Dear Community Members, Parents, and Staff:

Writers and critics have often said that there are essentially only two plots in storytelling: a stranger comes to town, or a character goes on an adventure. In thinking about my own journey here in Winnetka, I would say that both of these plots converged into one, late in the spring of 2011.

When I started the interviewing process, I was excited about the many possibilities here. Board Members at that time described Winnetka as a progressive district fully committed to the success of all its students. They described passionate and committed teachers who inspired children to become thoughtful, articulate and compassionate individuals. Though, to be sure, these early conversations did not only occur with rose-colored glasses on; challenges were also revealed, including those related to communication, finances, transparency, consistency, and the like.

Once the formal announcement was made that I would be Winnetka's next superintendent, the adventure really started. The next many months would be something akin to Alice's foray into Wonderland. It was certainly an interesting first summer, including constructing a new District Office; re-opening contract negotiations; and building a team with a new CFO, HR Director, Principal, Communications Coordinator, Board and Superintendent secretary, and three newly-elected Board Members.

As the year progressed, a frenetic energy grew. There was great interest in looking at all aspects of the District's operations, and a formal strategic planning process was developed and implemented. This work was the culmination of numerous surveys and focus groups, representing hundreds of constituents across the Winnetka community. In some ways, this process was affirming, validating that values and beliefs around our children were tightly held and mutually shared. In other ways, it demonstrated there were some strong differences in opinion on the state of the District at that time. This was manifested in feedback on finances, consistency and alignment, and the lack of formalized processes in a variety of areas.

Over the past three years, I have attempted to make both the good and the "bad" better. In short, we have kept a strong focus on Winnetka's children, making sure that they have the best possible teachers and instructional programs. At the classroom level, we have adhered to the longstanding beliefs of progressive education by attending to the academic, social-emotional, and physical needs of our students. On the larger, structural issues, there have also been many positive changes. Parents and community members have acknowledged marked improvements in alignment, communication, and transparency. Clearly, this work is in progress, and there is still much to do. Having said that, I am confident about the future, even if my journey with the District ends at the end of the June.

I happen to believe that, if you have an open heart and mind, every adventure leads to another, and now it is time for my next one. As you all know by now, I have been asked to be the next superintendent in Scarsdale, New York, making me the 10th in 230 years. Scarsdale is very similar to Winnetka in many ways. It is an exemplary district that has strong progressive values and places students' success at the forefront of decision-making. Having said that, they are also a bit different. Scarsdale is a K-12 district with over 4700 students in nine schools. Additionally, they are deeply committed to innovation, teacher research and development, and global education initiatives. And this is work in which I am eager to engage.

Scarsdale and Winnetka actually share some common roots. In the early 1900's, Scarsdale's "progressive" educational philosophy stemmed from a personal relationship between Elizabeth Caldwell Fountain (Scarsdale's first female School Board member) and Mrs. James Porter of Winnetka.  They shared a common belief that every child is unique, and their learning environment should reflect those differences. In a more contemporary context, Scarsdale and Winnetka are often viewed as peer districts that share many similar instructional and other practices. In many ways, although I know my journey in Winnetka is time-stamped at this point, I am confident that these ties can be continued and even further developed over time.

Naturally, this transition is bittersweet in many ways. I have been honored to serve the District over the past three years as superintendent. I have developed many relationships here that I will continue to cherish, and I'm also extremely proud of much of the work we have accomplished together. The last few years have not always been easy, but I think that they have set the District on a course for continued success long into the future. A big part of that will, of course, necessarily involve the next superintendent.

Trisha Kocanda is also considered to be a thought leader among her peers and is a masterful manager on both the large scale and the small. Trisha is perfectly poised to make a smooth and seamless transition for the entire community. She and I have had many conversations about this move in the past couple of weeks, and Trisha knows I am here to support her completely. I applaud the Board of Education for its swift and unanimous support of Trisha. There is no doubt in my mind that she is the right leader for the next era of The Winnetka Public Schools District 36. Beyond being my assistant superintendent for the past many years, Trisha Kocanda has also been a confidant and friend. She cares deeply about this community and understands the complex dynamics of this role. Trisha also places a premium on relationships and has made this a hallmark of her practice to date. In my mind, there is no better choice than to have her step into the role of superintendent.

And so, one adventure comes to an end, and another begins. Thank you for your support and encouragement over the years; it has made all the difference. I know I can count on all of you to extend the same care to Trisha as your next superintendent.

In service,

Dr. Thomas Hagerman 

Superintendent

The Winnetka Public Schools Foundation (WPSF) will present "Keeping Up With Our Connected Kids: In The Classroom and Beyond," featuring three experts on education and technology, on Thursday, March 20, 2014, from 7:00-8:30 P.M. in The Skokie School Auditorium.

