In This Issue
- ROE attends ISBE Board Meeting
- The ROE Link: CASA Kane County
- Kane County Student Photography Contest: Weeks 3 & 4 Winners
- Professional Learning at the Kane County Cougars Stadium
- Events in Batavia, West Aurora, and St. Charles School Districts
- Upcoming professional learning workshops
- Call for presenters at two Institute Days
- Scripps National Spelling Bee enrollment
- Branching Out: Reader's Purpose & Suit Yourself
- On-demand professional learning courses
(Please note that some email providers may clip longer messages. To see every update from the ROE, click "View entire message" below.)
| | | ISBE Board Meeting in St. Charles | | |
Regional Superintendent John K. Jonak and Assistant Regional Superintendent Katie Algrim attended the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) Board Meeting, hosted by St. Charles School District 303. During the meeting, D303 Superintendent Dr. Paul Gordon presented to the Board on the many accomplishments of the district’s students, staff, and community.
As the liaison between ISBE and Kane County’s school districts, the ROE values every opportunity to connect with state education leaders and support the work happening in our local schools. Thank you to ISBE for bringing this meeting to Kane County, and to D303 for hosting and sharing its great work!
| | The ROE Link: CASA Kane County | | |
In the latest installment of our bi-weekly series, The ROE Link, Regional Superintendent John K. Jonak sits down with Jim Di Ciaula, Executive Director of CASA Kane County, to learn how community volunteers speak up for children in foster care, in and out of the courtroom.
Watch to find out, what a CASA volunteer does, how this organization works alongside schools and families, and how you can get involved.
| | Career Day at Rotolo Middle School | | Regional Superintendent John K. Jonak recently presented at Rotolo Middle School’s Career Day in Batavia School District 101. He spoke with sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students about his career path, from soldier and paraprofessional to teacher, principal, superintendent, and now regional superintendent. We appreciate the opportunity to connect with local students and help inspire the next generation! | | Professional Learning at the Kane County Cougars Stadium | | |
Last week, our Professional Learning team facilitated the keynote sessions at St. Charles Community Unit School District 303's Educational Support Professionals (SCESP) Professional Learning Day, held at the Kane County Cougars stadium!
Professional Learning Supervisor, Jordan Eggleson, led a session on the foundational pillars of social-emotional learning and Instructional Coach, Elsa Glover, guided participants in exploring what differentiation looks like across K–12 settings.
We were grateful to have been part of this day of learning, growth, and connection!
| | Our Student Photography Contest continues strong with over 1,000 submissions and counting. Congratulations to the top 10 winning photographers for weeks 3 and 4! | | | Weekly Winner
Eugene Dobberfuhl
"Droplets"
South Elgin High School (District U-46) | Abigail Retzer
"Into Gear"
Jacobs High School (District 300) | | Armoni Knox
"Fallen into Color"
East Aurora HS (District 131) | Mila Kournetas
"Bonsai Forest"
Geneva High School (District 304) | | Reagan Lander
"Glove's Momentary Life"
West Aurora High School (District 129) | Thomas Hobson
"Texture"
St. Charles North High School (District 303) | | Maeve Turnroth
"Comfort"
Aurora Central Catholic High School | Lane Tzanetopoulos
"Loki"
Hampshire High School (District 300) | | Emilia Petronis
"Bark"
Elgin High School (District U-46) | Mariah Barocio
"Paint Palette"
Rosary College Prep | | | | Weekly Winner
Adrian Cuacuas
"Steps to West"
West Aurora High School (District 129) | Izzy Townsend
"Gravestone Church"
South Elgin High School (District U-46) | | Violet Rygula
"Looking Through"
St. Charles North High School (District 303) | Colin McEniry
"Boiler Room"
Marmion Academy | | Briana Wiggins
"Old Factory"
Jacobs High School (District 300) | Maritza Alvarez Valdavinos
"Gloomy Building"
East Aurora High School (District 131) | | Dylan Ramirez
"Don't Look"
Bartlett High School (District U-46) | Lillian Stetter
"Rows"
Rosary College Prep | | Joey Young
"Tower"
Streamwood High School (District U-46) | Jacob Leon
"Brutal Ascension"
Geneva High School (District 304) | | | |
If you are a Kane County high school teacher—whether from public, private, or homeschool settings—you can still register for the photo contest!
