American Education Week

We all have a lot to celebrate in Geneva!

Just last year, there were 106 Illinois State Scholars from Geneva High School. The varsity girls’ cross country team earned a state champion title. The average ACT score of the class of 2008 increased to 23.9 compared to the state average of 20.7.

Dozens of students and teams qualified to compete in state competitions including girls’ golf, girls’ and boys’ tennis, girls’ and boys’ track and field, boys’ gymnastics, dance team, math team, the Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering team, the Illinois Drafting Educators’ Association team and more! And believe it or not, the list of amazing accomplishments goes on and on!

School District’s staff works hard to help each and every student succeed, and a huge factor in the success of Geneva’s students–at the elementary, middle and high school levels–is the fact that we have parents and a community that place a high value on education. This value is translated into successful educational careers, inspiring athletic performances and smart, well-rounded students ready to take on the world after graduation!

It is this partnership with the greater Geneva community that we celebrate during American Education Week! American Education Week was first observed in 1921 to shine the spotlight on the wonderful things public schools do for students and to thank local communities for their support of public education.

It is during this week–November 17 to 21–that we recognize our educational partners like the City of Geneva, the Geneva History Center, the Geneva Library and Park Districts, local businesses and civic organizations, student leaders, Parent Teacher Organizations, and volunteers who contribute so much to our students’ success.

From time, talent, and treasure … everything you do to help and support Geneva’s youth speaks volumes to the tradition of excellence that includes the greater Geneva community. Thank you for all you do! We really can’t do it without you!

This article first appeared in the November 2008 issue of eGeneva Magazine.

Welcome to Williamsburg!

One month into operation and Geneva’s Williamsburg Elementary School is still receiving rave reviews from teachers, parents and students!

“I just keep hearing, ‘It’s beautiful,’ ‘It’s beautiful,’” said Principal Dr. Julie Dye. “They like all the light; they like the color scheme; and they were surprised and delighted by some of the features of the building, like the two-story art room.”

In addition to being visually appealing, the 1812 Williamsburg Avenue building is also proving to be a perfect educational space for the 560 students currently enrolled!

“The building combines efficiencies in design, construction, and sustainable maintenance with an excellent learning environment for students,” said Geneva Superintendent Dr. Kent Mutchler, adding, “We are very thankful to the community for making this vision a reality for our students.”

Appropriately-sized and well-laid-out classrooms, as well as well-planned storage and an abundance of natural light, make it easy to have an active and engaging program for students.

“The design makes sense for an elementary school,” said Dr. Dye, adding that teachers especially enjoy the grade-level wings, which provide opportunities to interact as teams. “The staff absolutely loves the building.”

Crews broke ground on the Williamsburg Avenue site in May 2007 and worked non-stop to have the site ready by August 2008. It then took every day, hour and minute in the weeks leading up to the start of school to unpack and prepare the building for the students’ arrival, but the air of excitement never died.

“People gave freely of their own personal time,” said Dr. Dye. “It was a massive undertaking, but it was done by a committed group who did it in a cheerful manner.”

This article first appeared in the October 2008 issue of eGeneva Magazine.

Transitioning in Every Sense of the Word

New faces, new places.

This statement encapsulates much of Geneva School District’s hard work this busy summer. Coultrap Elementary School was moved to its replacement on Williamsburg Avenue, the Harrison Street School community moved to its temporary home in the Coultrap building and seven administrators took on new roles within the district beginning July 1. We’d like to introduce you to these new additions to Geneva School District’s administrative team:

Dan Killeen, Harrison Street Elementary School principal, has taught and held administrative positions in Elgin and Lombard. He is known for his commitment to collaboration and has a strong record as an elementary teacher and administrator.

Dr. Margaret Pennington, Heartland Elementary School principal, is known as a knowledgeable and resourceful leader. Margaret has taught in Wisconsin, at the Illinois Math and Science Academy and has served as a consultant to the Illinois State Board of Education. She earned her Doctor of Education degree from National Louis University.

Ron Zeman, Western Avenue Elementary School principal, was a physical education specialist, teacher and student services coordinator before becoming an elementary principal in Indian Prairie School District. He is viewed as an effective school leader with a genuine commitment to children.

Olivia Smith, Geneva Middle School North assistant principal, is known to have good communication skills and confidence. Olivia begins her administrative career in Geneva after teaching English in Michigan and at West Aurora High School.

Donna Oberg, assistant superintendent for business services, has many years of experience and extensive knowledge of school finance. Donna is known for her expertise and work ethic. She has worked in Marengo-Union, Grayslake and St. Charles school districts.

Patty O’Neil, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, became Geneva’s first director of curriculum in 2006 after a successful teaching and administrative career in Sycamore and Plainfield. She is known for her problem-solving abilities and is currently pursuing a doctorate at Northern Illinois University.

