Search Results

Accessibility Statement This statement was last updated on 11/3/2025. West40 ISC #2 is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all visitors, including individuals with disabilities. We are actively working to make our website and all digital assets accessible from this site compliant with the ADA and WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines. Our goal is to achieve full compliance by April 24, 2026. If you experience difficulty accessing any part of our site or need assistance, please contact us. We welcome your feedback and will make every effort to address concerns promptly as we continue improving accessibility for all.

40 Stories ALL PHOTOJOURNAL PODCAST WRITTEN Family Nights: A West40 Tradition 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 Jose's Journey - A West40 Student Spotlight West40 Seniors Plus student Jose Barragan is making strides in the classroom and on the field for the Proviso East High School football and soccer teams. Jose participated in West40's Alternative Learning Opportunities Program (ALOP) before joining Seniors Plus. He said he is in Seniors Plus to catch up on his credits so he can graduate with his class in May. "West40 has helped me a lot. It changed me as a person. I could always have someone to talk to now. They’re always the West40 Grad Shares How Internship Program Created Opportunities West40 walks alongside students so they can succeed in the classroom and beyond. Recent graduate Melany, who participated in the West40 employability program, describes how working and being trained in an IT position has impacted her life. Remote School Student Describes Her Journey to Graduation Sammi Smith is about to cross the finish line as a graduate of the West40 Remote School and a recipient of a highly coveted student... Students Share Their ALOP Success Stories I have more confidence. I am getting better grades. I have less stress. We often hear that type of great news from students who... West40 Partners with Manufacturer to Open Doors for Students West40 believes that every student deserves a chance for success in the classroom and in the future. In fact, a goal of West40’s new... Stepping Stones: Aubrey's Graphic Design Journey A West40 Safe School student is already leaving her mark as an artist with her creations on display for hundreds of people to see at a... Supporting a Young Entrepreneur's Dream Antony Sanchez arrived at West40's Heart 2 Heart pantry in Westchester with his mother and younger brother earlier this month expecting... Opening More Doors - Sharing Truant Student Success Stories There could be any number of reasons why a student routinely does not attend school. Truancy impacts students in different ways. But with... Expanding West40's Food Program Providing nutritional support is one of the many ways West40 remains committed to being what our communities need. And now our food... THE RIGHT FIT - OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH GRANTS How new uniforms can make a lasting impact for young athletes New and sharp-looking uniforms can make sports teams feel a sense of pride.... RESTORATIVE PRACTICES: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN LIFE In recent years, there has been a shift away from traditional school discipline, like detention and suspension, toward restorative... PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLIES: A WEST40 SPRING TRADITION It’s an annual West40 tradition that transforms and flies away to the delight of students across West Cook County. Each year, West40... GETTING CREATIVE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN A REMOTE SETTING In the Words of Vicki Dimitrakakos, Remote School Lead Advocate As the Lead Advocate in the Remote School, it is important to ensure that... HOMEGROWN PRINCIPAL AIMS TO INSPIRE FUTURE LEADERS The job listing for principal at Mannheim Middle School in District 83 immediately drew the attention of former student Tom Herion. “I... HEART 2 HEART STORE OPENS Prices for nearly all consumer goods are at record highs as the country grapples with inflation, but West40 is offering relief to its... KEEPING KIDS INSPIRED DURING THE PANDEMIC As told by Vince Harper and Angela Horton, West40 Safe Schools teachers “As the COVID-19 pandemic really set in in early March, things... SEEING 'KIDS LIKE US' As told by Karen Tiemann, Program Director of the West40 Safe Schools “In the 1990s, I was a U.S. history teacher and I was working at a... MOVING A DISTRICT IN A NEW DIRECTION As told by Dr. Mary Mycyk, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, and Dr. Anthony Grazzini, Director of Grants and... THE VALUE OF NEVER GIVING UP As told by Dion Flowers, former West40 Safe Schools student “The biggest lessons in my life are the ones I learned at the West40 Safe... HOW MENTORS CHANGED