Superintendent News

November 24, 2025

Dear Families, Staff, and Community Members,

As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday and break, there is so much to be thankful for! I am thankful for many things but especially for this wonderful learning community. This includes those who do the work every day -- teachers, supporting staff, leaders - making District 95 such a special school district. I know that many of you are also grateful for one or more special teachers along your educational journey and so it makes me both happy and proud to ask for nominations beginning today for our annual "Teachers Make a Difference" award. Please see the article below for more information and a link to nominate teachers.

The weather over Thanksgiving break is expected to drop significantly, reminding us that winter is upon us and with that can come severe weather. Please read the article below about severe weather and school closings/schedule changes so you are prepared for how the district may respond to predictions for severe weather.

If your students find themselves with some extra time over the next couple of weeks, please encourage them to create an entry (original artwork or poem/verse) for our New Year's card contest (see article below) - multiple winners may be selected for the cards that are printed and sent to district staff and community partners.

Best wishes to all of our students, staff, and families for a safe, enjoyable, and restful Thanksgiving break - we look forward to seeing you next week when we return to school on December 1st!

With gratitude,

Dr. Kelley Gallt

Superintendent

Emergency Closures and Altered Schedules

As we enter the winter months, severe weather will sometimes require the school district to call for an emergency closing day or for an altered schedule such as a Delayed Start or an Early Dismissal. Our goal in providing a Delayed Start during inclement weather is to prioritize both in-person learning and the safety of all students, families, and staff (for more information see below).

Should a Delayed Start not be an option, District 95 will announce a “traditional” emergency day, again honoring in-person learning - on such days, school will not be in session. As a result, please keep in mind that any emergency days used during the school year must be added to the end of the school calendar as make-up days.

Communication

If a school closure or altered schedule be deemed necessary, the district will communicate with families using our mass communication system through emails and texts, on our websites, and through official social media accounts (LZdistrict95).

When is a Delayed Start called?

The Delayed Start schedule may be initiated by the district to allow time for roads and school grounds to be cleared and for our staff to arrive at school. When a Delayed Start is called, district buses will arrive at your student’s bus stop two hours later than their regularly scheduled time. Students who walk or drive to school should arrive no more than 15 minutes prior to the delayed start time. Where applicable, class periods will be shortened to accommodate a shorter day, but dismissal times will not change. Food service will be provided as usual.

When is an Early Dismissal called?

The Early Dismissal schedule may be initiated by the district if severe weather is moving into the area making travel at normal dismissal times difficult or unsafe. When the district calls for an Early Dismissal, school is dismissed exactly two hours earlier than the regular schedule.

For more information about emergency closings and delays, please click here to visit our website.

Teachers Make A Difference Nominations- Now Being Accepted!

Annually, District 95 takes time to recognize its exceptional staff members. The Teachers Make a Difference Award is designed to recognize those teachers who have represented our mission and gone far beyond normal expectations in supporting or motivating a student or group of students. We hope each family will consider this opportunity to complete a nomination and share their own appreciation for our educators!

Click here to complete a nomination for the Teachers Make a Difference Awards

All nominations are due by midnight on January 9, 2026.

From the many nominations we anticipate receiving, a selection committee of district administrators will select three of our outstanding educators to be honored in front of their peers during our annual staff awards program. Winning teachers will also receive a monetary award toward the use of professional development or other educational resources to continue to support their exceptional work with students as well as to further their professional development.

The school district is excited to announce a contest for students (all grade levels) to showcase their creativity! We’re looking for original artwork, poems, or verses to feature on our New Year’s cards, which will be sent to district employees and community partners in early January. Multiple designs/verses may be selected. The photo above is one of the winning entries from last school year.

Submissions must be in digital format (JPG or PNG). If your artwork is on paper, please take a clear photo before submitting.

The selected winner(s) will receive a small token of appreciation for their contribution.

Submit your entries through this form by December 17th, 2025. We can’t wait to see your creative talents shine!

Submit your original artwork here: https://lakezurich.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ab2nd0armPRGV7w

Last week, students in the Acceleratoredu program (the second year of the INCubatoredu entrepreneurial program) pitched their product, "She'Safe", at the "Breakfast with the Mayors" event hosted by the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce. These students gained valuable skills by presenting before local business leaders and mayors from local municipalities including Lake Zurich, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Deer Park, and Long Grove.

Students took questions from the audience and mingled with attendees after the event, sharing their business cards and sharing more about the product they are developing. Many attendees commented positively about the students, their product, and the program. Kudos to everyone involved!

LZHS Art + Design Educators, Kristen LaJeunesse Roach and Gillian Teichman, presented at the 77th Annual Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA) Conference on October 24–25 at the Renaissance Convention Center in Schaumburg. They led sessions on building positive classroom culture, supporting new teachers, and sharing practical strategies for engaging AP Art + Design students, contributing to two days of dynamic professional development with educators and artists from across the state. Gillian, in her first year teaching at LZHS (where she is also an alumna), was honored with the Early Art Educator of the Year Award; she previously taught at Lake Forest Academy. Congratulations to Gillian for receiving this honor!