Kathy Pease, director of curriculum, served the last two years as principal of Western Avenue Elementary School and has a reputation for bringing about constructive change in the classroom. She has held teaching and administrative positions in Indian Prairie School District.

Please welcome and support these administrators throughout the year. It is with their expertise and care that we make great strides every day toward our goal of success for all students!

This article first appeared in the September 2008 issue of eGeneva Magazine.

The Return of the Routine

Gearing up for the return of more than 6,000 students to school may not be easy, but we could hardly call it a chore. The first day of school – August 20 – is just around the corner, and here at Geneva School District, we couldn’t be more excited!

While the summer provides a perfect break to reflect on the past year and plan for the next, it must be said that life is much more colorful when the students are around to bring life to our buildings. The beginning of each new school year gives all of us – students, parents, staff and administrators – a fresh start to make this year the best year yet.

In Geneva 304, we recognize that there is always room for growth. Even in high-performing districts such as ours, programs and practices must be regularly reviewed and oftentimes tweaked to ensure that the best possible instruction and opportunities are being offered to students to help them succeed.

It is with this in mind that Geneva School District has set as priorities the following studies and initiatives for the 2008-09 school year:

Reading Interventions: Teachers will work in problem-solving teams to determine appropriate interventions to support literacy throughout the district and meet student needs.

Kindergarten Foundations: The Kindergarten Foundations program will be developed, implemented and evaluated to provide support for at-risk students while the district moves toward the long-range goal of an all-day kindergarten program for all Geneva students.

Response to Intervention (RtI): A district-wide steering team will provide oversight and guidance for the planning and implementation of Response to Intervention (the process of using data to make decisions, providing instructional interventions and monitoring progress).

Special Education Service Delivery: The current district-wide special education service delivery model will be studied, including methods of instruction and support, pedagogy, curriculum and interventions, programming and teacher workload.

Acceleration/Enrichment (A/E) Program Delivery: Evaluation of the A/E program is underway, including a review of current research and practice, program purpose, identification protocols, program goals and stakeholder needs.

K-8 Science: The newly adopted textbook series and revised curriculum frameworks will be used to implement the K-8 science curriculum, which includes an emphasis on problem solving and the use of the scientific method.

Geneva High School Expansion: A task force will continue to plan for the expansion of Geneva High School.

Problem-Solving Strategies for Student Achievement: Students will learn problem-solving strategies (the ability to identify problems, think critically to analyze information, process, make predictions and test theories) and be given opportunities to apply those strategies to real-world situations.

Watch for the Board of Education Purpose, Goals and Administrative Action Plans booklet!

Kelley Munch is the communications coordinator for Geneva School District 304.

This article first appeared in the August 2008 issue of eGeneva Magazine.

Meet Kane County Elementary Teacher of the Year: Dr. Ann Ramsey

For 14 years, Dr. Ann Ramsey has been a model educator and mentor. With her focus on students’ lives both inside and outside the classroom, dedication to lifelong learning and emphasis on involving parents in their children’s education, Dr. Ramsey has served as a standout teacher whom the community of Geneva will never forget.

Therefore, it came as no surprise that Dr. Ramsey, who teaches at Harrison Street School, was named Elementary Teacher of the Year at the 2008 Kane County Educator of the Year Awards.

People from all aspects of her life wrote hundreds of letters in support of Dr. Ramsey. Most are written by her students, praising her encouraging nature, her aim to help others in the community and, above all, her interest in her students as individuals. Many students valued how Dr. Ramsey attended their recitals, plays and activities long after they grew out of her classroom. They also frequently mentioned the yearly Christmas reunion parties she holds at her home for all of her former students.

“Last year, she held eight parties in about two weeks,” wrote former student Emily Ritchie in her letter. “This shows Dr. Ramsey’s dedication to her students.”

Students also still remembered clever tricks and rhymes that helped teach a math concept or WordMasters definition. But one of the most common themes from the students’ letters was that she really cares about her students and teaches them to be themselves and embrace their gifts. As former student Cassie Kuyawa said in her letter, “With Mrs. Ramsey in my life, I believe anything in my life is possible.”

Dr. Ramsey shapes her lessons around her personal educational philosophy, which focuses on developing her students into confident, self-directed and enthusiastic members of society who contribute to their community. Her students sense this every day in the classroom and take the feeling with them into their adulthood.

Dr. Ramsey is a delightful person, and her charisma and love of other people are contagious. The sentiments expressed by students and parents are proof positive that Dr. Ramsey has lived her life in a way that has touched many lives in Geneva.

This article first appeared in the July 2008 issue of eGeneva Magazine.

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