MY LIFE As told by Frank Giosa, Principal of the West40 Safe Schools Middle School “It’s funny that I’m in education, because where I grew up, there was not a lot of emphasis on school. But because of the mentors I’ve had throughout my life, I’ve developed a passion for service. I’m from a tight-knit, blue collar neighborhood in Philadelphia where ‘quick money’ was the expectation. People looked for quick payoffs from different jobs, trying to get by. Growing up, I wasn’t exposed to FIGHTING FOR THE FUTURE OF ILLINOIS As told by: Karen Tiemann, president of ICEARY; Dr. Mark Klaisner, former president of ICEARY; Ben Lewis, ICEARY member; John Milosovic,... A SON TRANSFORMED BY THE SAFE SCHOOLS As told by Bill Stewart, parent of a West40 Safe School student “Before my son Michael went to a West40 Safe School, he went to a middle... BUILDING A NEW BELIEF SYSTEM As told by Joshua Easter, Charles Carter and Cody K. Cotton, West40 mentors and founders of A Greater Good Foundation “Let’s say you have... MEASURING OUR IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS As told by Renee Makris, Area Director of Leyden ALOP Programs “Growing up, I never thought I’d be in education. If you had told me that... FIGHTING FOR EQUITY IN ILLINOIS SCHOOLS As told by Dr. Mike Popp, Assistant Executive Director of West40 and former school superintendent “When I was a school superintendent, I... FROM STRUGGLING STUDENT TO LOCAL LEADER As told by Maria Rivera, former West40 ALOP student and current college student “I grew up in the U.S., but when I was in first grade, my... TEAMING UP TO HELP TROUBLED TEENS As told by Loreah Boyle, Karina Carbajal and Jimmy Mortillaro, West40 ALOP advocates at Proviso East High School “If a student enters our... THE POWER OF ‘ONE PERSON AT A TIME’ As told by Dr. Mark Klaisner, Executive Director of West40 and President of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of... SUPPLYING HOPE WITH BACKPACK GIVEBACK Anyone who follows the news can see headlines about the rising cost of living: whether that’s an increase in housing costs, food costs or... A FAMILY-FIRST APPROACH TO EDUCATION As told by Fran Pike, West40 ALOP advocate “A lot of organizations talk about treating people like family. But at West40, it’s true. The... A SAFETY NET FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS As told by Phil Salemi, Superintendent of Westchester School District 92.5, and Greg Leban, Principal at Westchester Middle School “When... JUAN'S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION: PART 2 As told by Juan Silva, former Safe School and ALOP student, current student advocate Read Part 1 of Juan’s story here. “After attending... JUAN’S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION: PART 1 As told by Juan Silva, former Safe School and ALOP student “I was fine in grade school. Just a normal kid in the neighborhood. But things... HELPING TEEN MOTHERS STAY IN SCHOOL As told by Nancy Debre, West40 Truancy and Pregnancy Services “People see statistics about truancy, but they don’t usually think about... BECOMING THE LIFELINE FOR LOCAL EDUCATORS As told by Sharon Balderas, West40 Education Licensure Specialist “When parents or the general public think about the life of an... AARON EARNS HIS STRIPES As told by Shannon Bidlo, Seniors Plus Coordinator “Aaron started with West40 as a student at our Safe Schools Middle School. He entered... TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY As told by Laura Guzman Lopez, Lead Advocate “When a student at East Leyden High School named Max was first referred to our program, he... SUPPORTING SOCIAL EMOTIONAL GROWTH THROUGH ARTS AND ACTIVITIES Advocating for students means supporting them at school and providing a listening ear. It’s also about organizing activities to keep... A NEW KIND OF CELEBRATION As told by Emily Molson and Pedro Peralta, West40 Seniors Plus Advocates “In the West40 Seniors Plus program, we work with high school seniors who, for whatever reason, weren’t able to graduate. They’re anywhere from 18 to 22 years old and they come to us for help with finishing their education. There’s a steady flow of people that we serve. Some weeks we have two graduates, other times it’s five graduates". During a normal school year, the faculty and staff within a buildi THE NEXT GENERATION OF FEMALE LEADERS West40’s goals are audacious. We don’t just want to help students graduate, or just get them back on track. We want to turn each and every student into a leader in their community. We realized that we could instill a sense of leadership by gathering students and their caregivers for a day of motivation and empowerment. And so in partnership with Triton College, the Community Alliance, the alliance’s member organizations, and State Representative Kathleen Willis and her staff, CONNECTING WITH STUDENTS DURING