Cooperative Corner
August 2024
Greetings Everyone!
Wow, it's cold out there! As the winter chill sets in and the days still feel longer, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the warmth you bring to our SASED community. Even as the season drags on, your dedication and positivity shine brighter than ever.
I know that the cold can make it hard to stay motivated, but please remember that your efforts are making a difference every single day. The lessons you share, the patience you offer, and the support you give offer light to our students in a winter's grayness.
There are so many wonderful things happening in our SASED community and I remain excited to be part of them. My classroom travels this month took me out to Project SEARCH, Winfield, and Waterbury. It is wonderful to see so many of our students and staff engaged in the learning process. Our crew at Project SEARCH were professionally attired, well spoken, and ready to get to work. Last month, teams from the Lisle South Campus and SAC put on their bowling shoes and gathered at Lisle Bowl for some friendly competition, laughter, and conversation.
Moving forward, we have a few additional SASED outings in which I hope you participate. We will be hosting a breakfast community walk at Herrick Lake on April 27 with staff and SASED families, Rich Laren Day of Outdoor Learning is May 2, and our Staff Appreciation/End of Year Picnic is scheduled for May 9th. I hope you are able to join us at one of more of these SASED events!
As we continue through these colder months, know that your hard work is valued more than words can express. Keep going, and know that warmer days are ahead. Thank you for everything you do. You are appreciated, and you are making this winter season brighter.
Warm regards,
Dr. Kim Dryier
To support our recruiting and retaining commitment, our Program Administrators will be attending more local job fairs this semester. We are also looking for ways to partner with COD and Aurora to recruit and support staff professionally,
Our Facility Space Utilization Study is underway. Our architect, VP Trinh, met with several SASED focus groups over the past few months. He will be sharing his summary at the next Facility Planning Committee scheduled for February 26th.
Our leadership team is working diligently on classroom projections and our budget. We need to ensure our students needs are being met while being fiscally responsible. The process is moving along nicely and my goal is to communicate with everyone along the way.
The recommendations that were made last year for our SLE programming are close to being realized for next school year. Our Program Administrators have been working with our district partners to really examine the need for 1:1 teacher assistants while supporting the needs of all students within the program. More information will likely be coming next month or thereafter- so be on the look out for more information.
In regard to our commitment to improving our SASED culture, several events were planned and more are coming. As noted previously, many staff met up at Lisle Lanes last month for a few games of bowling. No one was interested in participating in the Biggest Loser Competition. We are still looking for volunteers to assist with the our Breakfast Community Walk on April 27th. If you are interested, please click on the appropriate icon below. We are also still looking for volunteers to help with organizing Special Olympics. Likewise, click on the icon below if you would like to learn more.
MVE- MOST VALUABLE EMPLOYEE
There is still time to nominate an exceptional staff member!
Criteria for Nomination:
- Staff who exhibit exemplary achievement, performance, and contributions beyond their usual duties.
- Staff who inspire and support others in achieving success.
- Staff who demonstrate a positive attitude, professionalism, and commitment to their responsibilities.
- Staff who show servant leadership and take initiative to benefit the organization as a whole.
Second Semester Focus:
- Focus 1 (January 1 - March 13): Excellent Teamwork
- Focus 2 (March 16 - May 15): Innovation and Creativity
Recognition Dates: MVE winners will be honored at the March 19 and May 21 Board of Directors meetings.
To nominate an outstanding staff member, please complete the Google Form. We can’t wait to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our incredible team!
Our Board of Directors met on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at our Lisle South Campus. Remember-our Board of Directors Meetings are now recorded. You can find the posting of the recording on our website on the Board of Directors tab. It will be posted the Friday after every Board of Directors Meeting. A summary of this month’s Board Meeting includes:
Our Board Meeting was hosted at Lisle South this month. Prior to the start of our Board Meeting, Board Members were led on a tour of our Supportive Medical Needs Program at Lisle South. Next month our meeting will be held at Winfield SD34, where a tour will be offered to Board Members.
Our Board approved the consent agenda, including our personnel recommendations and our financial reports.
ESY 24-25 Classrooms have been finalized, and classroom assignments for the 2025/2026 school year were finalized. They are attached here (ESY and SY2026) for your review. Please note, there are several changes in our locations for ESY and for next year. Many of our current locations were not able to host some of our classrooms due to extraneous circumstances. We are still working on finalizing the classroom teaching assignments, but you will note differences in our locations. I know we will all work together to support these changes while we support and hope for more sustainable planning from our Facility Planning Committee. I appreciate your patience and understanding.
The bid from Preservation Services, Inc. was accepted for the Roofing Project at Southeast and a contract will be extended to PSI in March.
The 3-year contract extension with Sunrise Transportation Services was approved.
The proposed school calendar for next year was approved. You can find it here.
SASED Enrollment report was reviewed. Our program enrollment is holding strong between 380-390 students.
The HR report identified 16.5 unfilled positions, an decrease of 12 since last month.
The February Finance Committee Meeting was cancelled due to our e-learning day. The Facility Planning Committee is scheduled for February 26th.
The DWC Board met earlier this month and approved the resolution of DWC Governing Board and the amendments to the IGA. The next step in this process is for our 92 partner school districts to approve the resolution and the amendments to the IGA. There is not an expected change in any of the services we currently provide via DWC.