Visit our website to view all of the photos & to learn more about the Kane County Student Photography Contest.
| | Education professionals are invited to submit a proposal to present at the Kane County-wide Institute Day or the Arts Ed Institute on Friday, February 26! We're on the lookout for dynamic breakout sessions that provide valuable learning experiences for educators in various roles, grade levels, and content areas. | | The deadline for proposals is Monday, November 2, 2026 | | |
Our primary site will be the Q Center in St. Charles, where hundreds of educators will engage in a day of professional learning and networking.
The goal of each breakout session is to equip attendees with new ideas and strategies that can be used to enhance their instruction and student engagement.
| | |
As part of Kane County Institute Day, this event, which will be held at Central High School in Burlington, is dedicated to visual arts, media, theatre, drama, and more.
We invite fine arts educators who are interested in sharing their expertise with colleagues to submit a presentation proposal.
| | Aurora Alliance Morning Power Club | | Regional Superintendent John K. Jonak and Assistant Regional Superintendent Katie Algrim attended the Aurora Alliance Morning Power Club held at West Aurora School District 129. During the event, they were able to tour the Weisner Center for Career Development and learn more about the career-focused classes offered through the district. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with local organizations and see more of the great work happening at West Aurora! | | Upcoming Professional Learning opportunities | | Using the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) for Behavioral Threat Assessment in School Settings | Designed for school administrators, counselors, psychologists, social workers, school resource officers, and other members of a district’s multidisciplinary threat assessment team, the training emphasizes assessment, violence prevention, early intervention, and student support. | | |
Date: October 26
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: 310 Seminary Avenue, Aurora, IL 60505
PD Hours: 7 | Cost: $75
| | AA#1555 | Practical Guidance on Section 504: Developing a Defensible Plan | |
With this academy, participants will understand and identify the legal mandates under Section 504; identify the differences between Section 504 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004; and outline the proper procedures to follow in the development of a Section 504 Plan.
Date: October 28
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Online
PD Hours: 4.5 | Cost: $175
| | AA#4071 | High Quality CTE Programming | |
Are you or your team responsible for Career Technical Education (CTE) planning and implementation within your district? This upcoming, interactive academy is designed for you to analyze and determine if your current programs meet the criteria to be considered high quality by ISBE standards.
Date: November 5
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Online
PD Hours: 4.5 | AA Credit: 6
Cost: $175
| | St. Charles Community Organization Roundtable | | Chief of Executive Services, Jeff Aranowski, joined representatives from local community organizations for a roundtable at St. Charles School District 303. Participants shared the supports currently available to students and discussed the most pressing needs of St. Charles students and families, along with ways to continue strengthening community support. | | | | Join us this "bee" season! | As an official regional partner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the Kane County ROE invites you to register and host your own school-level bee this season! | | You have the opportunity to send school champions on to various levels of competition, including the annual Kane County Regional Spelling Bee on March 17, 2027. The winner of this event is eligible for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. | | Enroll your school before November 30 to take advantage of a reduced fee. Click below to learn more about the process! | | Shuffle up your classroom discussions! Jenny shares a technique from CASEL that has students use playing cards to reflect on and discuss topics. | | What is your purpose for reading? Elsa shares a strategy to help students become more intentional readers. | | LOOKING FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING? | | |
AA#3837 | Reconstructing Leadership in a Culture of Change
(Online, $175)
| |
| |
ADHD Info & Interventions
(Online, $200)
| |
| | | |
