It Takes A Village

In 2020, Berwyn school districts and the families they serve found themselves in an unprecedented situation due to COVID-19. Here’s how they’ve persevered.

Article by your neighbor, Linze Rice, Pink House Media

It’s been a school year like no other, but Berwyn schools and families have risen to the challenge. We spoke with just a few of the dedicated educators leading the charge in each of the city’s three school districts to ask them how they’ve adapted to the pandemic, what good things their schools have been doing, and how they’re still finding joy in education — even from a safe distance.

BERWYN NORTH SCHOOL DISTRICT 98

Includes Havelicek, Jefferson and Prairie Oak elementary schools; and Lincoln Middle School

6633 W 16th St | Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 484-6200 | bn98.org

How They’re Adapting

Flexibility in remote instruction has been key to helping Berwyn North School District 98 adapt to the changing times, said Superintendent Dr. Michelle Smith. That has meant providing a mix of virtual learning, group work, and independent workdays, as well as ensuring teachers are present in their online classrooms throughout the full day and providing extra support to students in the district’s special education program. The district has also been working behind the scenes to explore ways to bring students back into the classroom, while simultaneously improving the quality of its remote instruction plan.

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Smith

Linze Rice, Pink House Media

What They’ve Been Up To

North Berwyn schools have been providing “as much normal as possible” given the circumstances, Smith said. The district held a virtual version of its annual “Back to School Night,” hosted a Halloween event, and held a virtual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in October. They’ve also worked hard to keep students engaged while virtual learning. To help cut down on screen fatigue, the district shortened classes, and many teachers provide remote instruction from their regular classrooms.

“The pandemic has not changed our teachers’ commitment to the students we serve,” she said.

Hopes for the Future

Despite the circumstances, there have been some valuable takeaways for the district, Smith said — including some things it hopes to continue well into the future, such as new technologies.

“It is my sincere hope that education does not go back to exactly the way it looked prior to the pandemic,” the superintendent said. “The daily use of technology should now be the expectation. We went from having some computers in every school, to providing every student with a Chromebook. Hotspots were also provided to families who needed WiFi.”

She also praised the adaptability of the teachers in the district for their ability to quickly take on new digital tools and teaching methods, like Google Classroom, Google Meets, and Zoom.

“This experience also reminded us that educators are capable of amazing things,” Smith said. “I’m proud to say that with all the changes, my teachers are doing great work.”

BERWYN SOUTH SCHOOL DISTRICT 100

Includes Emmerson, Hiawatha, Irving, Komensky, Pershing and Piper elementary schools; and Heritage and Freedom middle schools

3401 S Gunderson Ave | Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 795-2300 | bsd100.org

Linze Rice

How They’re Adapting

Superintendent Dr. Mary Havis said District 100 has made it a priority to ensure all students have the resources they need to learn remotely. Those efforts include providing families with mobile hotspots so they can access the internet, and investing in the learning platform Seesaw, which allows elementary students and families to communicate with teachers. Educators have also created daily schedules for their students that include a mix of live lessons, one-on-one instruction, small support groups, and independent activities.

Superintendent Dr. Mary Havis

To replicate the spirit of classroom camaraderie, District 100 schools continue to lead daily announcements, sing the school song together, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. So far, the strategy has been paying off — the district has consistently had over a 96% attendance rate since the start of the school year, according to Havis.

“Our preschool students, staff, and parents have demonstrated that it is absolutely possible for our youngest students to be successful in a virtual model,” Havis said. “It has been amazing to see teachers and families partner to help all students be successful.”

Pre-K Teacher Elizabeth Budz

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What They’ve Been Up To

Like other districts, District 100 has been busy implementing strategies to keep students and staff safe, while also making remote learning fun and engaging. These moves are supported by years of investment in technology, infrastructure, professional development, and digital learning resources.

Linze Rice

“I would say our greatest achievement has been the ability to shift to a fully remote environment, essentially overnight,” Havis said. “I am so proud of the teachers in District 100 for the countless hours they have spent preparing for and teaching students virtually while prioritizing their social emotional needs.”

“The situation we find ourselves in today only exemplifies who we are as a district and a community, and highlights why Berwyn is such a special place,” the superintendent added.

Linze Rice

What’s New

This year, District 100 welcomed two new principals to its team: Leticia Valadez at Komensky Elementary School, and Tim Broduer at Freedom Middle School. Havis said the two seasoned educators were a perfect match for the district, particularly now.

“The addition of Leticia and Tim to our D100 team this year has been inspiring,” she said. “They have brought with them experience, new ideas and perspectives, student-centered philosophies, and excellent leadership for our district.”

Born in the Mexican state of Jalisco, Valadez immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of 9. Prior to becoming principal at Komensky, Valadez served as an educator and school leader for 17 years, working in everything from special education to bilingual classroom instruction, to teaching middle school math and being a principal in the Melrose Park community.

“My students have been my greatest source of inspiration; they have taught me more about myself than I could have imagined,” Valadez said. “It’s my belief that educators serve as mirrors of hope and inspiration for all children, and I am committed to...ensure that all students take pride in their cultural heritage while being inspired, empowered, and actively engaged in their education.”