NAMI resources for parents to support students over long breaks.
“Guide to PUNS.” You can find it here.
Shared Journeys: Staff and Parent Experiences at SASED Video988
Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH)
Ezequiel is a 2nd grade student in the DHH program, he is a funny, kind, caring, and motivated student. It’s clear he puts in his best effort everyday and continues to try new and challenging things. Ezequiel loves math and has been working on extending his number sequence, solving problems, and identifying math vocabulary. Ezequiel has made many friends inside the DHH program as well as with peers at North School and has overcome so many obstacles and made great strides this year, we couldn’t be more proud!
Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH)
Pathways @ Southeast
Pathways @ Southeast
Structured Learning Environment (SLE)
“We did it” is something that you can frequently hear Phillipe Barrios proudly yelling in his classroom after he completes a challenging task at Prairieview Elementary School. Phillipe is a third grader who has demonstrated great progress in his communication, socialization, and behavior. His verbal language skills have flourished as he is speaking longer sentences, having conversations, making comments on what is happening around him, and responding to questions.
At the start of the school year, Phillipe was resistant to complete work at times. However, he is interested in a variety of activities like playing with letters, writing numbers, building a marble run, and painting with some of his peers. These motivators with the addition of visual supports really helped Phillipe understand the classroom expectations and has helped him thrive.
Phillipe is a jokester who enjoys interacting with others. He has the biggest grin and best giggle when playing tag with his teachers and friends at recess. He has demonstrated an incredible amount of flexibility and resilience this year. The growth and maturity that Phillipe has worked hard for this year is certainly something to celebrate! Congratulations, Phillipe, and keep on making yourself and all those who love you proud!
Southeast- Pathways Program Description
Project SEARCH Program Description
Structured Learning Environment (SLE) Program Description
Supportive Medical Needs Program Program Description
Transition Program Description
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program Description Audiology Services Itinerant Services
This survey is to determine interest in participating in a SASED Paint Party on April 8 or 9, from 6:30-8:30 at the Woodridge Pinot's Palette. The cost of the event is $45 per person. You are welcome to bring a partner and make it a date night if you want! If you are interested in attending, please complete this survey by February 28th.
Your Thoughts and Ideas Truly Matter
At SASED, we are united in our mission to enhance communication across our cooperative. We deeply value each and every opinion and encourage all stakeholders to share their thoughts and ideas. Your suggestions are not only welcomed but are essential in helping us reach our shared goals. By working together, we can build a vibrant and supportive culture that enriches the everyday experiences of both our students and staff! Please share your thoughts and suggestions here or click on the suggestion box. Please know, your email address is being collected to allow for potential further dialogue regarding your idea/suggestion.
1FA vs. 2FA vs. MFA
You might be used to using just a username and password to login to a device. This is somewhat secure if no one can guess your password. With advanced computers, data breaches, and phishing, the chances are pretty high that a basic password is going to be guessed. Two factor authentication provides another layer of security by requiring another method like a fingerprint, face, pin, or OTP (one time password) from a text. Multi-factor authentication can use any combination of those plus more options which is even more secure. We add more security because getting in through one device can often lead to getting into every place with sensitive information. If you are securing your home, do you just lock the knob, do you lock the deadbolt, do you set an alarm, or go even further? It can be annoying to authenticate often but it protects you and all the people you are connected to in just a few seconds.
Here is a great article discussing specially designed instruction:
Previous Readings:
What Will Teacher Shortages Look Like in 2024 and Beyond?
Illinois Teacher Shortage Persists, Survey Finds
Supporting Student Behavior After Breaks
Helping Students Cope With Returning to School After Winter Break
“How to Slow Down and Savor the Holidays”
“Six Ways to Keep Your Cool During the Holidays”
10 Evidence-based instructional strategies for the classroom
COVID-19 Pandemic triggers 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide
"Trauma Informed Teaching Strategies"
"Why Teachers Should Be Trauma Informed"
"How to Practice Self Compassion: 8 Technique and Tips"
How do you organize a space party? You planet!
Submitted by Nicole Nunziato
When does a joke become a dad joke?
When it becomes apparent!
Submitted by Kirstin Peahl
Thank you Kirsten and Nicole for bringing a little laughter to our day!
FRIENDS- These are the last of the jokes submitted. If you have some to share, please pass them along!
Please continue to submit your jokes to Dr. Dryier at kdryier@sased.org.
Send a Little Sunshine
At the end of January, we challenged our staff to see who could send the most Sunshines in a single day—and the response was incredible! We received an impressive 67 Sunshine requests that day, with Julia Nowicki leading the way as our winner. Congratulations, Julia! It was truly heartwarming to see so many kind and thoughtful messages shared.
Keep the positivity going! The You've Been Sunshined program is a wonderful way for staff to recognize and celebrate each other, offer words of encouragement, or acknowledge a job well done. If you know someone who could use a little sunshine in their day, simply complete this form to send them a note of encouragement or celebration. Let's continue spreading kindness!
- Click here to view this month's Health Newsletter, provided by EBC. It is filled with relevant information which may provide some encouragement for you to continue to be your personal best!
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is Here for You! Life can be stressful, but SASED's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here to help! The confidential, free services are designed to support you and your family in managing challenges and improving well-being. Click here for more information.
- Click here to learn more about the BCBSIL Fitness Program.