Democracy Schools Network

Monthly Update

October 2025

Highlights of

2025 Illinois Democracy Schools Convening

Motivating Agency, Sustaining the Republic

OPENING KEYNOTE PANEL

Motivating Agency, Sustaining the Republic:

The Civic Mission of Schools



moderated by Dr. Shawn P. Healy

(Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer for iCivics)

Panelists:

Dr. Tony Sanders: Illinois State Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Jill Underly: Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction

Keith T. Hayashi: Superintendent of the Hawai'i Public Schools System

RECOGNITION FOR NETWORK SCHOOLS

CONGRATULATIONS

to these schools who completed the renewal process during the 2024-25 school year!

Carlinville High School (Democracy School since 2017)

York Community High School (Democracy School since 2018)

WELCOME

to these schools who are now recognized as Illinois Democracy Schools!

Carlinville Primary School

Carlinville Intermediate School

Carlinville Middle School

Roxana High School

And, we welcome Carlinville Community Unit District 1 to our Democracy Schools Network, as the first K-12 district in the state of Illinois to have all the schools in their district with the status of Illinois Democracy School.

Dee Runaas

Recipient of Darlene Ruscitti Civic Champion Award

Pat Riley

Recipient of Carolyn Pereira Civic Leadership Award

Past Award Recipients of Carolyn Pereira Civic Leadership Award

Jen Burdette, Andrea Seipp, Pat Riley (this year's recipient), Jason Janczak, Stacey Steiner, Donald Davis. (And Billson Rasavongxay, not in photo.)

Invitation: 20–25 Minute Survey on School Climate Trends

International School Climate Center invites educators, mental health professionals, and school-climate leaders to share insights in a 20–25 minute online survey examining how research, policy, and practice are shaping school climate across the United States. Your experience in classrooms, schools, and districts is essential to building a clearer picture of what’s working and where support is needed.

This project is sponsored by the Center for Character and Citizenship at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. At the end of the survey, you can opt-in to receive a summary of findings and indicate whether you’re open to future contact for follow-up questions. If you prefer, you may also email Jonathan Cohen, Ph.D. at ISClimate@umsl.edu to express interest.

Thank you for considering this request and for the work you do every day to support students and school communities.

Start the survey here.



Earn Your Microcredentials 

Become a Guardian of Democracy Educator

The Illinois Civics Hub has partnered with the Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida to provide educators the opportunity to earn microcredentials in the proven practices of civic education embedded in the middle and high school civics course requirements in Illinois. Courses include:

• Current and Controversial Issue Discussions—Learn from academic experts Dr. Diana Hess & Dr. Paula McAvoy as you explore the purpose, role, and function of discussion strategies as pedagogical tools to equip young people to be engaged citizens. This course will enhance the practice of educators with strategies and resources to create a classroom climate in which there are equitable opportunities for ALL students to engage in dialogue about essential questions across the curriculum.

• Simulations of Democratic Processes—Learn from academic experts Dr. Walter Parker & Dr. Jane Lo as you explore how democratic processes and procedures occur as part of the regular functioning of government, in each of the three branches of government, and at each level of government. This course will guide you through the purpose, planning, and implementation of three simulations: town hall meetings, legislative hearings, and moot courts.

• Informed Action through Service Learning—Learn from academic experts Dr. Joseph Kahne and Jessica Marshall as you explore the purpose, role, and function of informed action through service learning as a pedagogical tool to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be active members of their community. In this course, you will interact with strategies and tools you can use in your classroom to support student-centered informed action through service learning.

• NEW: Constitutional Democracy as Content and Practice—Learn from academic experts Dr. Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, Dr. Shawn P. Healy, and Dr. Bonnie Laughlin Schultz as you explore how the Educating for American Democracy Roadmap can help teach constitutional democracy as both content and practice across disciplines K-12.

New courses beginning in fall. More information here. Those who successfully complete the five-week online course will earn a Bronze Certified Guardian of Democracy Educator badge via Badgr and the University of Central Florida Center for Distributed Learning.

Participants can earn 15 PD hours through the DuPage Regional Office of Education. Please note that due to changes in our funding, the Democracy School Network is no longer able to offer a stipend to participants.

There are three strands of courses for each proven practice of civics education. Graduate credit is available through the University of St. Francis for completing all three courses. More information here.



SHARE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES

If you have colleagues who have expressed an interest in becoming recognized as Illinois Democracy Schools, please share this form. All schools--primary, intermediate, middle or high schools are welcome to go through this process.

Check out our website for PD opportunities, resources and inspiration.

illinoiscivics.org