New Principal Leticia Valadez, Komensky Elementary School

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Before joining the Freedom team, Brodeur served the past four years as the assistant principal for the Freshman Academy and Student Activities at Morton West, and previously held positions as dean of students and director of student life. He is also a K-12 certified art teacher and currently working on earning a PhD. In his free time, Brodeur said he and his partner — along with their Corgi, Crouton — enjoy cooking, traveling, home improvement, and running.

“My high school students have always been very proud of their middle school, and I would say that Freedom students are perhaps just a bit prouder!” Brodeur said.

New Principal Tim Brodeur, Freedom Middle School

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Hopes for the Future

Amongst the biggest lessons the district has learned during the pandemic has been the value of strong partnerships with the district’s parents and families, Supt. Havis said.

“The South Berwyn community has embraced our schools and has demonstrated time after time the commitment to the education and well-being of kids,” she said.

Looking forward, Havis said her district is excited to slowly and safely bring students back to in-person learning, as well as expand extracurricular programs and clubs that can be held safely in-person and remotely.

“While this year looks different than previous years, our students deserve to receive the same high-quality education, access to their teachers and support staff, and extra-curricular experiences as they would if we were fully in-person,” Havis said. The District 100 staff is committed to making that happen.”

J. STERLING MORTON HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 201

Includes Morton East & West high schools

5801 W Cermak Rd | Cicero, IL 60804 (708) 222-5700 | jsmort.schoolwires.net

Morton West High School Principal Kristine Cavanaugh

Linze Rice

How They’re Adapting

The District 201 community has worked hard this year to adapt to a remote learning situation while providing a sense of structure, encouragement, and normalcy for its students, said Principal Kristine Cavanaugh and Dr. Timothy Truesdale, superintendent of the district.

To support students, the district has made the high school building available throughout the day, provided meals and COVID care kits, offered both in-person and virtual office hours and tech support, weekly newsletters with helpful tips from the school’s social worker, and a calendar-based system for students to easily schedule remote and in-person meetings. Additionally, they have worked with the district’s school resource officer to create orientation sessions and class presentations.

“Students continue to impress us with their remarkable attendance and participation in their learning,” Cavanaugh said. “Teachers are also doing an amazing job connecting with students and families. They’re working very hard to create a warm and engaging classroom environment through remote learning.”

Reflective pond at Morton West High School

Linze Rice

Morton West High School Knowledge Center

Linze Rice

What They’ve Been Up To

To help families stay engaged and build relationships with staff and fellow students while remote learning, the district introduced several new initiatives this year, such as Coffee with the Principal on the first Thursday of each month, and Feel Good Fridays. Cavanaugh also sends out a weekly email newsletter and hosted a virtual open house. To keep in touch with families, the district has created a parent liaison for parental support, offered technical help, and opened its guidance office for grade-specific meetings.

The district is also working to maximize the potential of remote learning. The Project Lead the Way curriculum in culinary and engineering programs helped bolster excitement in the virtual classroom, and painting and sculpture kits increased hands-on learning while at home. The Dear Evan Hansen book club encourages reading between freshman students and their parents, and partnerships with Youth Crossroads and Northeastern Illinois University have provided layers of support for families. The school’s Knowledge Center is also a key resource during the pandemic: book clubs, the scholar society, engineering programs, and more still utilize the space.

To inject a bit of normalcy and fun into the school year, Morton West has hosted a number of events, such as the Night at the Drive-in Talent Showcase, a sidewalk chalk event, virtual club fair, an assembly for Hispanic Heritage Month, and several community service initiatives.

Morton West Talent Showcase

Morton West Theather Workshop

What’s New

Despite the year’s challenges, Morton West remains a model Professional Learning Community. The district was also recognized as having the highest participation in Advanced Placement exams and increase in percentage of scores eligible for college credit, and was named a Microsoft Showcase School — “an elite group of schools that exemplify the most exceptional teaching and learning in the world today.”

It also strengthened its health and P.E. programs, providing fitness watches for all freshman students. Additionally, it collaborated with the school’s resource officer and Youth Crossroads for activity days and support outreach. Partnerships with the Berwyn and Stickney libraries have also opened new opportunities for students, including book and movie reviews. A number of District 201 students are also on-track to earn the Seal of Biliteracy — an award for students who master multiple languages.

Linze Rice

Linze Rice

Hopes for the Future

While the district’s main hope is for students to return to in-school learning again, it’s also looking at ways to increase ways for kids to learn remotely. Cavanaugh ultimately aims to continue making progress on the district’s long-time goals: improving graduation rates, seeing kids in college or post-secondary education, helping students earn an associate’s degree by the time they graduate high school — and earning more athletic champion titles.

“There is a lot of promise for student learning via technology,” Truesdale said. “I think these conditions have forced us to facilitate student engagement in new ways, like collaborating virtually and using technology in ways we hadn’t in the past.”

Superintendent Dr. Timothy Truesdale

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Linze Rice