Good Evening. My name is Jason Rush, VHHS Applied Technology Teacher and Building Representative of the D128 Federation of Teachers. Thank you for the opportunity to represent our 300+ certified staff members in my message tonight.
The D128 Union would like to extend our best wishes to the whole school community for a successful and rewarding school year ahead. We know this fresh start has brought renewed energy and optimism to our schools and students.
The six members of the Union Executive Board relished the opportunity to meet with interim superintendents Drs. Nelson and Lechner on August 8th and 14th. From these introductory meetings, it is clear that there is a mutual commitment to fostering a positive and collaborative environment for our district.
We would like to highlight the exceptional dedication of our educators over the summer. I am fond of saying โstrong preparation makes good teachingโ. So despite the break, many of our certified educators continued to contribute their time and expertise:
– **Summer School**: 17 teachers taught summer school, providing invaluable support to our students.
– **AP Test Grading**: 9 educators were involved in grading AP tests, either in person or online, ensuring the integrity and quality of the AP program.
– **Professional Development**: Approximately 30 staff members attended out-of-district learning events, including AP teacher training and various conferences.
– **D128 University Classes**: 14 instructors taught D128 University classes, while 92 staff members took advantage of these opportunities for professional growth.
– **District Committees and Projects**: Not including participation in hiring interviews, 154 hours were logged in other district committees and summer work projects not directly related to paid summer curriculum work.
– **Summer Curriculum Work**: A total of 484 hours have been logged for summer curriculum development as of last week, demonstrating our commitment to enhancing educational quality.
These efforts are instrumental in preparing for the upcoming year and ensuring that our students receive the highest quality education. Thank you Associate Superintendent Briant Kelley for providing this by the numbers look at how our members spent the summer. We look forward to a great 2024-2025 school year.