School District 57

Dear District 57 Families,

Today is Principal Appreciation Day in Illinois. It’s the perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on our four outstanding District 57 principals: Danielle Crandall at Westbrook School for Young Learners, Katie Kelly at Lions Park Elementary School, Dan Ophus at Fairview Elementary School, and Eric Larson at Lincoln Middle School.

Being a principal is a job like no other. You wear countless hats and shoulder massive responsibilities. You push yourself daily to lead with vision, listen with compassion, and encourage curiosity & connection at every opportunity. You see the space within your school walls as a safe place to explore, make mistakes, ask questions, build relationships, and immerse yourself in the joy of learning. It’s hard, meaningful work. And you wouldn’t want it any other way.

Our principals pour their creativity, resourcefulness, collaboration, and heart into their work each and every day. They are devoted to their role, their students, and their mission. No amount of words could express how fortunate I feel to work alongside these outstanding professionals and people. Please join me on this special day in expressing your gratitude to them - your words of encouragement and kindness are valued more than you know.

Your participation and collaboration are integral to the connectedness of our school community. Throughout your time in District 57 you will have many opportunities to enhance student experiences and share your thoughts on matters affecting the district. We are excited to offer an evening opportunity next week for you to join us for a District Equity Leadership Team (DELT) meeting, Wednesday, October 25, 6-7pm at Fairview (flyer below). The goal of this committee is to enhance the quality of outstanding student experiences. You will review last year's equity audit and make recommendations to the District 57 Board of Education. No RSVP required. This event is open to all District 57 parents/guardians and staff.

Below is a recap of last night’s Board of Education meeting. If you want to watch the meeting in its entirety, you can access a recording here.

• Many thanks to Girl Scouts Troop 45689 for starting the evening with the Pledge of Allegiance. We always enjoy seeing student faces at our Board meetings, and last night there were many of them. Great job, students!
  
  

• Coaches Steve Shaffer and Kelly Bailey honored the cross-country athletes who represented Lincoln at the Illinois State Final Meet at Maxwell Park in Normal, Illinois. We were thrilled to celebrate their accomplishments!
  
  

• Principal Eric Larson highlighted the First LEGO League robotics program at Lincoln Middle School. These students and parent volunteers work diligently to design, build, code, and compete with LEGO robots, demonstrating devotion, collaboration, critical thinking, and adaptability. These are the types of programs we aspire to provide for all of our students. We are so proud of our Lego Robotics Team Members! You can learn more by viewing the video below.
  
  

• Each year, District 57 conducts an enrollment study to present to the Board. This report is meant to help guide future staffing and space needs. This year’s study showed an enrollment increase over the past 20 years, however, within the last five years our enrollment has declined by 2%. You can view the report here. Enrollment fluctuates during the school year; the district continues to monitor these numbers.
  
  

As always, thank you so much for taking the time to read all the correspondence from the district and your school/s. Wishing you a wonderful, fall weekend.

In the spirit of education,

Dr. Mary Gorr

Email: mgorr@d57.org
Website: https://www.d57.org/
Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA
Phone: 847-394-7300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/
Twitter: @dist57