NSSEO Governing Board Brief
May 2026
Upcoming Events & Dates
5/18 — 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Kirk Connections Graduation @ Kirk School
5/19 — 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Kirk High School Graduation @ Kirk School
5/20 — 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Miner School Graduation @ Miner School
5/21 — 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Timber Ridge School Graduation @ Timber Ridge School
5/25
Memorial Day — All Buildings Closed
5/27 — 7:00 pm
DHH Graduation @ Hersey
5/29
DHH —Last Day of School @ Hersey
5/29
DHH Graduation @ MacArthur
6/2
Last Day of School for Students
6/3
Last Day of School for Staff
6/3 — 6:30 pm
NSSEO Governing Board Meeting @ Central Administration Building
6/4 — 9:00 - 11:00 am
NSSEO Operational Board Meeting @ Central Administration Building
6/5
ESY Begins for Staff
6/6 — 3:00 pm
Timber Ridge Scholarship Outing @ Beacon Tap
6/8
ESY Begins for Students
6/19
Juneteenth — All Buildings Closed
6/26
Last Day of ESY for Kirk School, Miner School, Timber Ridge School & DHH/High School
6/29
Last Day of ESY for DHH/EC, Elementary & Middle School
Shining Stars - NSSEO Retirees
This May, we proudly celebrate the incredible achievements of our 2025 NSSEO retirees, who together represent over 188 years of remarkable service to NSSEO! Their impact can be felt across this entire organization, programs, districts, and families. They will be leaving a lasting legacy of compassion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to our students. It was a very emotional evening as we all gathered to hear speeches about how much each retiree has meant to the staff and how they have changed our students' lives.
We can't thank you enough for everything each one of you has done to build a promising future for our communities!
Congratulations and thank you to this very special group:
- Kerry Beach – Art Teacher, Timber Ridge/Miner
- Terri Bernstein – Teacher, DHH
- Bryan Bolger – Outdoor Education Specialist, Sunrise Lake
- Amy Disch – Teacher, Miner
- Jan Gallagher – Physical Therapist, Kirk
- Kumud Parikh – Classroom Aide, Kirk
- Daxa Patel – Classroom Aide, Kirk
- Roy Trost-Rekich – Teacher, Kirk
- Julie Sander – Admin Assistant for DHH, Central Office
You will always be part of the NSSEO family! 💛 ❤️ 💙
Superintendent's Update
Miracle on Miner
An All-Inclusive Block Party with a Purpose
A huge thank you to the Miner School PTO and everyone involved in organizing this wonderful event. The planning and execution continue to improve each year, and it truly showed. One especially meaningful addition was the accessible van demonstration in the parking lot, which gave families the opportunity to tour a vehicle designed to meet the unique needs of individuals with disabilities. With so many engaging and valuable experiences packed into the event, we may need to consider extending it by another hour next year
Kirk Prom
This years theme, "Wicked"
A perfect prom night from start to finish! The dresses were stunning, the suits were sharp, the food was a hit, the music kept everyone dancing, and the atmosphere was unforgettable. There is truly something special about Kirk Prom nights. Seeing students and staff dressed in their best and simply enjoying the evening together after a year filled with hard work, growth, and accomplishments created an evening full of joy, connection, and lasting memories.
Congratulations to all of the students on an outstanding year, and sincere thanks to everyone who helped plan and organize such a memorable event. Every detail contributed to an incredible night, and we are grateful to all who made it so special.
Staff Appreciation Week
A wonderful week of celebration for our incredible staff, who are so deserving of the recognition and appreciation shown throughout the week. Our Celebration Committee thoughtfully organized a weeklong staff appreciation event centered around this year’s “Shine From Within” theme, with each program incorporating coordinated daily themes and gifts that tied everything together beautifully. The week included sweet treats, breakfasts, lunches, fun activities, coffee, trivia contests with gift card prizes, and a special ending as Lumi the Bear distributed a children’s book written by our very own Claudia Flores from the Central Administration Office.
We would also like to take this opportunity to once again thank our entire NSSEO team for the extraordinary work they do each and every day. Their dedication to teaching students the skills they need to become contributing members of our community is truly commendable. The work is demanding, but the staff across Kirk, Miner, Timber Ridge, Vision, D/HH, DESC, and the Central Administration Office continue to give their very best to our students year after year. We sincerely hope everyone enjoyed this well-deserved week of celebration and appreciation.
Lumi Visits
As mentioned above, Claudia Flores, one of the newest members of our NSSEO team and a key component of our Staff Celebration Week, wrote a book titled "Bear Your Light" to pass out on the last day of Staff Appreciation Week. But she didn't stop there. She threw on a bear costume, a T-shirt made by Ms. Belter, teacher at Kirk School, and her team at Kirk, and went on tour around NSSEO to hand out the book and visit the staff and students. Was a perfect way to end a week of celebration!
Timber Ridge Movie Night
15th Annual Timber Ridge Scholarship Outing
Only Two More Days to Register (May 15th)
Business Updates
A facilities update was given by Gavin McGinn. The 2nd Phase of the Kirk HVAC project began after Spring Break, and 5 out of 8 classrooms have been completed. The rest of the project will be completed in July after ESY. NSSEO also completed a 10 year Life Safety item over Spring Break at Timber Ridge School. The main stairwell was enclosed to ensure it is fire rated.
Recruitment and Hiring
NSSEO is looking to grow our teams with talented people, just like you! If you or know others looking for a wonderful job opportunity for the 2025-26 school year, click the link below to search our openings.
Join the NSSEO Foundation
The NSSEO Foundation is also wrapping up another successful year of fundraising and is looking to 2026-2027 as a huge year! We are cooking up some new events and new approaches for next year and would love for you to be a part of it!
The NSSEO Foundation, Inc. is currently welcoming applications for the Foundation's Board of Directors. Please click on the logo below to apply or visit our NSSEO Foundation's section of our website, linked here, for more information.
Making a Difference
Important Dates
5/18 — 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Kirk Connections Graduation @ Kirk School
5/19 — 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Kirk High School Graduation @ Kirk School
5/20 — 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Miner School Graduation @ Miner School
5/21 — 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Timber Ridge School Graduation @ Timber Ridge School
5/25
Memorial Day — All Buildings Closed
5/27 — 7:00 pm
DHH Graduation @ Hersey
5/29
DHH —Last Day of School @ Hersey
5/29
DHH Graduation @ MacArthur
6/2
Last Day of School for Students
6/3
Last Day of School for Staff
6/3 — 6:30 pm
NSSEO Governing Board Meeting @ Central Administration Building
6/4 — 9:00 - 11:00 am
NSSEO Operational Board Meeting @ Central Administration Building
6/5
ESY Begins for Staff
6/6 — 3:00 pm
Timber Ridge Scholarship Outing @ Beacon Tap
6/8
ESY Begins for Students
6/19
Juneteenth — All Buildings Closed
6/26
Last Day of ESY for Kirk School, Miner School, Timber Ridge School & DHH/High School
6/29
Last Day of ESY for DHH/EC, Elementary & Middle School
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