School Is Back — And It's Off to a Great Start

School is back in District 65 — and the first week was something worth celebrating. DEC President Kelly Post joined Interim Superintendent Dr. Eric Witherspoon and Jose Lema to visit all 17 District 65 schools during institute days, witnessing firsthand the pride educators bring to their work. On Monday night, all 17 principals came before the board to share first-week celebrations: 84 new students at Nichols, Miss Phipe named a national teacher of the year award winner, Washington's bilingual STEP program expanding to fourth grade, Lincolnwood welcoming a third of its student body as new families — many of them former Kingsley Comets — with circles and care. DEC's message to the board was simple: come into the schools. See what is happening in classrooms. The daily work of District 65 educators is the heartbeat of this community — and it deserves to be witnessed. The harder conversations about the budget and superintendent search are ahead. This week, the good news gets to land.

DEC Signal is produced by the District 65 Educators' Council in partnership with The Signal Lab.

What is DEC Signal?

DEC Signal is the weekly podcast for District 65 educators. In under five minutes, get what you need to know—and what you need to thrive.

We cover what's happening in our district: staffing, budgets, school board decisions, and the issues affecting your classroom. But we also cover what helps you build a career: TRS pension and retirement planning, continuing education and endorsements, professional development opportunities, and how to advance in the profession.

DEC Signal is about more than news. It's about why your union matters—how DEC and IEA fight for your salary, your benefits, your working conditions, and your voice. We'll share how to get involved, why membership matters, and what your union is doing for you every day.

Produced by the District 65 Educators' Council (DEC), representing over 750 teachers in Evanston-Skokie School District 65. DEC is your union. This is your podcast.

New episodes every Monday morning.

Part of Signal Network, a product of The Signal Lab.

[instrumental music] This is Dec Signal. I'm Carol Hennessy, an AI educator voice built to represent you. Fast, accurate, educator first. School is back, and from everything we saw and heard this week, it is off to a remarkable start. Before the board meeting even began, something important had already happened. Dec President Kelly Post spent the 1st 2 institute days of school alongside Interim Superintendent Dr. Eric Witherspoon and District Safety Coordinator Jose Lema, visiting all 17 District 65 schools to welcome staff back. Every school, every building. And what they witnessed was something that does not always make the news, but should. The pride educators take in their programs, the care that went into getting classrooms ready, the joy of welcoming students back after a summer, the quiet, fierce dedication that defines this work every single day. Kelly's message to the board Monday night was simple. Educators felt seen, heard, and valued, and that is exactly what this community's educators deserve, especially after the year they just came through. Dec wants to carry that energy forward. So to every board member, Kelly extended an open invitation Monday night. Come into the schools. Come see what is being built in these classrooms. The daily triumphs that rarely make headlines are the heartbeat of this district. Dec would be honored to have you witness that excellence 1st hand. Monday night, all 17 principals and assistant principals came before the board, and they brought the energy of a great 1st week with them. At Nichols, 84 new students joined, including transfers from other districts and schools. The building's theme this year is lift off, lifting students into deeper cognitive engagement and stronger community. And their beloved librarian, Ms. Philippe, was just named the Northwestern Football College Football Playoff Extra Yard Teacher of the Year, earning 1000 dollars for the Nichols Library. On the first day of school, a student ran up to the principal and said, "Today was the best day ever. I can't wait to come back." At Washington, educators launched year 3 of their bilingual step program, expanding to 4th grade and creating daily inclusion pathways across multiple grade levels. Students in the program are running a monthly staff coffee cart. Integration, community, and real-world skills on day one. At Lincolnwood, over a 3rd of the student body is new this year, many of them Kingsley Comets finding a new home. The principal spoke honestly. There has been celebration, and there has also been grief, and both are being held with intention.

Circles, social-emotional practices, and a staff community built on purpose. The school's new norms, self-aware, thinkers, allies, responsible, and safe, were created together. At Park School, new students from 5 different school districts joined. New staff impressed from day one. And a simple change the assistant principal made to staff meetings, chairs in a full circle instead of rows, opened up a flood of personal celebrations and genuine connection from day one. 17 schools, 17 communities, thousands of students who showed up last week and found educators ready for them. This is what Dec wants every board member, every administrator, and every community member to see. Not a budget spreadsheet, not a board memo. This. The student who said it was the best day ever. The librarian winning a national award. The assistant principal who rearranged the chairs so staff could actually see each other. These are your educators. This is your district. Dec will keep you informed on the harder conversations, the budget, the superintendent search, the decisions ahead. But this week, let the good news land. School is back, and it is off to a great start. I'm Carol Hennessy. This is Dec Signal, the briefing built for educators by educators. Stay informed. That is how we stay strong. [instrumental music]