Development News for Evergreen Park, Illinois

Northwest Elementary Teacher Shavon Brewer Receives Golden Apple Award

Shavon Brewer, a fifth-grade teacher at Northwest Elementary, was awarded a Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching. The award recognizes her impactful teaching methods, dedication to students, and strong relationships built with them, including continued support for alumni. The award includes a $5,000 check and a paid sabbatical at Northwestern University. The district also presented her with an additional $500 for classroom resources.

Evergreen Park Library Launches Summer Reading Challenge

The Evergreen Park Library is launching a community reading challenge for the summer, aiming to increase participation to over 1,000 people and reading minutes to 750,000. The initiative encourages adults to model reading for children and offers prizes for participants. A block party is planned if community goals are met.

District Emphasizes Student Voice in Decision-Making

The district is focusing on incorporating student voice in decision-making to promote student belonging, inclusion, and a positive learning environment. Principals presented various methods used in elementary schools, including student councils, 'I lead' programs, kindness clubs, ambassador roles, and student surveys, to empower students and address school-wide issues.

District Celebrates Neurodiversity Spirit Week

The district is celebrating Neurodiversity Spirit Week with various daily themes to promote understanding and empathy. Each grade level has tailored lessons developed by the special education behavior sub-committee. The week leads up to the Special Olympics event.