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Dear Lake County Community,
As summer begins, we take a moment to recognize the many accomplishments that have shaped this school year. Whether in the classroom, on the stage, on the field, or in the community, students and educators across Lake County have demonstrated resilience, creativity, and a commitment to excellence.
The end of the school year also marks the beginning of summer — a time to recharge, spend time with family and friends, and look ahead to new opportunities. While students and staff enjoy a well-deserved break, we know that learning, growth, and preparation continue throughout the summer months in many different ways.
We are incredibly grateful to our educators, administrators, staff, families, and community partners for their continued support and commitment to helping students succeed. Your dedication makes a lasting difference in the lives of children each and every day.
In this month’s newsletter, we are proud to celebrate several outstanding accomplishments from across the county and recognize the many individuals who help make our schools strong, supportive, and inspiring places to learn.
We wish everyone a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable summer and look forward to welcoming students and staff back for another successful school year in the fall.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Karner
Regional Superintendent of Schools
Lake County, Illinois
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On May 6, the Lake County Regional Office of Education (ROE) hosted its 5th Annual Educator of the Year Awards, presented by the Lake County Regional Office of Education Foundation (LCROEF). Nearly 1,000 educators, administrators, support staff, families, community leaders, and supporters gathered to celebrate the remarkable individuals who make a lasting impact in schools and communities across Lake County.
The evening recognized outstanding educators and staff whose dedication, compassion, and leadership help shape positive experiences for students every day. From teachers and administrators to service personnel and support staff, each honoree reflects the very best of education and the important role caring adults play in student success.
Congratulations once again to our 2026 Educator of the Year,
Nic Schlichting of Lake Bluff School District 65, along with all of the outstanding individuals recognized across this year’s award categories. We are grateful for the dedication and commitment each honoree brings to supporting students throughout Lake County.
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Congratulations Devin Rose!
Congratulations to our very own Devin Rose, Communications Specialist, on earning his master’s degree in Communications from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. We are proud of Devin’s accomplishment and grateful for the talent, creativity, and dedication he brings to our team every day.
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Regional Spelling Bee Champion Finishes Among Nation’s Top 30 Spellers
Congratulations to our regional spelling bee champion, Aditi Mopur, on an incredible performance at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Representing Lake County (Barrington School Dist. 220), Aditi advanced all the way to the Semifinals, ultimately placing 30th out of 247 spellers nationwide. While she did not advance to the Finals, this is an outstanding accomplishment and a testament to her hard work, dedication, and talent. We are incredibly proud of Aditi and all she achieved on the national stage, and we look forward to next year’s spelling bee!
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How D187 Won Back 1,100 Hours of Learning Time—and What Other Districts Can Learn
By moving away from siloed, reactive services and adopting a fully integrated Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF), North Chicago School District 187 is rewriting the script on student wellness.
At the recent ISBE Wellness Conference, Nicole Johnson (Director of Student Achievement) presented the district's incredible results ,alongside partners from The Josselyn Center and Midwest PBIS. By embedding social, emotional, and behavioral supports directly into school teams and systems, District 187 achieved:
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1,202 fewer major disciplinary referrals.
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Over 1,100 hours of instructional time gained back.
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A significant decrease in student crisis events requiring SASS (Screening Assessment and Support Services) calls for outside support.
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A measurable boost in family engagement and student social-emotional competency.
Click here to read the full story and learn how your district can replicate these results through the ISF SHINE grant opportunity. Interested in learning more about how your district can participate in ISF SHINE? Email Shay McCorkle, Director of Educational Services, at smccorkle@lake.k12.il.us.
| | We are thrilled to welcome students to our summer programs, including the IVSA Summer School (begins tomorrow), IVSA Bootcamp (begins June 9), and Summer SPARK (begins June 15). | | |
IVSA Traditional Summer School: June 2nd - July 31st
IVSA offers over 300 courses in our Summer School Program. Do you need Consumer Economics, Health, PE, World Languages or an Elective? What about taking Photography, Geometry, Digital Media, Forensics, or get credit for working this summer with our Workplace Experience course.
IVSA Summer School - Grades 6-12th
Next Chapter Credit Recovery: June 2nd - July 31st
The Next Chapter Credit Recovery Program is a structure credit/learning recovery initiative designed to support students who are significantly behind in credits and at risk of not graduating on time. The program leverages flexible online coursework, personalized success plans, and targeted life-skills education to help students meet graduation requirements and regain momentum in their academic journey.
IVSA Next Chapter Program - Grades 6-12th
IVSA Math & Reading Bootcamp: June 9th - July 9th
The IVSA Summer Bootcamp program will leverage award winning curriculum that is designed to personalize a plan for your students to support essential skill development in math and reading. We believe that this program, along with the live sessions with our teaching staff, will be an excellent opportunity for your students to learn, grow, and have fun this summer.
IVSA Summer Bootcamp - Grades K-5th
IVSA Summer SPARK: June 15th-26th
IVSA presents SUMMER SPARK. Summer SPARK is a two-week virtual enrichment adventure where students explore their creativity, curiosity, and future careers through hands-on courses. From art, music, and world languages, to coding, robotics, design challenges and real-world skills like finance and entrepreneurship, learners discover new passions, while building confidence and practical skills.
