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ROE 53 Newsletter

April 2025

ROE 53 Newsletter April 2025
ROE 53NewsletterApril 2025

Strategy Spotlight Strategy Spotlight

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Each month, the ROE 53 Instructional Coach, Courtney, will provide a short description of an instructional strategy educators can use with their students. A quick video showing the strategy in action is included!

Check out this month's strategy, Chalk Talk. Students silently respond to prompts allowing for think time and for everyone's voice to be heard. Learn more here!

SEL Professional Learning SEL Professional Learning

Area 3 SEL Hub SUMMER 2025 Course List
Professional learning sessions for social emotional learning - in-person and virtual!
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4/29/25 Creating Inclusive Classrooms with Krista Leh

Join us for a Full Day Workshop

Brought to you FREE from the Area 3 SEL Hub

~~ Light Breakfast will be provided by Grand Canyon University ~~

Educators will learn to cultivate learning environments that:

  • Foster an inclusive atmosphere
  • Enhance student belonging
  • Empower individual and collective agency
  • Develop prosocial skills

REGISTER

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REGISTRATION IS OPEN - SUMMER SEL PD

Join us this summer !! FREE SEL Professional Learning !!

June 2 - Brain-based Classrooms with Stephanie Brown - MORNING or AFTERNOON

June 3 - SEL Integration with Krista Leh (full day)

June 5 - Restorative Practices for Educators (full day)

June 9-10 - Bounce Back for Clinical Professionals (2 day trainining)

June 16 - Harmony Academy - Everyday Practices OR Teaching Students Empathy


~~ CLICK HERE for the complete Area 3 SEL Hub SUMMER COURSE LIST ~~

Mindful Moment Mindful Moment

FREE SEL POSTERS FOR YOUR CLASSROOM
Download these colorful posters from Breathe for Change to add some SEL strategies to your classroom today!

Upcoming Professional Development Upcoming Professional Development

SCIENCE Curriculum Launch: April 1 - May 1, 2025

NSTA & ISBE have partnered to offer an Open SciEd curriculum launch for Middle School Science Teachers & High School Biology & Chemistry Teachers. Learn more and find the link to register here!


Social Studies Symposium: April 18, 2025 in Macomb

ROE 26/33 & WIU are partnering to offer a professional learning opportunity specifically for High School teachers of Sociology, Civics/Political Science, & Geography. Learn more here!
Register by April 11!


Applying Canva in Your Classroom: April 24, 2025 virtual

Are you familiar with the basics of Canva and wanting to learn more? Discover how Canva can transform your teaching and engage your students! This hands-on session will guide you through using Canva's Presentation tool, the Whiteboard, and Docs for lesson plans and student collaboration. Register for this 1 hour session here!


ISBE Listening Tour: Assessment & Accountability Redesign: May 5, 2025 in Peoria

Give your input on the latest updates in the assessment and accountability redesign. Preview and give your feedback on possible accountability models and on assessment performance level descriptors that will lay the foundation for new proficiency benchmarks. Sign up to attend!


ROE 53 School Nurse Networking Session: May 8, 2025 in East Peoria

School nurses are welcome to attend this event to network and share ideas with other nurses in our region! A brief training on data collection and ways to prepare and share possible reports for school administration or Boards of Education will be included during this session. Sign up to attend!

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Standards Based Grading Cohort

This cohort will meet quarterly and provide space for problem solving, sharing resources with area administrators, networking, and exploring questions that cohort members bring to the group.


This cohort is for district or building level administrators and staff including curriculum coordinators, instructional coaches, etc. in Peoria, Mason, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties, who have implemented standards based grading in some capacity. All grade levels are welcome!


Conversation around focused topics on SBG and resources will be facilitated and shared by ROE 53 & ROE 48. Our first meeting went well and we look forward to meeting again on April 28, 2025.


Learn more & sign up here!

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Literacy Summit 2025

Join us for an entire day of fun and learning focused on literacy!

June 11, 2025 at ICC - Peoria Campus

Click on the graphic to learn more and sign up to attend here!

SUMMER PD - CHECK IT OUT! SUMMER PD - CHECK IT OUT!

ROE 53 SUMMER Professional Learning
Registration Links are open!

ROE 53 Cohorts ROE 53 Cohorts

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Emerging Educators

ROE 53 is excited to offer this professional learning for the 2024-25 school year. We will provide monthly sessions on pertinent topics for those new to teaching. Our last session is May 1, 2025. Learn more and sign up here!
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Technology Leaders

ROE 53 coordinates meetings with Technology Leaders in our region. We meet monthly through a partnership with ROE 53, ROE 48 & LTC to brainstorm, troubleshoot, and share information. We are able to see technology innovation in action at schools and organizations in our area! Our next meeting is April 11, 2025. Learn more and sign up here!
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Instructional Coaches

Instructional leaders meet monthly to discuss and share coaching strategies and approaches used in schools in our region. Our next meeting is April 10, 2025. Learn more and sign up here!

Teacher Licensure Renewal Teacher Licensure Renewal

Educators will receive a reminder email from ISBE when it is time to renew their license. To renew, educators can log into their ELIS account starting April 1 of the year their license expires. Check out the ISBE Renewal Page for step-by-step renewal instructions & tutorials.


If your license requires professional development hours and/or Administrator Academies hours and the renewal option is not available, make sure all hours are met and entered on your Professional Development tab and adjust your employment status accordingly, if needed.



Click How Do I Update My Employment Status for step-by-step instructions. You will not be able to renew until all PD/AA requirements are met.

Free Online Professional Learning Free Online Professional Learning

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Learning and Resource Hub from the Center for Childhood Resilience

Online Professional Learning available for FREE to all educators!

Click HERE to visit the REACH Learning and Resource Hub platform


  • Comprehensive courses you can complete at your own pace
  • Curated resources to support schools that are safe, supportive, relationship-based, culturally attuned, and able to promote positive mental health and wellness
  • Free credits for Illinois Professional Education License (PEL) holders, licensed social workers, licensed professional counselors, and psychologists (IDFPR), and those holding certifications through Gateways (INCCRRA).

FREE Social Emotional Learning Resources FREE Social Emotional Learning Resources

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Click HERE to find out more about SEL resources available from ROE #53 and other Regional Offices across the state :
  • FREE PD opportunities
  • SEL resources, articles and videos
  • FREE audiobooks for educators

Email Theresa Olsen to request additional resources or support

Community Resources & Professional Development Community Resources & Professional Development

World Quantum Day: April 12, 2025

U of I is partnering with IQUIST to host a day filled with activities and events to increase understanding about quantum technology & discoveries. Find out more here!


QPR Institute is providing 2 courses where PDHs from ISBE can be earned:


  • Athletic Coaches - Suicide Prevention - register here by June 30!
  • Non-Behavioral Health Providers - Mental Health Crisis Response - register here!



Grand Canyon University is offering a free learning opportunity in April focused on Small Group Instruction. Learn more and sign up here!

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Contact Regional Office of Education #53

Serving Mason, Tazewell, & Woodford Counties


Regional Superintendent: Jeff Ekena

Assistant Regional Superintendent: Jon Smith

Professional Development Coordinator: Kelli Ballard

Social Emotional Learning Specialist: Theresa Olsen

Instructional Literacy Coach: Courtney Prather



Email: office53@roe53.net
Website: https://www.roe53.net/
Location: 2400 N Main St suite C, East Peoria, IL, USA
Phone: (309) 477-2290
Facebook: facebook.com/mtwroe53
X: @mtwroe53

ROE 53
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