LATEST NEWS

Congratulations to West40 Principal Champion of Experiences Heidi Bellm on being named one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ Notable Leaders in Communications! Heidi has helped grow West40’s brand and visibility through creative and innovative approaches. She also leads with care, advocates fiercely for students, and always challenges team members to see things differently while making an impact. Since joining West40 in 2022 as director of communications, Bellm now leads multiple

Schools across the West40 area and Illinois received their state report cards on Friday and the state is celebrating a variety of gains in key metrics of student success. Illinois has set a new record for its highest-ever four year graduation rate of 89.8%, which continues a long-term trend of improvement. Students across the state also made academic proficiency gains in English language arts (ELA), math, and science. Attendance continues to improve and the teacher workforce

Trooper enjoys playing catch, his favorite food is pizza crust, and he is trained to provide comfort and smiles wherever he goes. In fact, the four-year-old Border Collie Mix has been deployed across the country supporting those who have experienced a tragedy and helping others open up to share their feelings. llinois is the first state in the country to certify law enforcement therapy dogs, and the calming power of Trooper, from Springfield, and other K9 therapy dogs from C

It’s one of the highest honors students and educators can receive in education and this year three West Cook County area schools have been named a 2026 Illinois Governor’s Blue Ribbon School. The honors go to John Mills Elementary (Elmwood Park District 401), Lincoln Elementary School (River Forest School District 90), and Seventh Avenue School (La Grange School District 105). The state-wide award honors schools that have demonstrated educational excellence through high acade

West40 held the 21st Annual Illinois School Safety Conference and welcomed approximately 850 school personnel, law enforcement officers, and public safety professionals on October 7 at the event's new location, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. West40 hosts the free annual event alongside partners from across Illinois, bringing together experts and professionals to share strategies and resources for keeping schools safe. This year's conference featured key

Congratulations are in order for West40 Director of Community Relations Maria-Elena Agrela, who is the recipient of Cook County's 2026 Community Connector Award in recognition of her dedication and leadership towards digital equity in the county. Agrela received the award at Cook County's annual digital equity learning symposium, Access Amplified, on Wednesday at the Malcolm X College Conference Center. Access to technology and other digital tools is essential in today's worl

West40 has released its 2026 Annual Report, which highlights our programs, services, events, and partnerships that supported students, educators, schools, and communities throughout the 2025–26 school year. Please feel free to click on the photo for a direct link to the report. The 2026 Annual Report offers a look at how West40 serves the West Cook County region and beyond through student advocacy, professional learning, comprehensive educational services and much more. Every

Final preparations are underway for the 2026 Illinois School Safety Conference, which will be held October 7 at its new location at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Hundreds of attendees have registered for the conference, which brings together school personnel, law enforcement and public safety professionals to learn from experts in school safety and crisis prevention. West40 hosts the annual conference along with our partners from across the state. The

A trained eye can often spot warning signs left online by those seeking to commit crimes or harm others at schools and other locations. But would you know what these clues can look like? Retired Naperville Police Detective Rich Wistocki utilizes investigative techniques that have helped police and schools prevent numerous crimes, including potential school shootings, by identifying online warning signs called “leakage.” Rich Wistocki Presents at West40 on Sept. 14 Leakage ca

West40 asked area superintendents to share tips for creating a positive team culture that can contribute to staff retention. From increased social activities and celebrations to an on-site daycare, district leaders understand the importance of building workplaces where educators feel seen, heard, and appreciated. For example, Superintendent Dr. Leah Gauthier of Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401 said that during the most recent school year, staff in each school b

The start of the new school year is right around the corner and West40 and Morton College are teaming up once again to host the annual Backpack Giveback on Saturday, August 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Morton College. Families from across the West Cook County area are invited to 3801 S. Central Avenue in Cicero to receive a free backpack filled with essential school supplies. In previous years those supplies have included notebooks, pencils, a ruler, and more. Students must b

In our latest Walk in Their Shoes video, West40's Dr. Mike Popp shares what it means to advocate on behalf of West40, students, educators, and schools. Dr. Popp's work in Springfield and across Illinois truly helps shape the future of education!

The 2026 Illinois School Safety Conference will be held October 7 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont as an opportunity for school personnel, law enforcement and public safety workers to learn from school safety and crisis prevention experts. The annual conference is hosted by West40 and our partners from across the state. The event is free and is open to district and school administrators, police and fire departments, transportation directors, safety and

West40 is proud to introduce “Shine,” our inaugural magazine celebrating all 41 of our district and co-op partners across West Cook County. The fifty-plus page digital publication will be accessible on the West40 website and can be downloaded if our educational partners choose to include it on their websites. You can view the digital version of our magazine here: https://www.west40.org/news We started with an idea to share inspiring stories that shine a light on the people,

Prospective elementary school teachers in Illinois will begin taking a redesigned licensing exam on July 1 that breaks the test into sections and allows them to retake only the portions they did not pass. The Illinois State Board of Education approved cut scores for the new Elementary Education content exam at its May 13 meeting. The exam will use a new “testlet” structure that separates subjects like literacy, math, and science into smaller sections. ISBE officials said th

Having a trusted advocate at school to help you focus on attendance and academics can help many students achieve success and walk the stage at graduation. And sharing those relationships with family members during an evening of fun is something West40 takes pride in through its Family Nights. West40’s ALOP teams from the Proviso, Morton, Southern Tier, and Northern Tier areas organize these end-of-year events that bring together students, families, and advocates. It’s not abo

The future of West40 at St. Joseph looks bright as work continues to transform the campus into a resource that serves the greater community and a place where foster children can eventually live and attend school. Representatives from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services toured the campus in Westchester on May 8 and received an update on the St. Joseph project. They remain committed to the program serving students in their care and are not ruling out future

Members of the West40 Cabinet met this week to continue work on our next five-year Strategic Plan, which will include three core priorities for the organization: Serving Our Students Serving Our Staff Serving Our Region Cabinet members are making considerable progress on the proposed roadmap for our future. On Tuesday, they worked in groups to formulate actions that will support the goals behind each Core Area in the next Strategic Plan. Each group’s conclusions will now be r

West40 is excited to announce the opening of StitchED at West40, a student-powered embroidery studio where learning meets craftsmanship and your custom embroidery comes to life. Our shop was created to bridge the gap between education and career readiness. It provides an opportunity for students to bring designs to life for schools, districts, community partners, and local businesses under the guidance of skilled mentors. Additionally, students gain real-world experience in p

“A shining example.” “A diligent worker.” “Extraordinarily ambitious.” These are among the many praises heaped upon young recipients of the 30th Annual School Citizen of the Year (SCOTY) Awards, organized by West40 and held on March 19 at West Leyden High School. West40 recognized 142 students from across West Cook County school districts for demonstrating exceptional character in their everyday actions. While academic achievement and participation in activities are considere