Hello, our September newsletter is here!

The Regional Office of Education #21 is hosting a book drive to support Joppa-Maple Grove CSD #38 Maple Grove Elementary School, whose library was severely damaged due to weather-related and maintenance issues.

We ask you to please donate at any of our four offices throughout the month of September!

For additional information, please contact our office at 618-998-1283!

September 5th

September 6th

September 12th

September 13th

September 22nd

September 29th

44th ANNUAL MT. VERNON CONFERENCE

This year’s conference will be held in-person at the Mt. Vernon Township High School on Friday, October 27, 2023 from 8:00am-1:50pm. The keynote speaker is Dave Burgess and there will be a variety of breakout sessions and PD credit will be available. ROE #21 will pay the $35.00 registration fee for all individuals in our 4-county region who would like to attend. All individuals registered will also receive a $10.00 meal ticket for the conference. There will be complimentary donuts and coffee available in the morning. If you are interested in attending, please check with your school administration to register!

ROE #21 SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) COHORTS

We are excited to share that all three SEL Cohorts will be kicking off in September with ROE #21 Social Emotional Learning Coach, Crystal Newcomb! Over 65 SEL Leaders from ROE #21 Schools will be participating in full-day training sessions and leading their schools in this meaningful work. We have formed partnerships with 48 schools--how exciting!

CULTIVATING TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES

Area IV SEL Hub has partnered with The Resilience Education to Advance Community Healing (REACH) Statewide Initiative to train educators, school mental health professionals, and community members to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma and address students' social-emotional and mental health needs.

Join ROE #21 for an in-person REACH Community of Practice (CoP) series at NO COST! This CoP is open to anyone within the school setting. Participants will explore, practice, and enhance their knowledge of Trauma Informed Practices. This CoP series will be offered in-person in two different locations, ROE #21 and ROE #12. On the registration, you will be asked to select the location of your choice.

To learn more about other virtual state-wide REACH CoP sessions

and offerings, visit the state-wide flyer: REACH CoP 23-24 Brochure

You may register for any of those sessions HERE!

SAVE THE DATE!

The Seven SEL Hubs across the state of Illinois are hosting the Illinois Social Emotional Learning Conference on February 20, 2024, at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. Featured speakers are Michael Bonner, Gerry Brooks and Carla Tantillo-Philibert. Attendees will learn about state SEL initiatives and the support available to all Illinois schools through the ROE SEL Hubs and the REACH initiative. Space is limited to the first 300 registrants. Get registered today: Illinois Social Emotional Learning Conference and learn more about the SEL Hubs here.

For questions on any of the above information, you may contact:

Dr. Christine Wiggs, Area VI Social Emotional Learning & Trauma Response Grant Director at [email protected]

NEEDING ASSISTANCE IN BECOMING A LICENSED TEACHER?

The Pathways to Licensure webpage has been fitted with a wizard to help educators find the most fitting route to the classroom.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR OUR SEPTEMBER SUBS FOR SUBS EVENT!

If you or anyone you know has an Associate’s degree or higher, or has completed 60 hours of coursework, he or she may be eligible for a Short-Term substitute license. Our September Subs for Subs event will be held on September 6, 2023, from 9:00am-1:00pm at our ROE #21 training center.

The event is open to anyone interested in becoming a NEW Substitute Teacher OR a NEW Short-Term Substitute Teacher.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE SHORT-TERM SUBSTITUTE (STS) LICENSE:

Application Fee for the license is $25.00.
Application is available through June 30, 2028.
The license is valid for substitute teaching in PreK-Grade 12 and valid for 5 years.
License holders cannot teach more than 5 consecutive days per licensed teacher in the same school year unless the state has a declared a disaster proclamation in which the short-term substitute may serve 15 consecutive days per licensed teacher in the same school year.
Must complete a Short-Term Substitute Training to hold the STS License.
Can serve as a Paraprofessional.
A minimum of 60 hours of college coursework must be at the 100-level or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.
In order to be placed on the ROE #21 Substitute Listing, individuals must also have a background check, health exam, and TB test.

PRIOR TO ATTENDING A SUBS FOR SUBS EVENT, EACH INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE COMPLETED THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

Pay in full for the Subs for Subs event ($20.00) to secure your spot.
Create an ELIS account on the ISBE website: https://apps.isbe.net/iwasnet/login.aspx (Please make sure you are using GOOGLE CHROME OR FIREFOX as your browser. MacBooks and handheld devices are not compatible with ISBE’s website)
Submit official college transcripts in a sealed envelope or via e-script to the ROE #21 office.

CLICK A DATE TO REGISTER FOR AN UPCOMING

SUBS FOR SUBS TRAINING:

October 11, 2023 | December 6, 2023 | February 14, 2024 | April 3, 2024

September is Attendance Awareness Month! By working together, all of us — schools, public officials, public agencies, civic organizations, businesses, philanthropic groups, families and students — can ensure all children can get to school every day so they have an opportunity to learn, flourish and realize their dreams. For more information, check out https://www.attendanceworks.org/

As summer comes to an end and fall classes get started, things are buzzing

in the FCRDS Office. Both of the FCRDS major grants – Perkins and CTEI – have been approved and fully funded for FY 2024! New Purchasing Procedures have been developed and distributed to the six high schools

in Franklin County.

FCRDS oversees two Regional Programs and has a third program in the planning stage. EDGE is one of the Regional Education Programs offered through ROE #21’s Franklin County Regional Delivery System (FCRDS) under the direction of Regional Superintendent Lorie LeQuatte and in partnership with Rend Lake College. Students from all Franklin County High Schools may participate in this program which meets in Benton and is facilitated by Lee Messersmith. Participating students earn both high school credit and college credit hours at Rend Lake College. EDGE FY 2024 is up and running with nine students enrolled.

Thanks to Johnathon Walters at Rend Lake College, these EDGE students and future entrepreneurs now have professional headshots! And, Jonathon hung around after completing the photos to talk with the students about business ideas, proper pricing structures and the importance of knowing “what you’re really selling”. We look forward to seeing some exciting businesses developed and presented at the annual EDGE Trade Show!

The second Regional Education Program is Carpentry. This program is off to a great start with 13 students enrolled; they will meet, learn and create amazing things at the Weeks’ Building on Route 37 in Benton. The Carpentry Program has welcomed new teacher Timothy Hall. Timothy applied for the position that became available when the former teacher was hired full-time to teach Construction Trades and more at Thompsonville High School. Timothy was selected and was excited to accept the job offer for the Regional Carpentry Program. He applied for and received his Career and Technical Education Teaching License from Springfield in record time due to his impressive work experience. Timothy set up the building, planned his curriculum and was ready to hit the ground running on the first day of classes! Photos will be shared as these students develop their knowledge in the field of Carpentry and begin completing numerous building projects.

Who is eligible by law?

All children and youth who don’t have a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, such as those living:

In an emergency or transitional shelter, with friends or relatives due to loss of housing or economic hardship (also known as doubled up.)
In a motel, hotel, campground, car, bus or train station or other public place, an abandoned building.
In inadequate accommodations, such as no utilities or running water, no working kitchen, infestations/mold/vermin, number of bodies vs. beds
As an Unaccompanied Youth, including youth who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.