COVID-19 Summer wasn’t quite the same in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the country and disrupted almost everything about our lives, including the end of the school year. But at Morton East High School, West40’s ALOP advocates were determined to stay connected to their students and help any way they could. “Ever since schools closed in March, I’ve maintained contact with my students every single week and stayed persistent,” said Juan Silva, a student advocate. “We held THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION 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. DEANDRE MCLAURIN Tim Stafford is joined by student advocate, DeAndre McClaurin, to discuss working with at-risk youth. DeAndre shares the strengths of... Podcast KAREN YOUNG Karen Young discusses the partnership between Woz Ed and West40. Karen joins the podcast to share her experience with Woz Ed and Steve... Podcast STEVEN HUNTER Steven Hunter from the Phoenix Suns shares his partnership with Woz Ed. For this discussion, Steven embraces his love for Proviso... Podcast DR. JENNIFER KELSALL Superintendent for Ridgewood Community High School #234, Jennifer Kelsall, shares her expertise in Education. Dr. Kelsall casts a vision... Podcast DION FLOWERS West40 Regional Safe School alumni, Dion Flowers, revisits his time at the RSSP since graduating. Dion’s interview is uplifting,... Podcast Remote School Student Describes Her Journey to Graduation Sammi Smith is about to cross the finish line as a graduate of the West40 Remote School and a recipient of a highly coveted student... WEST40 NEWS Students Share Their ALOP Success Stories I have more confidence. I am getting better grades. I have less stress. We often hear that type of great news from students who... 40 Stories West40 Partners with Manufacturer to Open Doors for Students West40 believes that every student deserves a chance for success in the classroom and in the future. In fact, a goal of West40’s new... WEST40 NEWS Stepping Stones: Aubrey's Graphic Design Journey A West40 Safe School student is already leaving her mark as an artist with her creations on display for hundreds of people to see at a... WEST40 NEWS Expanding West40's Food Program Providing nutritional support is one of the many ways West40 remains committed to being what our communities need. And now our food... 40 Stories THE RIGHT FIT - OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH GRANTS How new uniforms can make a lasting impact for young athletes New and sharp-looking uniforms can make sports teams feel a sense of pride.... Written RESTORATIVE PRACTICES: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN LIFE In recent years, there has been a shift away from traditional school discipline, like detention and suspension, toward restorative... Written PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLIES: A WEST40 SPRING TRADITION It’s an annual West40 tradition that transforms and flies away to the delight of students across West Cook County. Each year, West40... Written GETTING CREATIVE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN A REMOTE SETTING In the Words of Vicki Dimitrakakos, Remote School Lead Advocate As the Lead Advocate in the Remote School, it is important to ensure that... Written HOMEGROWN PRINCIPAL AIMS TO INSPIRE FUTURE LEADERS The job listing for principal at Mannheim Middle School in District 83 immediately drew the attention of former student Tom Herion. “I... Written HEART 2 HEART STORE OPENS Prices for nearly all consumer goods are at record highs as the country grapples with inflation, but West40 is offering relief to its... Written KEEPING KIDS INSPIRED DURING THE PANDEMIC As told by Vince Harper and Angela Horton, West40 Safe Schools teachers “As the COVID-19 pandemic really set in in early March, things... Written SEEING 'KIDS LIKE US' As told by Karen Tiemann, Program Director of the West40 Safe Schools “In the 1990s, I was a U.S. history teacher and I was working at a... Written MOVING A DISTRICT IN A NEW DIRECTION As told by Dr. Mary Mycyk, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, and Dr. Anthony Grazzini, Director of Grants and... Written THE VALUE OF NEVER GIVING UP As told by Dion Flowers, former West40 Safe Schools student “The biggest lessons in my life are the ones I learned at the West40 Safe... Written HOW MENTORS CHANGED MY LIFE As told by Frank Giosa, Principal of the West40 Safe Schools Middle School “It’s funny that I’m in education, because where I grew up, there was not a lot of emphasis on school. But because of the mentors I’ve had throughout my life, I’ve developed a passion for service. I’m from a tight-knit, blue collar neighborhood in Philadelphia where ‘quick money’ was the expectation. People looked for quick payoffs from different jobs, trying to get by. Growing up, I