Regional Office of Education 47

Spring is coming and that means flowers will be in bloom. Now is the time to nominate educators for the 2025 Marigold Award. Each nominee will be recognized on social media and will receive a certificate, a marigold, and a special book. Our overall winner will also receive a $100 Amazon gift card to continue to build their classroom library. ***Please nominate AND forward to your teachers so that they may do the same!*** Jen Banks was a beloved teacher and school improvement coach who passed away as the result of a tragic automobile accident in December 2015. Her love for learning and the students that she worked with was an inspiration to many. Jen’s positive, supportive, and energetic attitude nurtured those around her and helped them to grow. In celebration of Jen’s life and dedication to learning, ROE 47 has created an award in her honor. As Jen worked with many elementary and middle schools in the Sauk Valley area, this award is open to PK-8 Whiteside County teachers, para-educators & administrators. Marigolds exist in our schools - encouraging, supporting and nurturing teachers. They are leaders in their community, classrooms, and families. They have a love of learning and sharing that learning with others. Help us to honor Jen and these exemplary leaders in your school communities. An informational flier and copy of the nomination questions are attached. Please nominate your “marigold” today using the link below by Wednesday, April 9, 2025. CLICK HERE for Google Nomination Form

🌟 Schools Are Stepping Up for Students! 🌟 Over 75% of schools in Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside counties have taken a deeper look into how they support students impacted by trauma. 💙 Educators are shifting toward healing-centered practices, creating environments where students feel seen, heard, and supported. This is more than a trend—it’s a movement toward compassion, understanding, and resilience in our schools. Together, we are building a future where every child has the support they need to thrive. 👏 Huge shoutout to the schools leading the way! Let’s keep the momentum going!

Assessment Web Seminar Series: Designing Equitable, 3D, Curriculum-Anchored Assessments: Topic Study for K-12 Educators Presenter: NSTA Wednesdays in April 2025 (6:00 - 7: 30 pm CT) April 9, 2025 April 16, 2025 April 23, 2025 April 30, 2025 Virtual Join us for a series of four workshops on Wednesdays, April 9, April 16, April 23, and April 30, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, to redesign a three-dimensional classroom assessment connected to your instructional materials. Using the NGSS Task Design Workbook and examples from a curated list, you'll learn key elements of high-quality 3D assessment design, including sensemaking, problematizing phenomena, and accessibility features. The goal is to adapt an existing assessment for science classrooms while addressing questions about engaging students in 3D sensemaking and ensuring tasks are meaningful and accessible for all learners. This is a professional learning series and attendance at all sessions is required. Zoom link and materials will be provided by NSTA. This training is provided through funds by the Illinois State Board of Education. 6 PDHs K-12 Science Educators https://forms.fillout.com/t/vUvAVnsZmnus?id=recbA8yiMwYR2HQ2o

Join us on Thursday, April 10, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. to explore the AMAZING power of play! Learn how play fuels development, discover family resources, and connect with other parents. You can register at https://forms.fillout.com/t/5sMCD8nDv9us @RegionalOffice47

Resilience is Not a Solo Journey 🤝 We often think of resilience as individual strength, but research shows that belonging is a key ingredient. Having people who support, uplift, and walk alongside us makes all the difference. We are wired for connection. 💙 Resilience grows when we know we’re not alone—when we have safe spaces to share, be seen, and be supported. Who’s in your corner? Tag someone who helps you stay strong. 💪✨

Calling All Heroes! Our Students Need You! The mission? Stock our School Supply Closet! Your donation provides the supplies students need to succeed. Be a School Supply Superhero by going to https://donate.stripe.com/fZeaGG3Uu9YF9NueUU to donate.

Librarians Networking April 1, 2025 3:00 - 4:00, Virtual An Opportunity For Librarians And Library Staff To Network And Share Information And Resources And Problem-Solve Based On Ideas Of How Other Librarians Have Approached The Same Issue. Gain New Ideas For Your Library !

REGISTER NOW - OpenSciEd High School BIOLOGY Launch - SERIES Presenters: Kristin Rademaker, ISTA/NSTA This 4-week series (8 x 3-hour web seminars) introduces high school biology teachers to the OpenSciEd biology curriculum. Through video observations, peer learning, and hands-on experiences, participants will gain a deep understanding of the curriculum and its alignment with NGSS and the Framework for K-12 Science Education. They will also develop skills in 3D instruction and assessment, and learn to provide effective feedback to support student learning. This is a professional learning series and attendance at all sessions is required. This training is provided through funds by the Illinois State Board of Education. 24 PDHs K-12 Science Educators 2 Part Registration Step 1: https://forms.fillout.com/t/vUvAVnsZmnus?id=recwnnnvTumwDGjoM Step 2: https://my.nsta.org/event/il-sp25-openscied-curriculum-launch-workshop-for-high-school-biology-unit-b-1-e You are not registered until you have completed BOTH steps of the registration process.

