language on an app called Tunepad (created by Northwestern University) to compose music. Student projects were selected to be played by a live band to see how their coding and composition translated to in-person music!

“This unique and exciting opportunity allowed students to see the connection between their composition and how the band would translate their piece into a live impromptu song and performance,” said Melissa Smoler, head of the D65 Computer Science Department. 

As part of our curriculum, second, third, and fifth grade students engage in computer science classes. The Tunepad Showcase experience was a result of collaboration between D65, Northwestern University and Evanston Public Library. Hope to see you at next year's showcase!

This week marks Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week. Every day, District 65 educators and staff members work to create schools that work for all students and celebrate their unique strengths. Everyone has been feeling the love and J-factor (joy factor) this week through cards, goodies, coffee treats, and more.

Superintendent Dr. Devon Horton sent a personal thank-you note to staff. “Your unwavering commitment to our community, your passion for education and your desire to make a positive impact on the lives of our students is truly inspiring,” he said. “It is because of you that our district continues to thrive and students continue to grow and achieve their goals.”

Special thanks to our administrators, PTAs, and families for making this week so special and enjoyable for all!

Visitors to Dewey Elementary will find a beautiful new addition to the main level hallway near the staircase! A group of former Dewey students — all now current sixth graders at Nichols Middle — worked with local artist Anna Soltys to create a mural that represented what made Dewey special to them. Soltys projected and copied the mural onto the wall, and students painted it.

The mural, pictured below, features a tree with a heart at the center, accompanied by the words “Dewey is…” Words hanging in the branches describe their school in English and Spanish; words include “inclusive,” “respeto,” “LGBTQ,” “divertido,” and “caring.” Thanks to Dewey art teacher Carolyn Mattox and parent Sarah Liddell for their assistance in coordinating this special gift!

Photo courtesy of Ellen Galland, who also wrote a story about this in the Evanston RoundTable