wasn’t exposed to Written FIGHTING FOR THE FUTURE OF ILLINOIS As told by: Karen Tiemann, president of ICEARY; Dr. Mark Klaisner, former president of ICEARY; Ben Lewis, ICEARY member; John Milosovic,... Written A SON TRANSFORMED BY THE SAFE SCHOOLS As told by Bill Stewart, parent of a West40 Safe School student “Before my son Michael went to a West40 Safe School, he went to a middle... Written BUILDING A NEW BELIEF SYSTEM As told by Joshua Easter, Charles Carter and Cody K. Cotton, West40 mentors and founders of A Greater Good Foundation “Let’s say you have... Written MEASURING OUR IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS As told by Renee Makris, Area Director of Leyden ALOP Programs “Growing up, I never thought I’d be in education. If you had told me that... Written FIGHTING FOR EQUITY IN ILLINOIS SCHOOLS As told by Dr. Mike Popp, Assistant Executive Director of West40 and former school superintendent “When I was a school superintendent, I... Written FROM STRUGGLING STUDENT TO LOCAL LEADER As told by Maria Rivera, former West40 ALOP student and current college student “I grew up in the U.S., but when I was in first grade, my... Written TEAMING UP TO HELP TROUBLED TEENS As told by Loreah Boyle, Karina Carbajal and Jimmy Mortillaro, West40 ALOP advocates at Proviso East High School “If a student enters our... Written THE POWER OF ‘ONE PERSON AT A TIME’ As told by Dr. Mark Klaisner, Executive Director of West40 and President of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of... Written SUPPLYING HOPE WITH BACKPACK GIVEBACK Anyone who follows the news can see headlines about the rising cost of living: whether that’s an increase in housing costs, food costs or... Written A FAMILY-FIRST APPROACH TO EDUCATION As told by Fran Pike, West40 ALOP advocate “A lot of organizations talk about treating people like family. But at West40, it’s true. The... Written A SAFETY NET FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS As told by Phil Salemi, Superintendent of Westchester School District 92.5, and Greg Leban, Principal at Westchester Middle School “When... Written JUAN'S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION: PART 2 As told by Juan Silva, former Safe School and ALOP student, current student advocate Read Part 1 of Juan’s story here. “After attending... Written JUAN’S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION: PART 1 As told by Juan Silva, former Safe School and ALOP student “I was fine in grade school. Just a normal kid in the neighborhood. But things... Written HELPING TEEN MOTHERS STAY IN SCHOOL As told by Nancy Debre, West40 Truancy and Pregnancy Services “People see statistics about truancy, but they don’t usually think about... Written BECOMING THE LIFELINE FOR LOCAL EDUCATORS As told by Sharon Balderas, West40 Education Licensure Specialist “When parents or the general public think about the life of an... Written AARON EARNS HIS STRIPES As told by Shannon Bidlo, Seniors Plus Coordinator “Aaron started with West40 as a student at our Safe Schools Middle School. He entered... Written TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY As told by Laura Guzman Lopez, Lead Advocate “When a student at East Leyden High School named Max was first referred to our program, he... Written SUPPORTING SOCIAL EMOTIONAL GROWTH THROUGH ARTS AND ACTIVITIES Advocating for students means supporting them at school and providing a listening ear. It’s also about organizing activities to keep... PhotoJournals A NEW KIND OF CELEBRATION As told by Emily Molson and Pedro Peralta, West40 Seniors Plus Advocates “In the West40 Seniors Plus program, we work with high school seniors who, for whatever reason, weren’t able to graduate. They’re anywhere from 18 to 22 years old and they come to us for help with finishing their education. There’s a steady flow of people that we serve. Some weeks we have two graduates, other times it’s five graduates". During a normal school year, the faculty and staff within a buildi PhotoJournals THE NEXT GENERATION OF FEMALE LEADERS West40’s goals are audacious. We don’t just want to help students graduate, or just get them back on track. We want to turn each and every student into a leader in their community. We realized that we could instill a sense of leadership by gathering students and their caregivers for a day of motivation and empowerment. And so in partnership with Triton College, the Community Alliance, the alliance’s member organizations, and State Representative Kathleen Willis and her staff, PhotoJournals CONNECTING WITH STUDENTS DURING COVID-19 Summer wasn’t quite the same in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the country and disrupted almost everything about our lives, including the end of the school year. But at Morton East High School, West40’s ALOP advocates were determined to stay connected to their students and help any way they could. “Ever since schools closed in March, I’ve maintained contact with my students every single week and stayed persistent,” said Juan Silva, a student advocate. “We held PhotoJournals THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION 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. PhotoJournals GIVING THE GIFT OF HOPE: WEST40 CHRISTMAS BINGO 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 PhotoJournals A WEST40 THANKSGIVING 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 PhotoJournals THE CHANGING FACE OF COMPLIANCE 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 PhotoJournals

