With only four weeks remaining in the 2024-2025 school year, it is a good time to remind everyone that the spring requires a bit more caution from everyone when they are traveling near our school campuses. The warmer weather is sure to bring more bicycles, scooters, and skateboards; more younger siblings in tow, and more groups of students walking to and from school. Please be patient and drive carefully. We're in this Together!
Just last week, the mantra, We're in this Together, was on full display! We learned that Gower West and Gower Middle were recognized as Capturing Kids' Hearts National Showcase Schools! What an honor! This is the 10th consecutive year of receiving this award at Gower West - no other school across the country has more! And for Gower Middle, this is their 4th consecutive year, joining a small handful of middle and high schools across the country that have been able to sustain such a high standard over time. Amazing! Our intentional effort around building a positive school culture has been in place for over a decade and serves as the heartbeat behind our district motto; Children at their Best! To meet such a standard, it takes a village, and the Gower School Community has proven, once again, that their public school system is something that they continue to invest in!
This week, the Gower West campus addition (2023) was recognized by officials from the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance as the type of community investment in schools that makes a difference in improving the experience for our students! Gower West is in the running to receive their 7th consecutive Blue Ribbon multi-year award for Physical Education. If received, this would officially span a period of 30 consecutive years of Blue Ribbon status and extend Gower West's record across the state. Simply put, no other school in Illinois has more. Spanning three decades of excellence is quite an accomplishment and, as I see it, proof that the Gower School Community understands - and has for some time - that student experiences matter. I had a chance to meet with the officials after they spoke to a number of staff and parents. The first words shared with me were, 'This is an amazing school community! Everyone is so kind and supportive to one another'. Music to my ears! Our recently updated District Mission says it well, 'Empowering children to be their best today to lead a better tomorrow.'
Next week we will celebrate our Teachers as part of National Teacher Appreciation Week and recognize all of the amazing things that they do in service to the Gower Community. The accolades mentioned earlier simply do not happen without our All-Star Team of Teachers! It is the unique combination of high-quality Teachers and high-level parent engagement that makes the difference between good school districts and great ones. This school year marks my 12th year as the Superintendent in Gower and I continue to be amazed by the accomplishments of our Teachers and Teacher Teams and the incredible level of support we receive from across our school community. I know I speak for many when I say that it is this kind of parent support that drives us to work harder and strive to be even better. Your ongoing support and encouraging partnerships across the Gower School Community do not go unnoticed and they are certainly never taken for granted. On behalf of all of our Teachers and Staff that work so hard to give Gower the type of reputation it has, "Thank you!"
As always, if you would like to discuss any other Gower Community topic further, please reach out to me directly at vsimon@gower62.com.
With gratitude,
Dr. Simon
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Jackelyn Cadard was approved by the Board last night to serve in the role of Director of Special Education for Gower School District. The Director of Special Education will be a 12-month, full-time administrator position that begins on July 1, 2025, and part of an administrative transition plan with the June 2026 retirement of our Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Services, Rebecca Laratta. Ms. Laratta has served in her current role since 2012 and served as the Gower Middle School Principal from 2006-2012 before handing that baton to Mrs. Murphy:)
Jackelyn comes to Gower with an 18-year track record of teaching and administrative experience; all in Downers Grove School District 58. She is currently a Special Programs Coordinator, serving students, staff, and families from Pre-K through 8th grade; working to ensure that every student has access to the tools and support they need to succeed. The following may give some insight to her approach to the role:
"At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to students with unique needs and their families. I believe that every child deserves to learn in an environment where they feel seen, heard, and valued. My goal is to work hand-in-hand with staff, parents, and the wider community to build on Gowerโs strong foundation and amazing reputation to continue to grow special education programming that empowers all learners. I look forward to getting to know each of you - listening, learning, and partnering together to serve our students so they can be at their best! I am truly grateful to become part of this wonderful community and excited for the work ahead."
Dr. Cadard was selected from a pool of over 40 candidates. Interview panelists - including Teachers and Staff, school administrators, the District Office Team, parents, and Board members - all gave their full engagement throughout the selection process and offered great insight and feedback every step of the way. Board President, Nagla Fetouh, shared her insight as an interview panelist, "I really appreciate being part of the interview process and meeting the wonderful finalists. Sharing in such opportunities always reminds me of how thoughtful and intentional everything we do at Gower is, as well as the importance of everyone's voice informing the final decision - from our incredible teachers, to our parents and board, to our administrative team. Gower's reputation precedes it, most definitely because of everyone who makes it what it is, and I do not take that for granted. While both of the candidates were fantastic, Dr. Cadard's experience and overall strengths stood out as a great fit and I am in full support of the recommendation to bring her to our Gower Team."
Dr. Simon shared with staff, "Leadership transitions can be an adjustment. I am confident and fully expect that our entire Special Education Team, along with the rest of our incredible Gower Staff, will recognize the experience, commitment to building strong relationships, and focus on high quality outcomes for all students that Dr. Cadard brings to the role. These qualities are not just a great fit for Gower, but are sure to help Rebecca pass the baton over the course of the next school year so that we - and the amazing services we have provided to our students and families under the direction of Ms. Laratta for over a decade - don't miss a beat."
Welcome to Gower, Jackelyn!
Although Dr. Cadard will not officially begin until July 1st, her Gower email address is fully operational: Jcadard@gower62.com