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What if West40’s approach to teaching at-risk kids could influence the way we teach every student in the state of Illinois? That was the big question we were asking ourselves as we welcomed legislators to the West40 Safe School on a sunny August morning. This Legislative Round Table brought together a wide range of people with a vested interest in making schools better: state legislators, Safe School students, West40 leadership and the leader of the state board of education.

For most kids, the holiday season is filled with magic and wonder. They write wish lists. They daydream about what presents they might receive. They think about the gifts they’ll give to people they love the most. But what about families who can’t afford gifts? What happens to them? For the West40 Safe Schools, those were questions that led to the creation of the “Christmas Bingo” event. At this event, now a beloved annual tradition, Safe School students have the chance to ch

School is a place to learn. To improve your knowledge and prepare for a bright future. But it can also be a place where families connect—where they can share something greater together. The West40 ALOP program decided to create that spirit of togetherness by holding a Thanksgiving dinner that invited students, teachers, administrators and families to gather for a meal and mark another year. Parents are usually asked to come to school for routine events—like parent-teacher con

For many administrators, the word “compliance” fills them with a sense of dread. They imagine regulators coming into their schools to find infractions, write up reports and threaten them with building closures. From its infancy, the West40 compliance department set out to be different. Their goal is to work with schools as a trusted partner—not an enforcer—to create the safest school environments for students, teachers and staff. It was that mindset that the West40 team carri

Tim Stafford is joined by student advocate, DeAndre McClaurin, to discuss working with at-risk youth. DeAndre shares the strengths of...

Karen Young discusses the partnership between Woz Ed and West40. Karen joins the podcast to share her experience with Woz Ed and Steve...

Steven Hunter from the Phoenix Suns shares his partnership with Woz Ed. For this discussion, Steven embraces his love for Proviso...

Superintendent for Ridgewood Community High School #234, Jennifer Kelsall, shares her expertise in Education. Dr. Kelsall casts a vision...