Illinois School Safety Conference Live-Stream Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied HOW CAN WE HELP? LET'S CONNECT. SCHOOL SAFETY & THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAM STEVE BOGREN Chief Comprehensive Educational Services Officer sbogren@west40.org PHILIP ABRAHAM Director of Comprehensive Educational Services pabraham@west40.org WIL GAGE Director of School Safety & Threat Assessment wgage@west40.org RANDY BRAVERMAN School Safety & Threat Assessment Specialist rbraverman@west40.org ALEX CAMPOS CES/STAT Specialist acampos@west40.org ERIC ARNOLD School Safety & Threat Assessment Specialist earnold@west40.org

Student Success Is In The Hands Of Us All Working alongside educators, administrators, families and communities, we give them a chance to succeed. WEST40 SERVES We also provide support services as a fiscal agent to Early Choices and Philip J Rock Center and School as well as statewide legislative support. Some of our programs and services extend to North Cook County and communities outside of West Cook. DISTRICTS BELLWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT 88 BERKELEY DISTRICT 87 BERWYN NORTH DISTRICT 98 BERWYN SOUTH DISTRICT 100 BROOKFIELD - LAGRANGE PARK DISTRICT 95 CICERO SCHOOL DISTRICT 99 ELMWOOD PARK DISTRICT 401 FOREST PARK DISTRICT 91 FRANKLIN PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT 84 HILLSIDE DISTRICT 93 J. S. MORTON HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 201 KOMAREK SCHOOL DISTRICT 94 LA GRANGE HIGHLANDS SCHOOLS DISTRICT 106 LA GRANGE NORTH SCHOOL DISTRICT 102 LA GRANGE SOUTH SCHOOL DISTRICT 105 LEYDEN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 212 LINDOP DISTRICT 92 LYONS SCHOOL DISTRICT 103 LYONS TOWNSHIP DISTRICT 204 West Cook County 38 districts and 3 co-ops 152 schools 90,000+ students MANNHEIM SCHOOL DISTRICT 83 MAYWOOD-MELROSE PARK-BROADVIEW DISTRICT 89 NORRIDGE DISTRICT 80 OAK PARK & RIVER FOREST DISTRICT 200 OAK PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT 97 PENNOYER DISTRICT 79 PLEASANTDALE DISTRICT 107 PROVISO TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 209 RHODES SCHOOL DISTRICT 84.5 RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 234 RIVER FOREST SCHOOL DISTRICT 90 RIVER GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT 85.5 RIVERSIDE | BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP DISTRICT 208 RIVERSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT 96 ROSEMONT DISTRICT 78 SCHILLER PARK DISTRICT 81 UNION RIDGE SCHOOL DISTRICT 86 WESTCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT 92.5 WESTERN SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT 101 CO-OPs: LADSE PAEC LASEC BY THE NUMBERS See the annual results of our advocacy, service, and legislative funding efforts. LEARN MORE HEAR THEIR STORIES Explore powerful stories of redemption, success, and creativity. Learn how West40 is affecting lives in our communities. LEARN MORE

INSPIRE Teachers Video Project Sign Up > Be a Part of Illinois’ New Teacher Evaluation Training Resource! Take part in building a library of instructional videos that align with the updated Danielson Framework 2022 , designed to enhance teacher evaluation and professional development throughout Illinois. We are looking for teachers across grade levels and subjects interested in showcasing their instructional practices. These videos will serve as resources to support evaluator training, helping elevate teacher evaluation quality statewide. WHY PARTICIPATE? Participating teachers will: Earn Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for their time and involvement. Receive confidential, non-evaluative, growth-focused feedback using the Danielson 2022 rubrics. Gain exclusive access to West40’s professional learning video library. Receive recognition for contributing to a statewide initiative focused on advancing teaching standards. TIMELINE AND NEXT STEPS: Teacher Recruitment Period: Wave 1 - Closed Wave 2 - Now open. Click here to sign up. Teachers attend ONE of the Virtual Information Sessions: In the sign-up form , you will be asked to indicate your preference for a virtual info session day where we can answer any questions and clarify project details. Teachers only need to attend one session. March 5th, 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM March 6th, 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Recordings are currently underway. Wave 2 recording will take place in April and May 2025 HOW TO GET INVOLVED: THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST. Please sign up using the form below. The form also includes a parent/guardian authorization for permission to record. This will help us gather essential details like grade level, subject area, and experience. Sign Up > QUESTIONS? If you have any futher questions please feel free to reach out to: Dr. Sonya Spaulding sspaulding@west40.org Heidi Bellm hbellm@west40.org

Area Director < Back BEN LEWIS Area Director Previous Next

< Back School-Based Mental Health Collaborative Social Work Network Facilitated By: Demian LaPointe & In Partnership with The Center for Thriving Schools Dr. Tim Doher, Dr. Tom Gobelewski, & Berwyn North SD98 George Kriger Meeting Dates: 3rd Tuesday of every month (Virtual), 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM The West40 SEL Network meets from 8:30am-10:00am on the 3rd Tuesday of each month to explore the world of social-emotional learning in education. Members will discuss best practices, share ideas, and identify professional learning needs for themselves and their school staff. Come learn with your colleagues who share your role and grow your network of people, techniques, and resources. If you would like to be added to the listserv and receive more information, please fill out this form . Previous Next

Resources for Districts Resources for Districts After School Support Purpose: The After School Programs Grant provides opportunities and funding outside of the school day to improve academic outcomes, student enrichment, and community partnerships for support services Some previous After School Program grant funded opportunities are: Educational field trips for students enrolled in the Safe School, Remote School, and ALOPs Supplies and materials purchasing for student usage during After School Programming After school tutoring programs for students West40 Annual Backpack GiveBack Funded internships for ALOP students Community scholarships to increase accessibility to programming in community-based organizations (CBOs) To inquire about opportunities to receive funding or participate in After School Programming, please complete this form Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Mental Health Support Purpose: West40 manages a number of grants that support SEL and Mental Health initiatives in schools by developing statewide infrastructure and collaboratives, Mutli-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) frameworks, and synchronous training modules that assist school districts in providing direct services to students and families SEL coaches and related services to serve West40 school districts. Professional Learning and Training available for school staff supporting SEL and mental health Support for telehealth, MTSS systems, and other mental health tools/resources for school districts Increase school based mental health professionals within school districts Funding School Based Mental Health Collaboratives where school support personnel can come together, collaborate, and offer support across different schools and districts School Safety Purpose: Our school safety grants aim to advance the Illinois Targeted Violence Prevention Strategy for K-12 students and appoint safety directors at the school community level who will provide resources and coordinate activities focused on violence prevention The ultimate goal of the grant is to enhance recidivism reduction and reintegration capabilities, advance equity/engage underserved communities in prevention, address online aspects of targeted violence and terrorism, and prevent domestic violence extremism Some trainings previously offered under our School Safety grants are as follows: Psychological and Physical Safety Incident Command System (ICS) School Prevention: Warning Signs Behavior Threat Assessment Security Awareness Emergency Preparedness: Design Emergency Preparedness: Admin Staff Threat Assessment: Warning Signs Threat Assessment: Social Media Warning Signs Bus Driver Security Awareness Metal Detector and Searches Security Observation Security Evaluation HOW CAN WE HELP? LET'S CONNECT. CARA WILEY Director of Grants cwiley@west40.org KATIE ELVIDGE Associate Director of Grants kelvidge@west40.org

Data Privacy West40 follows strict guidelines to ensure that the data of our staff, studetns and constituents is protected. West40 adheres to all applicable state and federal statutes (see below 1-4) West40 takes data privacy very seriously. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that the data of our staff, students, and constituents is protected. West40 adheres to all applicable state and federal statutes including but not limited to SOPPA (Student Online Personal Protection Act), FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), COPPA (Children’s Online Personal Protection Act), and CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act). West40 uses LearnPlatform to manage student data privacy contract information. If you would like to view the West40 Vendor Data Privacy Agreements please visit the following link: https://west40.app.learnplatform.com/new/public Parents seeking to exercise their rights under SOPPA may do so by contacting the Data Privacy Officer. West40’s Data Privacy Officer is Josh Boies and he can be reached at jboies@west40.org . CIPA – CIPA is a Federal law enacted in 2000 to protect children from harmful and inappropriate internet content. It also ties a financial incentive for districts to follow guidelines in order to receive discounts on online educational services. COPPA – COPPA is a Federal law enacted in 1998. COPPA gives parents control over what data is collected about their children online at school, and specifically targets students under age 13. COPPA covers websites as well as apps. SOPPA – SOPPA is a State law than ensures digital data collected by schools is handled in an appropriate matter. This law requires districts to have a plan in place in case of a digital breach of students’ and/or educators’ digital data. This includes information such as name, date of birth, SSN, and more. The law states that reasonable security procedures and policies must be in place, and requires districts to list all agreements publicly on the district website. Visit this link to see find information. https://west40.app.learnplatform.com/new/public FERPA – FERPA is a Federal law enacted in 1974 that protects student academic records. This law is applicable to any and all schools that receive funds from the U.S. Department of Education. Under FERPA, parents/guardians are given specific rights that pertain to these academic records. Once a student graduates or turns 18, these rights transfer from the parents to the students. Data Breach – As required by SOPPA, in the event that a data breach occurs which involves student data, a summary of the breach will be posted here. Breaches that involve less than 10% of a school’s enrollment, do not include student covered information, do not require parent notification, or any breach that occurred prior to July 1, 2021 or within the past five (5) years, whichever is earlier, may not be reported here.

Director of School Safety and Threat Assessment < Back WIL GAGE Director of School Safety and Threat Assessment wgage@west40.org Wil brings over 28 years of experience in law enforcement, safety, and security in the public and private sectors. As a police officer, Wil was a Medal of Merit recipient, earned the Firearms Proficiency Award, and held several specialty positions, including Field Training Officer (FTO) and Evidence Technician, and was involved in the department's Community Oriented Policing initiative. Wil has held several regional and international management-level positions in the private sector, handling safety, physical security, theft and fraud investigation, interview/interrogation, and corporate security. He also holds current certifications as a Specialist in School Security, Safety/Security Assessment, Crime Prevention, Community Policing, and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED). He is a current member of ATAP, the Associate of Threat Assessment Professionals. He is trained and well-versed in Behavioral and Digital Threat Assessment. Wil is part of the Illinois Terrorism Task Force/Prevention Committee and is an active member of several statewide and federal steering committees related to Threat Assessment, school safety, physical/building security, and Safe2Help Illinois. Previous Next

Educator Licensure Specialist < Back GINA SIERRA Educator Licensure Specialist gsierra@west40.org Gina Sierra is an Educator Licensure Specialist who provides support via email, phone calls, and in person appointments to administrators, teachers, substitute teachers and school staff with all aspects of their licensure needs. Gina also supports the West40 Professional Learning Team by co-facilitating the HR Network and delivering evaluation recertification Administrator Academies. Prior to joining the West40 team, Gina worked in elementary education for more than 25 years as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. In addition to her work within schools, she previously served on the Komarek School District 94 Board of Education and the District 208 Riverside Brookfield High School board. Previous Next

Site Coordinator < Back ALEXANDRA PAZARAN Site Coordinator Previous Next