Lake County Leader and Educator Essentials

September 2026

Dear Lake County Community,

There is so much inspiring work happening in our schools every day, and this month’s In the Schools edition gives us a glimpse into two unique ways districts are creating meaningful experiences for their students.

At CCSD 46, a small idea has grown into a thriving community garden at Grayslake Middle School, giving students the opportunity to learn by doing, connect with their community, and even enjoy the fruits - and vegetables - of their labor. At Gavin School District 37, strategic priorities are coming to life through initiatives that help students build leadership skills, strengthen relationships, collaborate with others, and take an active role in their learning.

While these stories are very different, they share something important: a commitment to seeing students as more than learners in a classroom. They are leaders, creators, collaborators, and members of their communities.

We are proud to spotlight the people and ideas making a difference across Lake County schools and to share just a few of the many ways our districts are helping students learn, grow, and thrive.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Karner

Regional Superintendent of Schools

Lake County, Illinois

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CCSD 46 District Feature -

Grayslake Middle School Community Garden

What started as a tiny seed of an idea has finally come to fruition with the Grayslake Middle School Community Garden. Principal Marcus Smith dreamed up the garden, and it now provides students with a "garden-to-table" experience and a learning opportunity.

Smith worked with student leaders in GMS's Way of the Panther group to develop the project, partnered with the Village of Grayslake, and finally broke ground on the gardens in the spring of 2026. The GMS Community Garden is an offshoot of the Village's Community Garden located nearby on Library Lane. As the Village's garden reached capacity, the GMS Community Garden added additional plots for community members, as well as numerous plots tended by staff and students.

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Students from the Way of the Panther worked with Smith and planted numerous plots of vegetables and beneficial flowers, learning which species worked well together, how to space them properly, and other requirements. During the summer months, teachers, other staff members, parents, and community members often tended to the garden.

During the first week of school, OrganicLife Foodservice, the district's food service provider, harvested tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, and other fresh vegetables for use in student lunches. OrganicLife worked closely with the Lake County Health Department to make sure all regulations and requirements were met for serving garden-grown vegetables. GMS kitchen staff made garden-grown salsa and pico de gallo to add to student lunches, providing a true garden-to-table experience.

But the learning didn’t stop there; students in art class took the opportunity to visit the garden, view the gorgeous sunflowers, and create initial sketches for what will become a Matisse-inspired hand-painted paper collage. From a tiny seed of an idea came a garden that feeds students' minds and creativity and nourishes their bodies and spirits.

Visit CCSD 46 website

Gavin 37: Building Leaders, Growing Learners

At Gavin School District 37, our Strategic Plan is more than a document. It guides the experiences we create for students each day. Grounded in our mission to engage, grow, and empower every learner, every day, our work reflects our vision, core values, and commitment to providing learning experiences that support academic achievement and the development of the whole child.

Two initiatives helping us bring that commitment to life are our districtwide partnership with FranklinCovey’s Leader in Me and our continued implementation of Kagan Cooperative Learning.

Through Leader in Me, we are building a culture that recognizes every student as a leader. Our elementary school is now in its seventh year of implementation, while our middle school is beginning its journey this year. We are proud to now have this consistency across our district, providing students with a common language and approach to leadership and social emotional well being. Through the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, students develop responsibility, goal setting, communication, collaboration, and problem solving skills. This work directly supports our strategic focus on social emotional learning, student voice, leadership, and creating a positive school culture.

At the same time, Kagan Cooperative Learning supports our commitment to academic growth. Our teachers are outstanding and are using structured strategies that increase opportunities for every student to participate, think, communicate, and collaborate. Students become active participants in their learning while developing the interpersonal skills needed to work successfully with others - in an age where that is increasingly difficult.

Together, Leader in Me and Kagan connect academic learning with social emotional growth and reflect our core values of relationships, collaboration, continuous growth, and high expectations.

These initiatives help turn our Strategic Plan from words into action as we work to develop students who are academically prepared, confident, connected, and empowered to make a positive difference.

Visit Gavin School District 37 website