Professional Development Updates

Dr. Lisa Caparelli-Ruff, Regional Superintendent

Education, Innovation, & Service Center

Heather Siegel-Hickman, Ed.D.

Director of Professional Development

hsiegel-hickman@willroe.org * 815.630.3103

Dr. Caparelli-Ruff, Regional Superintendent, and ROE staff loved seeing students, families, and community members come together at the Brooks Middle School Back-to-School Bulldog Bash and Backpack Giveaway. This amazing free event included food, activities, community resources, and giveaways, including backpacks, boxes of fresh produce, and much more.

We are so grateful to the many community partners who shared resources, services, and support with families throughout the event, and to Brooks Middle School for organizing and hosting this celebration of community. 💙🤝

More than 20 early career educators joined us for the first session in our New Teacher Network and Learning Series, and the image below captures how they are feeling heading into the new school year.

Support your new, curious, nervous, and excited teachers by signing them up for our series, which is designed to complement the work you are doing in your schools and districts. It's not too late to register your new and early career teachers! Our next session on September 16, 2026, will reinforce and build on the work we started this week, which includes building relationships and routines for classroom success.

Click here or email Heather (hsiegel-hickman@willroe.org) to register.

Facilitated by Joy Kamp, Christine Zelaya, and Heather Siegel-Hickman

Contact Rudy Hernandez (rhernandez@willroe.org) to learn more.

AA 3908

Don't let the title of this book fool you. The lessons in Generation Z Unfiltered apply to all generations, and this academy lets you work at your own pace and on your own time.

Reflect on leadership in the context of Generation Z and develop an action plan to lead at the school or district level for all generations. This Administrator Academy uses a book study approach to frame reflection, discussions, and planning. Participants will:

• Identify and evaluate the effect of generational differences on leadership.
• Apply the model PROVE (Problem, Relationships, Ownership, Visuals, and Experience) to build coaching capacity.
• Create an action plan to address working with all generations as a leader.

Click here to register.

Numeracy Plan Series:

• Thursday, Oct. 15: Building Numeracy: Understanding the Six Components of the IL Comp. Numeracy Plan (primary audience: principals, curriculum directors, instructional coaches, other leaders)
• Thursday, Nov. 19: Teaching for Understanding: Using the Five Pedagogical Approaches in the IL Comp. Numeracy Plan (primary audience: classroom teachers, interventionists, instructional coaches, curriculum and content area leaders)
• Thursday, Jan. 21: Numeracy Plan K-5 Institute: Developing Numeracy from the Ground Up (primary audience: classroom teachers, interventionists, instructional coaches, curriculum and content area leaders)
• Thursday, Jan. 28: Numeracy Plan 6-8 Institute: Developing Mathematical Thinkers (primary audience: classroom teachers, interventionists, instructional coaches, curriculum and content area leaders)
• Thursday, Feb. 4: Numeracy Plan 9-12 Institute: Mathematics for Advanced Learning (primary audience: classroom teachers, interventionists, instructional coaches, curriculum and content area leaders)

Mathematics Network:

Learn and Network: The sessions will include targeted topics such as designing rich mathematical tasks, facilitating math discourse, the science of math, inquiry vs. direct instruction, and more as well as dedicated time to network with other educators and leaders.

Research reviewed by the Government Accountability Office shows that professional development centered on collaboration and coaching leads to measurable results. Will County’s networks bring together educators and educational leaders from elementary, middle, and high schools to problem-solve, share strategies, strengthen their practice, and leave with ideas they can use immediately.

New for the 2026-2027 school year: Mathematics Network for teachers, coaches, and leaders!

Check out our developing Network Schedule here.

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New in SY '27, there will be a $15 registration fee to reserve your spot for a network meeting. The fee will be refunded upon attendance. Registrants who do not cancel in advance or who do not attend will forfeit the fee.

We offer:

• Trained coaches to support schools and districts from planning through implementation of continuous improvement cycles.
• An extensive network of consultants and coaches to support the professional learning that administrators, teachers, and other school staff want and need.
• Support for implementing the IL Comprehensive Literacy and Numeracy Plans.
• Much more. Reach out and let us meet you where you are and take you where you want to go.

Illinois Mandated Trainings - click here

ISBE Teacher and Principal/Assistant Principal Performance Evaluation Qualifications - click here

Special Dates to Hold:

• October 26, 2026 - Paraprofessional and Support Staff Learning Day
• February 26, 2027 - Beyond the Core Professional Learning Day (focuses on educators of non-core content areas: Theatre, Art, Music, PE, Health, CTE and more)

Heart the Lover by Lily King is not a light read. It begins as what feels like a story of collegiate romance, but it is so much more than that. It is about marriage, family, loss, and the literature and philosophies that give depth to the characters’ lives.

Yes, part of the reason I loved this book is its literary and philosophical allusions. Are some of the references a little pretentious? Absolutely. But I liked that, too. They reflect characters who are trying to make sense of themselves and the world through the books and ideas they love.

Because I am who I am, and because I know there are people like me, I Googled “all books referenced in Heart the Lover.” Unsurprisingly, I found several posts. Click here to see a post with the list.

Be creative!

😊

Please click here.

Check out upcoming sessions offered in Will County and other area ROEs and ISCs to support SEL and Trauma-Informed Instruction and Leadership.

The Learning Resource Hub is a free tool with online classes that provide PD Hours. Professionals can also "obtain continuing education hours for the following Illinois-licensed professions: social workers, professional counselors, and psychologists." Use this link to register and learn more.

Check out upcoming events on topics like Teen Relationships in the Social Media Era and The Science of Wonder and Sensory Play to Help Kids Thrive. PD Hours and Continuing Education Units are available.

SunCloud Health offers free professional development on a variety of youth mental health topics. Check out their offerings on their website or call Heather to arrange customized PD through SunCloud for your schools and districts.

aaumann@suncloudhealth.com

Science and STEM educators from across the country will gather in Indianapolis for the NSTA National Conference on Science and STEM Education (November 4–7) to discover practical classroom strategies, explore the latest in science and STEM education, and connect with peers who share a passion for inspiring the next generation of learners. The conference features hundreds of sessions, hands-on learning experiences, networking opportunities, and nationally recognized speakers. Click here for more details and to register.

In this Master of Arts in Educational Administration degree program, educators obtain the deep understanding needed to lead public and non-public schools to success through preparation in organizational, community, and student-focused leadership.

• Earn the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Educational Administration in six semesters
• Intensive field experiences and internships for real-world practice
• Cohort model to build relationships with future school leaders
• Flexible options for face-to-face and online coursework
• Engage with our experienced, diverse faculty

APPLY NOW

Classes begin August 31, 2026. Attend an information session to receive a free code to waive the application fee. Visit https://apply.govst.edu/apply/ now and begin your application!

For More Information:

Christopher A. Dignam, Ed.D.

Educational Administration Coordinator

Assistant Professor of Education
cdignam@govst.edu

Program website: https://www.govst.edu/principalleadership/

images from freepik.com, giphy.com, and pexels.com