We had a very special delivery today to our CICS Prairie campus ... SMART Boards! We are so excited to install this incredible technology in our classrooms!
We're having an amazing first week of school at our campuses! We are so excited to be back learning together!
We celebrate and honor the remarkable life and legacy of Nelson Broms, a cherished friend and invaluable advisor to Distinctive Schools, who passed away at the age of 104. From our inception in 2011, Nelson graced us with his unwavering support, offering guidance, mentorship, and friendship. A trusted confidant and mentor to our co-founder, Dr. Wise, his indelible influence on education throughout the nation will be forever remembered. We are grateful for his friendship with so many of us at DS.
In partnership with families, Distinctive teachers are hosting listening conferences now through September 1st. Your voice is vital to your child's education. Connect with teachers now to ensure this year is the best yet!
Happy Welcome Week! Staff is back in the building getting ready for an amazing school year! This year, we are thrilled to be serving 5,000 students, supported by over 600 dedicated team members! Let's have a great year, Distinctive Schools!
Distinctive Schools IT Manager, Kobe Williams worked with Art in Motion students interested in IT to get the AIM to get the building connected and ready for the school year! They worked together in the server room and students got some great hands-on learning. Great job everyone!
We can't wait for the Bud Billiken Parade this weekend! Stop by our booth, say hi and grab a free gift!
Have you heard the news? Congratulations are in order! We’re excited to celebrate Kristin Eng, Dr. Maria Freeman, Melinda Jean-Baptiste, Marcell Kirk, Kory Kliebert, and JoeAnn Nash, the newest Distinctive Principals! We are confident these dedicated leaders will continue to build strong and vibrant school communities, and lead CICS West Belden, CICS Longwood High School, CICS Longwood Elementary, CICS Bucktown, CICS Lloyd Bond, and CICS Loomis to incredible futures. #WeAreDistinctive #AnythingIsPossible
Distinctive Schools is excited to make a stronger community investment on the South Side of Chicago this school year! We have been named the School Management Organization for CICS Lloyd Bond, CICS Loomis, CICS Longwood Elementary and CICS Longwood High School – deepening our partnership with @cics_charterschools. We’re also expanding our footprint at @artinmotionchi – our expansion project will launch with the start of the school year! There is still time to join the Distinctive Schools network for the 23-24 school year; interested educators or families can learn more at https://www.distinctiveschools.org/
We're kicking off the 2023-24 school year by welcoming our Distinctive team members at orientation! We had such a fun day collaborating and getting to know each other, we can't wait to get this awesome year rolling!
This CEO Spotlight recognizes our outstanding Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Jessica Van Winkle! Jessica's hard work and dedication have been truly invaluable in supporting all of our recruitment and enrollment efforts throughout the summer. Her instrumental role in leading our marketing and communications team over the past few months has resulted in remarkable coverage and support for our entire organization. We are profoundly grateful for Jessica's unwavering commitment and passion for this important work and for the incredible impact she continues to make on our organization and schools. Thank you for all that you have done and will continue to do as you grow with Distinctive Schools! This month, Jessica, the spotlight is on YOU! Keep shining brightly!
When we look for ways to innovate and implement positive change, our students' opinions are invaluable. Check out this blog from Chief Education Officer, Katie O'Connor to learn about how we work with our students to create the best educational experience possible! https://www.nextgenlearning.org/articles/listening-to-learners-prioritizing-student-voice
You can spot Distinctive Schools all over Chicago this weekend! Come see us at Wicker Park Fest today through Sunday!
We're at the Fiesta Del Sol in Pilsen all weekend! Come out and say hi and chat with us about the 23-24 school year!
Our students may be on summer vacation, but we are hard at work preparing for next school year! At out Year End Data Day, school and network leaders came together to reflect with out incredible data team about school and student performance. This is a time to identify trends, set and evaluate goals, and gain some clear focus for the 23/24 school year. We can't wait to be back with our students soon!
We are deeply committed to the mental health and wellness of our students, families and staff. Our partnership with Care Solace allows everyone in our community to access mental health professionals and resources completely free of charge. We are so grateful to be attending the Care Solace Second Annual Mental Health Summit this week!
We are thrilled to announce JW Kuebler as our Distinctive Schools June CEO Spotlight! JW's journey within our organization has been truly remarkable, starting as a dedicated teacher and steadily progressing through various roles such as coach, dean, Assistant Principal, and now serving as the Principal of CICS Irving Park. With over 15 years of unwavering commitment to our schools, JW has consistently displayed his passion for education and his unyielding dedication to our mission. His leadership and innovative approach have helped shape our schools into nurturing environments where students can thrive. We are incredibly grateful for JW's invaluable contributions and the positive impact he has made on our organization and school community. Congratulations, JW! This month, the spotlight is on you!
Distinctive Schools is closed today in honor of Juneteenth. As an organization, we will honor the importance of this day in American history. In solidarity with our staff, families & students, and aligned to a growing number of companies across the country, we close our office and campus doors for a day of remembrance and response to systemic racism, and to commemorate our commitment to continued progress in our own equity work as an organization.
We will continue to cultivate an organization together that focuses on inclusivity and solidarity across all lines of difference in our world. We hope you will take a moment to reflect, honor and observe this historic day.
Happy Father's Day! To all of our Distinctive dads, dads-to-be, father figures, grandfathers and those who are simply grateful for their own dads – we thank you for the integral role you play in guiding and educating the next generation. Thank you for your care, compassion and wisdom you bring to our work every day.
Distinctive Academic and School Leaders are already planning for the 23-24 School Year with a focus on core curriculum access, data analysis and lesson planning structures!
