Letter from MEB
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
The curriculum office recognizes the hard work and sacrifices that all of our educators (nurses, teachers, administrators, paras, support staff, EVERYONE) put forth to ensure our students are educated and cared for.
We see the things you do..
the extra hours..
donating clothes
furniture...
food..
money...
always helping!
attending their events outside of school...
and knowing that you did even more that we didn't hear about or see.
We appreciate you. We value you. We are grateful to get to work alongside each of you.
Happy Week to Everyone!
Take care,
MEB
Dear Educators.
I hope this message finds you well.
I am writing to inform you about the Illinois Council for Exceptional Children’s Annual Fall Convention, which will be held from November 6-8, 2025, in Naperville, IL. This year’s theme, "Whatever It Takes," reflects our collective commitment to ensuring that students with exceptionalities receive the support and resources they need to thrive.
We are currently accepting proposals for presentations and poster sessions, and we would greatly appreciate it if you could share this information with your regions and encourage educators, administrators, and support staff to participate. We believe that the convention will offer valuable professional development opportunities for everyone involved in the education of students with exceptionalities.
The Call for Proposals and Poster Sessions is open now, and the submission forms can be found on our website at https://www.illinoiscec.net/.
Please consider joining us for what promises to be an inspiring and impactful conference and share the attached information with colleagues in your region. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to reach out.
Thank you for your time and attention, and we look forward to seeing you in Naperville!
Warm regards,
Meri Havenar
ICEC President-Elect
2025 Fall Convention Chair
Upcoming BAT Webinars
Please register for our upcoming webinars.
5/8, 1-3 pm: Building foundations: Essential strategies for early-career teachers. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6737111706225928535
5/21, 3:30-5: Mastering the essentials: A comprehensive review of the ISBE guidance document on behavior interventions and tool-kit. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2554391351510048599
5/22, 3:30-4:30: School to prison pipeline: Breaking the cycle through effective strategies. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2537839309814377303
Empowering Early Learners: Enhancing PreK Outcomes with Second Step® Programs
In this webinar, North Faith Early Childhood Learning Center and Committee for Children’s director of curriculum, Stefani Kauppila, will discuss how to improve student outcomes through the importance of starting skill-building in PreK with Second Step® Early Learning. Learn why the school decided to implement a holistic human skills program, and learn about the foundation the program builds for our littlest learners and beyond.
Next Session: Tuesday, May 13 | 1:00 PM Eastern | 1 hour
https://cfchildren.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-khC0o_QQ5COwD5Y4IMuIw#/registration
Shifting Your Approach to Teacher Math Work Problems
Curriculum Department Staff
- MEB: Director ext. 1086
- Heidi Goula: Secretary to the Director ext. 1098
- Cathie Witte: Records and Professional Development ext. 1092
- Julie Cox: Literacy Coordinator ext. 1064
- Christy Orr: Tech Integration Specialist ext. 1087
- Sara Stimac: Literacy Coach ext. 1939
- Angela Wilson: Math Coach ext. 3297
- Brian Klett: Fine Arts Facilitator ext. 1075
- Nicole Zaayer: Curriculum Facilitator ext. 1090
- Bob Cundiff - Math Coach ext.3538
- Jacob Roskovensky: Media Specialist ext. 1533