IVSA Summer SPARK - Grades 3rd-12th
Summer SPARK Course Descriptions
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We are excited to invite Tier 1 and Tier 2 High Schools to participate in a new dual credit program — a collaboration between Illinois Virtual Schools and Academy (IVSA) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The university’s Dual Credit Learning Accelerator is partnering with IVSA to pilot four Illinois Dual Credit courses during the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 school years to qualifying schools.
Through this initiative, students can earn both high school and college credit simultaneously.
The pilot includes four popular 100-level general education courses from the University of Illinois:
● ASTR 150: Killer Skies: Astro Disasters
● SPED 117: The Culture of Disability
● MACS 100: Introduction to Popular TV & Movies
You can view the full course menu with course descriptions on the Learning Accelerator website.
Launching in 2026–2028, the program allows students to earn both high school and college credit. Schools can contact IVSA to express interest.
{click on the IVSA newsletter link below to read more}
| | | Lake County ROE Services & Contact Information | | At the Lake County Regional Office of Education, we are committed to providing a range of services to support education and community needs. Below is a list of the services we offer. Learn more or book an appointment by clicking the buttons below. | |
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Looking for a rewarding career in education? Explore current job opportunities across Lake County schools and districts. From teaching and support staff positions to administrative roles, there are many ways to make a difference in the lives of students. View available openings and learn more through the Lake County education job board.
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Supporting Well-Being
The Lake County ROE has partnered with ReferralGPS to help students, staff, and families find local mental health and substance use resources. The service includes a searchable database and Care Navigation for triage, appointment scheduling, and follow-up, complementing existing district supports.
School families may access ReferralGPS in two ways
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Administrator Academy
AA #988 Interpersonal & Team Communication Skills for School Administrators Jun 10, 2026, 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM (Zoom) (Link to Register)
AA #1414 - Communicating with Staff Regarding Performance Assessments (and the words to Lower an Evaluation!)
Jun 12, 2026, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM (In-Person) (Link to Register)
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IASA has partnered with FranklinCovey to offer Aligned to Lead, a 1.5-day leadership summit designed to help superintendents and district leaders align their teams around a shared vision heading into the 2026-27 school year.
South Cook ISC 4 — July 20-21 | Lake County ROE — July 23-24
To explore the thinking behind the workshop, IASA Associate Director of Professional Learning Dr. Dawn Bridges joined three partners on the IASA Podcast: Dr. Candace Singh, Franklin Covey Education leadership coach and consultant; Dr. Michael Karner, Lake County Regional Superintendent of Schools; and Dr. Anthony Marinello, Executive Director of the South Cook Intermediate
Service Center. The highlights below are drawn from that conversation. Listen to the full episode at iasa.org/podcast.
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Final Call: GYO Special Education Pathway
The GYO Lake County Special Education Pathway with Northeastern Illinois University is still accepting applicants for Fall 2026. Flexible online/Lake County courses and up to $25,000 in financial support are available. Apply soon or complete your application materials. Questions? Contact Dr. John Mendes (847-802-9287).
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EDUCATOR LICENSE RENEWALS
If this is your renewal year, please complete your renewal ASAP. Do not wait until the last day to attempt your renewal in case of a problem. Licenses not renewed by Aug. 31, 2026, will lapse on Sept. 1. Renewal resources can be found on the state website.
Retired/Retiring Educators are required to complete and enter PD up their retirement date.
How to Add Professional Development PowerPoint Presentation (isbe.net)
How to Update PD/Employment Status if retired or not been working PowerPoint Presentation (isbe.net)
How to Renew your Paraprofessional (Para) license PowerPoint Presentation (isbe.net)
How to Renew your Substitute License PowerPoint Presentation (isbe.net)
How to Renew your Professional Educator License (PEL) PowerPoint Presentation (isbe.net)
How to Renew your CTE PowerPoint Presentation (isbe.net)
Accessing your ELIS account
Those who do not recall your username or password you must contact the state directly at 217-782-4321 for password assistance. The ROE cannot assist with password retrieval.
EDUCATOR LICENSE APPLICATIONS
The Educator Effectiveness team is currently in its busiest season of the year. Please be aware that it may take 30 to 60 business days for review of new applications.
ELIS DELAYS
Current traffic in the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) is exceeding normal daily averages. If you experience delays in the system, please refresh or try again later. Be sure that you are using a laptop or desktop when accessing the ELIS system
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The Northwestern Medicine Children’s Health and Safety Fair will take place on June 6 at the Grayslake Outpatient Center, offering families a fun and educational morning focused on health, safety, and wellness. Children can enjoy interactive activities, explore emergency vehicles, see a medical helicopter (weather permitting), and receive free giveaways while learning about healthy living and safety practices. More information ... | | |
Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (I/ECMHC) connects a mental health consultant with adults caring for young children in settings like child care, preschool, home visiting, and early intervention. It’s not therapy or behavior modification—consultation helps caregivers support children’s social and emotional development.
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