School of Thought: Introducing P.L.A.Y. from the Illinois Online Academy

WEEK OF MAY 15, 2024

Introducing P.L.A.Y. from the Illinois Online Academy

We are thrilled to announced the launch of P.L.A.Y. (Professional Learning and You), the new online catalog from the Illinois Online Academy! Hundreds of asynchronous, online activities that cater to your schedule and your professional goals are now available.

P.L.A.Y features:

Microlearning: Subject matter is divided into short activities, and some take as little as five minutes! Every 15 minutes you spend completing activities earns you .25 PD hours.
Relevant content: Whether you’re passionate about social emotional learning, technology, curriculum, ELL, Google Workspace, PBIS, or finding new classroom tools, you can choose activities that matter to you.
Have fun while you learn: P.L.A.Y’s dashboard allows you to independently track your progress, and its reward system encourages users by awarding badges, unlocking achievements, and empowers your learning by giving you the option to compete with colleagues.

Learn More and Register

We're Hiring!

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced School Improvement Specialist to work alongside the Regional Offices of Education and Chicago Public Schools. As a School Improvement Specialist, you will be responsible for implementing strategies and initiatives in Chicago Public Schools to enhance the educational experience and outcomes for students and staff.

This position requires a strong background in school improvement and leadership. This role will involve collaborating with teachers and administrative staff to develop and implement effective school improvement plans, provide professional learning, and ensure compliance with educational standards and policies.

Apply Here

AP College Board Workshops coming next school year

Through our partnership with College Board, we are offering AP U.S. History and AP English Language and Composition Workshops that are designed to equip educators with the tools they need to support students in AP classes. Topics include discussing class and exam descriptions, developing instructional plans, and utilizing the online resource 'AP Classroom'.

Both of these workshops will take place on October 2, 2024 at the Kane County Regional Office of Education at 28 N. 1st Street, Geneva, IL 60134.

AP U.S. History

Workshop

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Presenters: College Board

Price: $250

PD Credit: 3

AP English Language and Composition Workshop

Time: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Presenters: College Board

Price: $250

PD Credit: 3

Spots available for I Love U Guys reunification training

The Kane County Regional Office of Education is preparing to host school staff members and emergency response personnel from across Kane County next month for reunification training sessions. This program was originally designed by the I Love U Guys Foundation, and we are excited for this year's sessions to be led by representatives from our Kane County districts.

Sessions are free and open to all school staff.

Dates/Times:

Tuesday, June 18 l Tuesday, June 25 l Thursday, June 27

8:00 - 11:00 am l 12:30 - 3:30 am

(same times each day)

Location:

Christ Community Church

820 Randall Road, South Elgin, IL 60177

New mural at Blackhawk Academy complete

Catherine Tilly Design recently worked with students to complete a new mural at Blackhawk Academy in West Aurora District 129. This project was made possible through a grant from the Kane County Regional Office of Education, and we are thrilled to see this colorful work of art to life. It is a wonderful display of the talent these students possess.

License renewal now open

Is your licensure up for renewal in 2024? If so, the deadline to be registered is August 31, 2024. Log into your ELIS account to begin the process.

Have questions regarding licensure? The Kane County ROE is here to support you. Click below for more information and guides, or reach out to our team at licensure@kaneroe.org.

Learn More

Our Professional Learning Team around Kane County

The past week has been full of learning and collaboration! We appreciate St. Mary Catholic School in Elgin for inviting us to speak about embedding SEL practices in the classroom as well as preventing educator burnout. Attendees were given the opportunity to reflect on their journey as educators and share their own experiences with their peers.

Last Wednesday also marked the opening day for our Adaptive Schools Seminar series at Northwestern Medicine Field, home of the Kane County Cougars! It was the first of four sessions that included important conversations as we work toward improving staff cultures as well as systems for student achievement.

To learn more about professional learning opportunities like these, reach out to kalgrim@kaneroe.org.

The courses below are examples of fully online offerings from the

Illinois Online Academy and can be completed within 60 days.

AA#1778 - The Use of Restorative Practices in Schools

Admin. Academy Credit: 6

PD Credit: 5

Cost: $125

AA#1815 - Meeting Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Achieve Results

Admin. Academy Credit: 6

PD Credit: 5

Cost: $125

LATEST EPISODES OF BRANCHING OUT

Peer Tutoring gives your students the opportunity to teach and learn from one another.

Paragraph Shrinking is an effective strategy designed to enhance students' reading comprehension and summarization skills.

The 2024 Raising Student Achievement Conference is an opportunity for schools and districts to be featured for their success stories. Do you have a remarkable achievement you would like to share? We are accepting applications from schools and districts as well as proposals for breakout presentations for this highly anticipated conference for education professionals.

Please click below to respond by Friday, May 31.