Resilience Doesn’t Mean Ignoring Pain Resilient people still feel sadness, frustration, and fear. They don’t suppress emotions—they navigate them. Being resilient means allowing yourself to feel, adapt, and grow. It’s about flexibility, not just toughness. Think of resilience like a tree in the wind—it bends, but it doesn’t break. 🌳💙 Keep bending, keep adapting, and keep moving forward.

Resilience is like a muscle—the more we use it, the stronger it gets. 💪 Every challenge, setback, and tough moment is an opportunity to grow. Just like building strength in the gym, resilience takes practice, patience, and self-compassion. Keep showing up, keep pushing forward, and remember—you are stronger than you think. 💙

A huge thank you to NAMI Sauk Area and Maggie Wike for presenting "Let's Talk About Mental Health" at our most recent virtual Parent University session. We’re grateful to support and share in NAMI’s mission of education, advocacy, and support! @RegionalOffice47 #RegionalOffice47

7th Annual Social Emotional Learning Summit :Tug of War: The Power of Pulling Together Friday, March 21, 2025, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 PM @ Sauk Valley Community College Are you feeling pulled in a million directions? Overwhelmed by the demands of education? As educators, we often find ourselves in a constant battle, striving to create the best possible learning environments for our students. But the pressures can be immense, leaving us feeling exhausted and defeated. It's time to change the game! In this summit, keynote Tom Toney will explore the concept of Tug of War and how it relates to our daily experiences as educators. We'll delve into the energy-sapping habits that can hinder our progress and discover strategies to overcome these challenges. The day will also feature a host of breakout sessions facilitated by community partners addressing anxiety, connections between SEL and essential workforce skills, brain breaks, burnout, attendance, and more! A tentative schedule is included below. CLICK HERE to register to ensure your spot at our annual summit!

Words Matter. Mindset Matters. The way we frame our questions shapes our understanding and response. Instead of asking, "What’s wrong with them?"—which assumes blame—try asking, "What happened to them?" This simple shift moves us from judgment to compassion, from assumption to understanding. Trauma changes people, but so can empathy. 💙 Let’s lead with curiosity, kindness, and a commitment to seeing the whole person.

SEL-ebrate good times, March 3-7 is SEL Week! Join us March 3-7 for a week of learning, growth, and fun! Area 2 SEL specialists offer specialized PD every day, free resources, and an exciting giveaway. What better way to strengthen our commitment to social-emotional learning? Learn more at https://myemail.constantcontact.com/It-s-a-SEL-ebration--.html?soid=1137067867705&aid=NERXGP_OwcY

🌟 Let’s Talk About Mental Health 🌟 You’re invited to join us on March 4 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. for an open and welcoming conversation about mental health! Together, we’ll explore ways to support ourselves and those we care about. Sign up by going to https://forms.fillout.com/t/5sMCD8nDv9us

Did you know there's a difference between being trauma-informed and trauma-responsive? Trauma-Informed: This means creating a safe and supportive environment where people who have experienced trauma feel safe and respected. Trauma-Responsive: This goes further by actively working to heal from trauma and build resilience. Essentially, Trauma-informed is about creating a safe space. Trauma-responsive is about promoting healing and growth. Both are crucial for building inclusive and supportive communities.

Science Capacity Builders : Evaluating the Science Classroom February 24th @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am Register here : https://forms.fillout.com/t/vUvAVnsZmnus?id=recxIdbegeEplm2I1 @RegionalOffice47 #RegionalOffice47

Administrators Networking Meetings - February 20th Register here :https://forms.fillout.com/t/vUvAVnsZmnus?id=recqhI09P1Kh2LMnr @RegionalOffice47 #RegionalOffice47

The ROE 47 office will be closed today, in honor of Presidents Day. @RegionalOffice47 #RegionalOffice47

NEW TEACHERS - JOIN US ! Register :https://forms.fillout.com/t/vUvAVnsZmnus?id=recz127l5mWXZZkHl @RegionalOffice47 #RegionalOffice47