Classes begin at Evanston/Skokie School District 65, new principal greets families at Bessie Rhodes
Keri Mendez is the new principal at Bessie Rhodes elementary school, August 27, 2018. (Brian O'Mahoney / Pioneer Press)
Class resumed for the new school year Monday for more than 11,000 area elementary and high school students.
Evanston/Skokie School District 65 welcomed some 8,000 students in K-8 to its 15 schools.
"I am very excited to welcome our staff, students, and families back," Supt. Paul Goren said in the days leading up to Monday.
In addition to new and returning students, the school district welcomed some new staff.
At Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies in Skokie, the new principal was out early greeting kids and their families.
The school board approved Mendez's hire in June, but Monday marked her first official day taking the helm of the school with the students present.
Mendez, who grew up in Evanston, makes her return to the city after working at schools in Chicago. Most recently, she had spent the last seven years as co-principal of an academically low-performing turnaround school on the city's West Side.
In total, Mendez has spent the past 16 years working as a teacher, instructional coach and administrator in both public and private schools in the Chicago area, according to information from Evanston/Skokie School District 65.
Mendez has an undergraduate degree in elementary education, a master's degrees in reading from Northeastern Illinois University and one in school administration from National Louis University, according to a brief bio on the school district's website.
She is an Evanston/Skokie School District 65 alum, having attended both Orrington Elementary and Haven Middle Schools, according to the bio.
The new Bessie Rhodes principal said she is looking forward to a great first year at the school.
PTA Vice President Kymika Okechukwu, pictured, talks to parents at Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies elementary school Aug. 27, 2018 during the first day of of classes at the Evanston/Skokie School Dist. 65 school located in Skokie. (Brian O'Mahoney / Pioneer Press)
Goren said the school district is looking forward this school year to the implementation of a 1:1 technology program that comes as a result of revenue from the 2017 referendum taxpayers approved.
"[The school district] will also continue our second year of coding and social/emotional learning courses and will expand our work on culturally relevant teaching practices. These practices include multi-tiered data-driven approaches to instruction, restorative justice practices in elementary and middle schools, continued racial and equity learning, and a focus on improving school climate and culture," he said.
In addition to Mendez, other hires approved in June and effective this school year include LaTarsha Green in the newly-created role of executive director of Black Student Success.
Also coming to the school district from a Chicago Public Schools turnaround school, Green is a veteran educator with over 20 years of experience in public school settings, according to information provided by Evanston/Skokie School Dist. 65.
"She is an advocate for all children and has worked especially closely with staff and families to support English Learners and students receiving specialized services," according to the school district.
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Sharon Sprague comes to the district as the new head of early childhood programs. The 20-year-educator has previously been nominated for the Golden Apple award for teaching excellence. She is currently a doctoral student in the Urban Educational Leadership Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago, according to information provided by the school district.
"Early childhood development and issues of educational equity are her professional passions," according to the school district information.
Though Sprague lives with her family in Chicago, she has roots in Evanston. Her two adult children graduated from Oakton Elementary School, Chute Middle School and Evanston Township High School.
Monday also marked the first day of the 2018-2019 school year for the more than 3,300 students at Evanston Township High School District 202, with ETHS being the only school in the district.
Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies PTA member Elaine Burns, left, talks to parents Aug. 27, 2018 on first day of school. Monday was the first day for all schools in Evanston/Skokie School District 65 and Evanston Township High School District 202. (Brian O'Mahoney / Pioneer Press)