In This Issue
- A message of gratitude from John K. Jonak
- VR tech at the JJC, the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and Thompson Middle School's 100-year celebration
- Save the date for Tech Bash 2026
- Proposals are now being accepted to present at RSAC 2026
- Simple actions to boost your cybersecurity
- Upcoming workshops, classroom strategies, and on-demand professional learning sessions
(Please note that some email providers may clip longer messages. To see every update from the ROE, click "View entire message" below.)
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As we close out the 2025-26 school year, I want to pause and say thank you. This was my first full year as your Regional Superintendent, and there's no group I'd rather have spent it with than the 9,600+ educators serving 108,000 students across Kane County.
The moments that stay with me aren't the big ones — they're the steady acts of showing up. In our profession, we are trusted from the first day of school in August. So we learn together through Institute Day, networking meetings, and professional learning sessions on AI, literacy, student wellness, and career exploration. In November we witness student photographers fill our walls with images of how they see the world. We hold up and celebrate the profession at Educator of the Year. This is all good stuff!
Some of you may know that my wife teaches in a Kane County school and our kids are students here. Every time I walk into one of your buildings, I'm walking in as a superintendent and as a parent — and the gratitude runs both ways. I am in awe of you all.
So this year has been a start. There is more the ROE wants to build alongside you — more partnerships, more reach into every corner of these 524 square miles, more reasons for kids to stay in school and to meet them where they are at. The students you shape every day — including mine — are the reason I'm hopeful about what comes next.
For now: cheer your seniors as they cross the stage. Hug your families, rest, and come back ready.
With deep respect,
| | John K. Jonak, Regional Superintendent | | Exploring Career Pathways Through Technology | |
Last week, Instructional Coach Elsa Glover led a hands-on session with our Juvenile Justice Center (JJC) instructors.
They trained on new Virtual Reality headsets, which students will soon use to explore various industries and career pathways! We're looking forward to launching this learning experience at the JJC.
| | Good Luck at the National Spelling Bee, Yahya! | |
Our 2026 Kane County Regional Spelling Bee Champion, Yahya Mohammed from School District U-46, is heading to Washington, D.C. next week! Yahya will compete against 247 students nationwide in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Preliminaries begin Tuesday, May 26 at 8:00 a.m. Click below to find out how to watch and cheer Yahya on!
| | A Century at Thompson Middle School | | |
ROE staff recently joined the festivities at Thompson Middle School to celebrate their historic 100th anniversary! We are incredibly grateful for their ongoing partnership as the host of our Spelling Bee and this year's Tech Bash, and were honored to be part of this historic milestone.
With a rockin' student band, obstacle courses and lawn games, delicious local food trucks, and a visit from therapy ponies Coco and Oreo, it was a fantastic evening filled with community spirit. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to bring this celebration to life. Happy 100th Anniversary TMS—here’s to another century of shaping bright futures!
| | Save the Date for Tech Bash 2026! | |
Mark your calendars! Our annual Kane County Tech Bash is set to take place next month at Thompson Middle School. Join us for a full day of discussions for techs, by techs.
This FREE event invites school technology professionals from across the area for a day of engaging presentations, networking, and reviewing some of the latest digital tools and developments.
Stay tuned—registration opens soon!
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Date: June 11
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: 705 W Main St, St. Charles, IL 60174
PD Credit: 6
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School staff members and emergency response personnel from across Kane County are invited to participate in our reunification training sessions this summer. Originally designed by the I Love U Guys Foundation, this training equips participants to navigate crisis situations where students may need to be relocated to off-campus sites, and how to effectively reunite those students with family members.
Date: June 17
Location: Christ Community Church
(820 S Randall Rd, South Elgin, IL 60177)
Both sessions are FREE and will cover the same material.
| | Session 1: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | | Session 2: 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | | Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities | | AA#1050 | Recognizing and Assisting Homeless Students: What Administrators Need to Know | This Administrators' Academy workshop will offer a comprehensive array of information about homelessness to administrators responsible for and/or concerned about homeless students. | |
Date: June 3
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: 28 N. 1st St., Geneva, IL 60134
PD Hours: 6.5
Cost: $50
| Registration closes May 27 | | Understanding Your Summative Designation Series - Part 7 | The last session of our learning series will focus on celebrating achievements, setting up for success, advancing equity, and sustaining progress. | |
Date: June 9
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: 28 N. 1st St., Geneva, IL 60134
PD Hours: 6
Cost: FREE
| Registration closes June 2 | | AA#4242 | Every Day Counts: Understanding and Addressing Chronic Absenteeism | School leaders will explore the scope of chronic absenteeism in Illinois, learn to analyze attendance data, identify root causes, and implement tiered, research-based strategies. | |
Date: June 10
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Online
AA Credit: 6 | PD Hours: 5
Cost: $175
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Proposals are now being accepted to present at the 2026 Raising Student Achievement Conference in Oak Brook!
Educators, administrators, and educational leaders are invited to submit proposals for breakout sessions that support raising student achievement through continuous improvement.
| | If you are interested in sharing your expertise, click below to learn more about the process and submit your proposal. | | Stay Connected With Tuesday Tech Tip | | With data breaches and ransomware attacks frequently making headlines, cybersecurity is more important than ever. In our latest Tuesday Tech Tip, Phil Morris guides you through a few simple, immediate actions you can take right now to secure your data. | | This strategy from Jordan Eggleson invites students to celebrate what makes them unique! | | Jenny Clark shares a reflective strategy that can encourage learners to pause and make meaning of their growth. | | LOOKING FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING? | |
AA#4050 | Evaluator Initial Training & Retraining for Principals & Assistant Principals
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June 4 & 5, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (In-Person, $400) | Registration closes May 21
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AA#1544 | Using Protocols to Guide Professional Learning Conversations (Online, $150)
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ADHD Info & Interventions (Online, $200)
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