Systems Sessions

In this episode of Systems Sessions from Education Systems Center at NIU, Pathways Director Juan Jose Gonzalez and External Relations Manager Sarah Clark talk with CPS administrators on their vision for college and career pathways across the district and how they're piloting new Model Pathways. Hear from Principal Michelle Flatt of South Shore International College Prep, which is piloting the new Model Pathway for Health Sciences. Then, we'll talk with Office of College and Career Success Chief Michael Deuser, Director of Career and Technical Education Sarah Rudofsky, and Executive Director of Early College and Career Education Alexandra Vlachakis on the district's goals and how they are working with schools to implement new pathways.

In this episode of Systems Sessions from Education Systems Center at NIU, Pathways Director Juan Jose Gonzalez and External Relations Manager Sarah Clark visit District 214 for a closer look at their unique process for building and refining college and career pathways. Hear clips from the district's Pathway Advisory Team Meeting as administrators, teachers, and community members ideate opportunities for improving their pathway offerings, plus an interview with D214's Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Dr. Laz Lopez and Director of Academic Programs and Pathways Megan Knight.

In the next episode we take you to two additional Illinois 60 by 25 Network Leadership Communities. We’ll hear from Sydney Stigge-Kaufman, Director of Strategic Partnerships in East St Louis School District 189 and from Dr. Darryl Hogue, the Superintendent of River Bend school district in the Fulton area in northwestern Illinois.

Our next series dives into the Illinois 60 by 25 Network, a collaborative of communities across the State driving improved outcomes for young people. Network Organizers are Advance Illinois, EdSystems, & the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. In this episode, you will learn background on the Network & hear directly from Brent Baker, Director of Workforce Solutions at the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council.

In this final episode of the Scaling Education Pathways in Illinois series, we will take you across the state of Illinois to hear from 3 communities implementing an Education Pathway through SEPI: Linda Thorson and Tim Kosiek from Township High School District 214, Phil Pakowski and Kate Morris from Plainfield SD 202, and Superintendent Jennifer Gill, Cheree Morrison and Denise Petty from Springfield School District 186.

Our next episodes dive into the Scaling Education Pathways in Illinois initiative, a collaboration between 9 communities to build streamlined teacher career pathways that begin in high school. In the first episode, you will hear from our colleagues Jim O’Connor at Advance Illinois and Ernesto Matias, Chief Academic Officer for the Illinois State Board of Education, about the state’s teacher shortage and efforts to curtail it.

Systems Sessions explores how access to dual credit is being supported with the Model Partnership Agreement (MPA). Marcus Brown, Senior Director for Academic Affairs with the Illinois Community College Board, joins to discuss the current landscape of dual credit and the Dual Credit Quality Act. Josh Stafford, Superintendent of Vienna High School will also join us to describe how a rural community in southern Illinois has provided extensive access to dual credit and the impact of the MPA. 

Our first episode of Systems Sessions dives into the work of the State of Illinois Dual Credit Committee to develop the Model Partnership Agreement. This Agreement guides local partnerships between school districts and community colleges to expand and support quality dual credit access and offerings. We will hear directly from members of the Dual Credit Committee about the development process and how this Agreement is shaping dual credit delivery across Illinois.

Education Systems Center has launched a podcast! In this episode of Systems Sessions, learn more about the conversations we'll be having with the people behind the work that shapes the lives of young people through supporting pathways to a productive career. Listen in now to join the conversation!