I hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather, and you are finding time between busy summer activities for some rest and relaxation.
This summer, we have been working on several administrative and departmental restructuring efforts, and I want to provide an update on the progress of this work. This update will focus specifically on the newly titled Student Services and Assessment department, but before we explore those changes, I wanted to provide several highlights of our overall approach to administrative restructuring.
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION HIGHLIGHTS:
The total number of district leadership positions was reduced by a .4 Full Time Equivalency (FTE) for 2019-20 as compared to 2018-19
The title and role changes that will result as part of restructuring efforts will not result in additional administrative/supervisory FTE
Over the last 2 years, the district has reduced 3.3 administrative FTE and over $175,000 in annual administrative/supervisory salaries through restructuring
For the restructured Student Services and Assessment department, we focused on merging assessment, social emotional learning, and educational services into one department to strengthen the delivery of services to students and staff at all levels.
STUDENT SERVICES & ASSESSMENT (SSA) HIGHLIGHTS:
Goal of Restructuring
Share ownership of the education of students at all tiers
Increase equity by eliminating barriers to education
Enhance collaboration and coordination of student services, instruction, assessment and support structures
STUDENT SERVICES & ASSESSMENT TITLE AND ROLE CHANGES:
Assistant Superintendent of Student Services & Assessment: Dr. Katie Ahsell will transition from the Executive Director of Student Growth and Equity to the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services and Assessment. This role will provide overall leadership for all areas of the department. The initial area of focus for the department will be increasing professional learning options that enhance educational services and trauma-informed practices.
Executive Director of Educational Services: Dr. Elizabeth deGruy will serve as the Executive Director of Educational Services. This role will focus on providing leadership for the Educational Services Department in service delivery to students with individualized education plans and 504 plans, the Response to Intervention (RtI) model, McKinney-Vento provisions, and other supports. Dr. deGruy previously served as the Director of Special Education in Champaign Unit #4 School District where she has worked as an Emotional Disabilities Teacher, Content Area Chair, Assistant Director of Special Education, and for the last eight years in the Director role. Prior to joining Unit #4, Dr. deGruy served as an Emotional Disabilities Teacher for four years in Urbana School District #116.
Director of Social Emotional Learning: Ashley Robertson will transition from the Coordinator of Social Emotional Learning and Student Equity to the Director of Social Emotional Learning. The Director of Social Emotional Learning leads and provides support for family and community engagement, social emotional instruction, positive disciplinary practice, behavior intervention, and cultural responsiveness.
ELS Program Supervisor: Karen Starr will transition from the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services to the role of Educational Life Skills (ELS) Program Supervisor. This Supervisor role will function as the program's instructional leader, guide strategic planning, support SEL and MTSS processes within the program, and assist with providing our students with disabilities more inclusive opportunities with their general education peers.
Coordinator of Assessment and MTSS: Trisha Senne will transition from the Evaluation and Assessment Facilitator to the Coordinator of Assessment and MTSS. In this role, Trisha will provide additional leadership, support, and direction to our Assessment and MTSS systems.
--
In the near future, I will also share an update on the instruction department changes as we continue to focus on supporting our staff and students in teaching and learning across the district.
Please let me know if you have any questions, and I hope everyone has a great week.
