District Developments

It is with a full heart and deep gratitude that I write to you as my journey with Mundelein School Districts 75 and 120 comes to an end, effective June 30, 2026. Serving these districts has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding chapters of my professional career, and I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to both Boards of Education for the trust, support, and partnership they have extended throughout my time here.

District 75 & 120 is home to an extraordinary community — dedicated educators, committed families, and remarkable students who inspire purposeful work every single day. I am grateful to have been part of a team that consistently put students at the center of every decision and held a shared commitment to continuous improvement, even in the most challenging of times.

Thank you, sincerely, for the opportunity to serve the students and families of Mundelein School community. It has been an honor. I will take all I have learned with me to Cary Consolidated School District 26 just down the road as their next Superintendent beginning July 1st. If I can be of assistance in your leadership journey, feel free to reach out. sarah.cacciatore@cary26.org

"We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience." - John Dewey

The 2022 revisions to Domain 4 were designed to emphasize the complex nature of teaching and to highlight the mindsets and actions that make teachers effective — moving beyond compliance-driven tasks toward a deeper professional identity.

Reflective practice encompasses the thinking that follows any instructional event — an analysis of the many decisions made both in planning and in the implementation of a lesson. By considering these elements and their impact on student learning, teachers can determine where to focus efforts in making revisions and what aspects of instruction to continue in future lessons. There are three elements of success for Domain 4a - Engaging in Reflective Practice:

Self-Assessment of Teaching

• Teachers use evidence from activities and assessments to identify the impact of different elements of practice on student learning and evaluate the success of learning experiences.

Analysis and Discovery

• Based on their self-assessment, teachers consider alternative approaches or perspectives, question their own ideas or beliefs, and learn new ways to further advance student learning.

Application and Continuous Improvement

• Teachers demonstrate commitment to the success of all students by planning, practicing, and trying new approaches to enhance their teaching based on their assessment and analysis.

This month, instead of providing grade specific examples…across all grade bands, the heart of Domain 4a is the same. Teachers who engage in reflective practice are not simply looking back at what happened — they are building the professional habit of using evidence to grow, adapt, and continuously improve in service of their students.

Stated by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia