Greetings from the Executive Director

Welcome To Our 4th Annual F.A.C.E. Summit!

We are honored to host this event for all our students, staff, parents/guardians, and community partners. District 205 takes great pride in our programs, the rigor we provide and the standards we maintain. This is our opportunity to share our successes and challenges with the entire community.

Each year, we look forward to working with the incredible, staff, students, and community to provide a quality education for all students. Our goal is to provide each student with a positive and inspiring learning experience that prepares them for life in the 21st century.

District 205 students are provided a challenging and supportive academic environment, along with opportunities for enrichment. In addition to core academic curriculum, students have opportunities in art, music, theatre, athletics, world languages, physical education, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, AVID, vocational programs, community service and technology.

We are looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure our students can achieve their highest potential. We recognize that to be successful in school, our students need support from both the home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in their education.

As partners, we share the responsibility for our student’s success and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities. 

We ask that you guide and support their learning by ensuring that they: 

1) Attend school daily and arrive on time, ready for the day’s learning experience;

2) Complete all homework assignments given by teachers;

3) Read daily to develop a love for reading and to improve literacy skills;

4) Share school experiences with you so that you are aware of their school life;

5) Informs you if they need additional support in any area or subject;

6) Know that you expect them to succeed in school and go on to a productive life after High School.

Our students can greatly benefit from your involvement and contributions to the school’s program and its operations. Please consider attending our District Curriculum Committee meetings and connecting with your school’s parent organizations. Additionally, monitoring our web site and social media feeds will enhance your knowledge upcoming events and key District initiatives.

I hope you know that you are always welcome at District 205. I have an open-door policy, so please feel free to contact me with your concerns or suggestions. Thank you for your support and welcome!

Brett Fickes
Director of Curriculum & Instruction

"The Fierce Urgency of Now" – Family and Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.) Virtual Summit 2021
By Dr. Albert J. Holmes, Jr., Federal Programs Coordinator

At the March on Washington in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. referred to the struggle for civil rights as “The Fierce Urgency of Now!” Louis Gomez, a Social Scientist, Professor of Education and Information studies at UCLA, and dedicated to educational improvement, has applied the phrase to today’s teachers, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders. He notes that school systems need to stop dithering and wasting time and get down to the business of eradicating unacceptable educational problems with all deliberate speed. In short, “Get to it now!” “Produce results!” “We have no more time to waste!”

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a drastic and unexpected worldwide disruption for educational systems; Thornton Township High School District 205 (TTHS) is not an exception. The dreadful virus abruptly interrupted both the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. However, with creativity, adaptability, and dedication, district leaders, building administrators, staff, families, and students have positioned each member of the learning community to rise to the challenge and sustain forward momentum that supports student learning! Moreover, TTHS recognized and implemented a Remote/Distance Learning process with virtual educational resources to transition into a responsive learning environment that addresses the mediation parameters for surviving the pandemic. As we continue to navigate the current school year, students and families will be engaged in a rigorous e-Learning curriculum approved by the Illinois State Board of Education.

The Purpose of the F.A.C.E. Summit

On Saturday, March 27th, 2021, Thornton Township High School District will present the 4th Annual Family and Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.) Summit. As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, safety remains the district’s primary concern for staff, students, families, and the entire learning community. Therefore, the Summit will be delivered virtually with access from wherever you have access to the internet or streaming services. This year, we hope to have the highest attendance ever!

Engage, Motivate, and Educate are the core pillars of this year’s Summit. We will highlight all the great accomplishments implemented during this challenging school year. In addition, we will provide innovative and unique professional learning opportunities for parents and/or guardians. We also use this event to promote an increase in engagement and participation by parents/guardians, students, staff, and community members.

Furthermore, the F.A.C.E. Summit gives the District the opportunity to illuminate essential and innovative supplemental services leveraged with various funding resources (i.e., Title I, IDEA, IL-EMPOWER, etc.) to effectively reach all students within the TTHS learning community.

Several districtwide accomplishments approved by our School Board this school year include, but are not limited to:

4,500+ chromebooks for students – one-to-one capacity during Distance/Remote Learning
Laptops for Building Administrators
T-Mobile Hotspot for student connectivity
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19
Supplemental Services for Distance/Remote Learning
Continuous Virtual Professional Learning Opportunities for all staff (summer & fall)
Google and Microsoft Applications Workshops
Extensive online trainings and instructional research-evidenced supplemental programs in various core areas were purchased to enhance Distance/Remote Learning
Additional Truancy Officers assigned to all schools
Exploration of more innovative parental engagement workshops and presentations
Ongoing virtual professional development with principals, building administrators, various committees, and district administrators.

Attending the 4th Annual F.A.C.E. Summit is important for all stakeholders in District 205. Participation will provide insight and communications to keep us Engaged, Motivated, and Educated in how to best deliver high-quality programming that produces major gains in student achievement and prepares all students for success in college, careers, and service in our community and global society.

For more information about the F.A.C.E. Summit, please visit: https://district205summit.net

Dr. Nathaniel Cunningham, Jr., Superintendent

Ms. Nina Graham, President
Mrs. Annette Whittington, Vice President
Mrs. Almetta Vasser-Moody, Secretary
Mr. Ray C. Banks, Member
Mr. Albert Butler, Member
Mrs. Leticia Cruz, Member
Mrs. Bernadette Lawrence, Member

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