In this feature article, “Innovation in the Classroom", we highlight the Superintendent as a member of a classroom for one full period. A different school and class are highlighted each month, allowing readers a view into the classroom from a new perspective!. These lessons highlight certain aspects of the District 95 Instruction Learning Model.

I recently had the distinct pleasure of visiting Ms. Galati’s middle school English Language Arts (ELA) classroom, an experience that reinforced my deep pride in our students and staff. The moment I stepped through the door, it was clear that this was not just a classroom; it was an awesome, dynamic, and authentic learning environment, fully exemplifying the spirit of the District 95 Instructional Model. The class began with an immediate shift into a mode of creativity and engagement with a "Dance Walk-In," setting a joyful tone and preparing minds for a fun yet rigorous learning session.

The core of the lesson focused on revision and collaborative growth. Students were already deeply involved in a writing activity, and the discussion quickly turned to a collaborative review of each other’s writing. The students’ engagement was evident and powerful; in every group I visited, students were highly engaged and eager to gain feedback to ensure their pieces were truly exceptional. The quality of the writing was simply impressive. In one piece, the sensory detail was so vivid that I could practically see the story unfolding as if I were present, and when listening to another story, I was instantly drawn into the relatable, typical childhood sibling arguments between sisters over a hairbrush.

Students used key language, supported by "Sentence Starters" to frame their peer questions to better obtain specific, high-quality feedback tailored to individual writing pieces. This acceptance of critical feedback is a skill many adults struggle with, yet our students demonstrated such openness and grace, it was truly amazing. Their ability to receive, process, and give critical feedback with maturity is a clear reflection of the exceptional instruction taking place in our schools.

Ms. Galati masterfully guided the collaborative time, focusing on supporting a small group while modeling the nuanced process of effective feedback. To conclude the lesson, she encouraged a student to share their writing on the screen with the entire class. This was a powerful moment where she expertly modeled for the class how difficult feedback can be when done well, demonstrating the depth required for meaningful critique. Students were collectively given the opportunity to provide feedback to the piece shared, and the author was overwhelmed with passion about their own writing, which sparked a lot of positive emotion across the classroom. The environment was intentionally structured to be safe and inviting, and the outstanding relationships forged between the teacher and her students were evident. Furthermore, the student-to-student relations were beautifully displayed during their focused conversations. The energy of the class was further encouraged by the fun, musical movement break (to the tune of “If Your Ears Hang Low...”), which provided a necessary lift and further reinforced the atmosphere of fun alongside learning.

I left the visit with a huge sense of pride, and a clear picture of how our students are blossoming into young authors and effective communicators.

With support from this amazing learning community, recently Joanie's Closet was able to provide 424 winter coats, hats, and gloves, along with 103 sweatshirts - helping over 107 district families stay warm this season. Thank you to all who donated for your generosity and support in bringing warmth to district families.

For more information about Joanie's Closet, please click here to visit their website.

The Lake County Regional Office of Education Foundation (LCROEF) celebrated a major milestone in early childhood education with the official launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Lake County last April.

“Access to books at an early age is one of the most effective ways to build literacy skills and prepare children for success in kindergarten and beyond,” said Michael Karner, Regional Superintendent of Schools for Lake County. “The launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Lake County ensures that more children will start school with a strong foundation in reading, setting them on a path toward lifelong learning. This initiative will have a direct impact on school readiness, supporting both students and educators in our public schools.”

The Imagination Library mails free, high-quality books to children each month from ages birth to five, regardless of family income, fostering early literacy skills and a love of reading. By expanding access to books, the program helps close literacy gaps and promotes educational equity. With early literacy being a crucial predictor of future academic achievement, this program represents a significant investment in Lake County’s youngest learners.

For more information on the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Lake County and how to sign up, visit www.lcroefoundation.org

In addition to an ongoing need for bus drivers (see below for more information), District 95 also has many other current employment needs including playground/lunchroom supervisors, classroom aides, and more. For a current list of openings, please visit our online job listings by clicking here.

Bus Drivers

Looking for an opportunity to give back to the community? Retired and looking for a way to stay active and connected? A parent wanting to have the same schedule as your children? Want to bring your preschool aged child to work with you? Join our amazing team of bus drivers. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.

Benefits Include: · Paid Behind the Wheel Training · Partial Paid Health Insurance · Retirement Benefits · Sick Leave · Personal Days· Competitive Pay including pay for prior experience

Qualifications: · Good Driving Record · Minimum of 21 years old (Drivers) · Pass required Federal Background check · Pass a pre-employment/ annual physical & drug test · Enjoy working with kids!!

If you have any questions, contact the District 95 Transportation Department at 847-438-2834.

Click here to apply online by visiting our website or go to www.lz95.org/jobs ~ Click on Job Openings ~ Select Transportation ~ Select Apply button

"Empower every learner to achieve personal excellence".

Email: feedback@lz95.org
Website: www.lz95.org
Location: 832 S Rand Rd, Lake Zurich, IL, USA
Phone: 847-438-2831
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LZdistrict95

Instagram: @LZdistrict95
X(Twitter): @LZdistrict95