SEDOL News

Jodi Hasner exemplifies commitment, professionalism, and excellence at Laremont, SEDOL, and the LASSO 3 Transition Program. A leader in behavior support, she brings a deep understanding of her students’ unique needs, proactively addressing challenges before they arise. Her ability to remain calm and composed during crises not only de-escalate situations but also provides invaluable reassurance to both students and staff.

Jodi’s dedication extends beyond the classroom—her unwavering support on work crews and her commitment to student success make a lasting impact. She fosters a positive learning environment through patience, skill, and empathy, ensuring every student feels supported. Beyond her direct work with students, Jodi’s collaborative spirit and willingness to assist colleagues embody a true team-first attitude, strengthening the entire Laremont community.

We are grateful for Jodi’s hard work and the exceptional standard she sets every day. Congratulations, Jodi!

This student's teacher describes him as the embodiment of perseverance. Since starting at Cyd Lash Academy three years ago, he has made remarkable progress. As a freshman in 2022, he struggled with attendance and often kept to himself, disengaged from those around him.

Last year, he began opening up and building positive relationships with staff and peers. This year, despite the devastating loss he experienced, he has continued to persist, strengthening connections and becoming a valued member of the classroom.

This semester, he took on a mentorship role, guiding middle school students in the gym after his PE class. He has been instrumental in helping younger students feel comfortable and engaged. Through encouragement and support, he fosters confidence and teamwork, modeling perseverance, respect, and sportsmanship.

Curtis Hines is a cornerstone of the Cyd Lash Academy family. Whether stepping in as a long-term substitute, covering OI, or adjusting his schedule at a moment’s notice, Curtis is always ready to lend a hand. His reliability, flexibility, and unwavering commitment have earned him the respect and gratitude of his colleagues.

Beyond his willingness to help, Curtis excels in managing even the most challenging classrooms with patience and professionalism. His calm demeanor fosters a supportive learning environment where students feel understood and empowered. He takes the time to connect with each student, ensuring they receive the individualized support they need to succeed.

Curtis exemplifies dedication, compassion, and a deep passion for education. We are incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our school community, and we proudly recognize his outstanding contributions. Congratulations, Curtis!

This student has consistently demonstrated outstanding academic responsibility and shows remarkable improvement in both academics and his behavior this month. This student has exhibited kindness towards classmates and is always willing to lend a helping hand, fostering a positive and supportive classroom. Even when faced with difficulties he maintains a positive attitude and continues to strive for success.

Colin Rowley has been a huge part of a successful classroom for our youngest students in the SAB program. Mr. Rowley has embraced the needs of the students by attending STAR training to implement a scientifically based curriculum with fidelity. He has trained his classroom staff in the program and continuously coordinates with our internal experts for fidelity checks and pointers. In addition, Mr. Rowley has embraced the team mentality at Gages Lake School.

Furthermore, Mr. Rowley goes above and beyond in his support of parents in his regular daily communication and his responsiveness to their questions.

Cyd Lash is actively advancing Goal 1 of SEDOL’s CIP by implementing the RiSK Initiative, a structured framework promoting Responsible, Safe, and Kind behaviors among students. This initiative supports social-emotional learning by encouraging student accountability, goal setting, and self-correction, while also fostering a culture of inclusion through professional development.

The RiSK Initiative is embedded in daily routines, reinforcing positive behaviors such as responsible technology use, appropriate interactions, and acts of kindness. To further engage students, the school has implemented full-day focus sessions on each RiSK attribute, raffles to encourage participation, and all-school assemblies to celebrate progress. This approach has gained strong buy-in from both staff and students, creating a positive school culture where efforts are recognized and reinforced.

Looking ahead, Cyd Lash Academy plans to enhance the initiative by incorporating student input to shape new ideas, creating more celebratory environments to maintain motivation, and continuously analyzing and refining the program to ensure its long-term success in meeting the needs of SEDOL students.

The Laremont Trivia Night was a huge success, raising over $11,500 for technology and switches for Laremont students. Held at the Lehmann Mansion in Lake Villa, the event drew a record 250 guests.

With support from the SEDOL Foundation, Laremont parents, staff, and the community came together—decked out in their favorite Chicago attire—for ten spirited rounds of trivia. Winners walked away with bragging rights, a small trophy, and a Portillo’s gift card.

This year’s theme, Sweet Home Chicago, was woven throughout the night, from over 70 Chicago-themed silent auction baskets to student-made centerpieces featuring the city’s flag and skyline. A big thank you to the very talented Cyd Lash students who created the event’s amazing Chicago-inspired decorations.

Save the date for next year’s event: March 7, 2026, at the Lehmann Mansion in Lake Villa!

The second session of SEDOL Parent University Series was held on April 8, with a presentation by Attorney Benji Rubin from Rubin Law Firm. The presentation focused on a detailed explanation of Special Needs Trust, Estate Planning, Guardianship, and Power of Attorney.

Discussion of Illinois law as it relates to these topics led to a robust question and answer session, helping parents navigate through the challenges confronted at the various stages of their children's lives. To ensure access for all families, the SEDOL Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department provided childcare as well as oral Spanish/English translation to ensure parents had the support needed to actively participate in this session.

A special thank you to the paraprofessionals, educators, administrative assistants, and administrators who volunteered their time to make this evening a success. Parent University Series #3 is scheduled for July 15th, 2025, 6:30-8pm with Protected Tomorrows and is open to both SEDOL and member district parents.

Earlier this year SEDOL was highlighted in a Ukeru case study regarding the remarkable progress in reducing the use of physical restraints across its programs. Focusing on four key goals in mind, the district has achieved a 96.1% overall reduction in physical restraints and a 70.74% decrease in the number of students experiencing them. Additionally, restraints for students with emotional disabilities have dropped by 78.38%. Individual programs have also seen dramatic improvements, with Gages Lake School reducing restraints by 95.81%, Fairhaven School by 99.23%, and both Sector Programs and Laremont School achieving a 100% reduction.

A major factor in this success has been the implementation of Ukeru, a trauma-informed approach that provides safe alternatives to restrictive interventions. Ukeru has quickly become one of the most requested professional development courses at SEDOL. Staff across all experience levels have praised the training, with veteran educators calling it one of the best of their careers and newer hires expressing enthusiasm for its impact. According to Alex Letto, SEDOL Behavior Specialist and Ukeru Coordinator, this approach has transformed how the district supports both students and staff, fostering trust, safety, and a more proactive approach to behavior management.

Building on this success, SEDOL plans to expand Ukeru training to all staff and continue prioritizing trauma-informed environments. Letto, once skeptical of restraint reduction, now firmly believes in its effectiveness. “It is 100% possible and safe to reduce physical restraints, no matter the population you work with,” he emphasized. SEDOL’s commitment to creating a safer, more supportive learning environment is clear, and the results speak for themselves.

Click Here to view full case study...