School Support Services | Area 2 SEL Hub

Join us in Celebrating our 4th Summer Symposium! 

In the years following COVID-19, social-emotional learning (SEL) became a legislative priority. Funding shifted and districts across the region were asked to respond, but those of us doing this work knew that SEL has never just been a policy response. It is the foundation on which we treat each other as human beings.

That commitment was on full display on Tuesday, June 10th, when over 140 individuals gathered at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Rockford for the Area 2 SEL Hub's 4th Annual Summer Symposium. Participants represented the full breadth of our regional educational and community support network—from early childhood programs and traditional school settings to fellow ROEs, community health organizations such as Rosecrance and Youth Services Network, alternative education environments like RPS's Juvenile Detention Center and ROE4's Summit Academy, and those building new pathways for adult learners at Goodwill Excel Center. Teachers, administrators, social workers, mental health professionals, and community partners came together for a day of learning that included keynote speaker Tyler Tarver, many incredible breakout sessions, and the contributions of 27 presenters and 15 vendors!

We are so grateful for every person who attended, presented, and volunteered! Their presence is a reminder that this work is bigger than any single initiative... and that our region is fortunate to have so many people committed to it.

Education Services | Summit Academy

448 Students Served. 448 Reasons to celebrate.

Behind every number is a story worth telling. 448 students. 448 second chances to find the right path. 448 reasons why our incredible staff showed up every day... and 448 reasons to celebrate as we closed out the school year!

Some students were with us for just a few weeks before they were ready to return to their sending school. Others joined us virtually first, proving themselves day by day until they earned their in-person seat. Many others walked through our doors on day one and never looked back. No two journeys look the same at Summit, and that is exactly the point. 

When each of our seniors meet their graduation requirements while at Summit, we celebrate them! Although most our seniors receive their official diploma from their sending school, we still love to honor their resilience and hard work at our annual Summit graduation ceremony which took place at the end of May. Crossing the stage at Summit means so much more than a diploma. For all of our grads, it represents the barriers they had to overcome and demonstrates their courage to find a different way forward. 

Each one arrived at a different moment, on a different path, carrying a different story. And we've been honored to walk alongside every single one of them. Whether a student is with us for a few weeks or walks across the graduation stage, every single journey matters. Here's to the 448 stories we had the honor of playing a part in this year, and especially to those who graduated! We are so proud of each of them!

Did you miss Summit's graduation? 

Watch the infamous "Graduation Hype" video

School Support Services

Strengthening the Administrator–Administrative Assistant Partnership

Most educators understand the relationship between a principal and a teacher. Fewer stop to consider the relationship between a principal and the person sitting just outside their office door. Despite working side by side every day, administrators and administrative assistants rarely receive dedicated training on how to function as a true leadership team.

Belvidere School District 100 Superintendent Dr. Cassandra Schug and Director of Quality Assurance Frank Mandera understood the potential of this often-overlooked partnership, which is why they requested The Breakthrough Coach training for nearly 15 administrators and their administrative assistants. ROE4's School Support Services department was happy to bring The Breakthrough Coach team to them to provide such a training!

Joined by Hononegah High School Principal Chad Dougherty and additional school leaders from across other regions, participants explored a simple but powerful question: What becomes possible when administrators and administrative assistants learn to lead together? We are proud of these dedicated educators for recognizing these relationships and investing in their growth as a team. Their commitment to working together will have a lasting impact on the students, staff, and communities they serve.

Did you catch the latest episode of  Talk 122?

 ROE4 Regional Superintendent Scott Bloomquist recently joined Harlem Superintendent Dr. Terrell Yarborough (who is no stranger to ROE4) on his season finale of Talk 122, a podcast for our Harlem District #122 friends.

This is a MUST-WATCH for anyone interested in learning more about the role of a Regional Superintendent—and the unique journey that led Mr. Bloomquist to the position.

Upcoming Professional Development

Equity Training Coming to ROE4

Join Dr. Kierra Pickens, Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, and Chicago Public Schools' Devon LaRosa for an impactful, full day workshop focused on fostering a more inclusive and innovative educational landscape!

Regional Office of Education #4

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