Marje Monroe, Charlene Chausis, and Scott Meech will discuss Internet safety, iPads in school, and transitioning to a more digital classroom in a TED talk format. The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session facilitated by Winnetka District 36 Director of Technology, Matt Fuller.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information and speaker biographies, please visit the WPSF website.

The 2014 Financial Profile report of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) shows that The Winnetka Public Schools District 36 has received a score of 3.80 (out of a 4.0 maximum) based on data from the 2013 fiscal year. The 3.8 score is identical to the District's score from the 2013 ISBE report.

The District received "Recognition" distinction, which the ISBE defines as "represent[ing] the highest category of financial strength," and "requir[ing] little or no review or involvement by ISBE."

District 36 received perfect scores in the categories of Fund Balance/Revenue Ratio, Expenditures/Revenue Ratio, Days Cash on Hand, and Short-Term Borrowing.

The current Principal of The Skokie School, Ms. April Jordan, has announced that she will be resigning her position at the end of the 2013-2014 school year. Ms. Jordan is currently pursuing a doctorate degree, and recognizes that she cannot give both her academic and work life the intensive time and attention required.

"On behalf of the District, I would like to thank April for her service," said Superintendent, Dr. Thomas Hagerman. "She has given much time and energy to the students, staff, and parents at Skokie. And I know I speak for everyone when I wish her the very best in completing her doctorate and in all her future endeavors."

Due to the timing, District 36 has asked Kelly Tess to step in as the Interim Principal of The Skokie School for the 2014-2015 school year. "Kelly has already proven herself to be highly skilled, and has relationships in place that will ensure a smooth transition into next year," Dr. Hagerman said.

District 36 will be co-sponsoring the North Shore premiere of the new documentary Food Patriots at The Skokie School in Winnetka, on April 10, 2014, at 7:00 P.M., presented by the Family Action Network.

The documentary is presented by Northbrook filmmakers Jeff Spitz and Jennifer Amdur Spitz, whose son became seriously ill from eating chicken contaminated with a superbug. It chronicles the family's newfound interest in food sources, getting outlaw chickens, and meeting people from all walks of life who are trying to change the way Americans eat food, buy food, and educate the next generation of consumers.

"This is a film that doesn't make you feel powerless about changing the food system," said Amdur Spitz. "Food Patriots shows how even a small thing like planting vegetables can spark big conversations that lead to individual and social change."

The screening is free and open to the public. More information can be found at the Food Patriots website.

As of March 18, 2014, the last day of school in The Winnetka Public Schools for the 2013-2014 school year is scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2014. This includes four (4) makeup days to replace the four days in January when school was cancelled due to inclement weather. This date remains subject to change in the event of further cancellations.

The last day of school will be an early-release day, following the Monday early-release schedule. It will not be a half day.

The early-release schedule on June 11, 2014, will be as follows:

Crow Island School - 2:45 P.M.

Greeley School - 2:45 P.M.

Hubbard Woods School - 2:45 P.M.

The Skokie School - 2:30 P.M.

Carleton Washburne School - 2:30 P.M.

The last day of school for grade 8 students will be Monday, June 2, 2014, following a normal Monday schedule (2:30 P.M. release). Graduation for the Class of 2014 will be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at 7:00 P.M. at The Skokie School Auditorium.

Registration for Adventures In Learning, the District's summer program for students in Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade, will be open through Tuesday, June 3, 2014. This half-day program will run from June 16, 2014, through July 18, 2014, with no class on the Fourth of July (July 4, 2014). View the online course catalogue here.

New this year: registration and payment are available exclusively online, and payment is completed at the time of registration. There is a non-refundable deposit of $75.

Students in the Primary Program (Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 1) will explore educational concepts through guided play and outdoor activities. Students in the General Program (Grades 2-8) choose up to four classes from a selection of over 60, including Animal Care, Archery, Fishing, Candle Making, Quilting Corner, Hip Hop Dancing, Creative Writing, and many more. Additionally, Extended School Year (ESY) classes are available at no cost to certain eligible students in special-education programs. These classes help students maintain academic skills through the summer break.

More information can be found at the official Adventures in Learning website. 

Registration is still open for Junior Kindergarten and Little Learners programs for the 2014-2015 school year.

The Winnetka Public Schools District 36 offers Junior Kindergarten for children who will be four years old by September 1, 2014 (born before September 1, 2010). The program will be held at Greeley School. The cost of the program for 2014-2015 is $4,395, plus a $150 non-refundable registration fee. More information and registration forms can be found here.

Little Learners is a preschool program for children who will be three years old, but no older than four, on September 1, 2014 (born before September 2, 2011). Enrollment is open to families who reside in Winnetka and the surrounding area. Priority is given to Winnetka residents. The cost of the program for 2014-2015 is $3,300. More information and registration forms can be found here.