Amber Quirk

for Regional Superintendent of Schools
DuPage County

School Safety

“We want qualified and caring adults teaching the students of DuPage County. We do this by conducting background checks on teaching applicants and substitutes, as well as confirming the educators in the classroom have the appropriate licensure.”

With the impact of COVID, student behavior toward each other and adults has become more negative. Violence in schools is top of mind for school administrators. Since the Columbine school shooting in 1999, “according to The Washington Post, there have been 237 school shootings in the U.S., resulting in 403 killed or injured. But we don’t know the exact numbers.” Now more than ever it is important to revisit the model emergency management plans developed through the Safety Task Force to ensure continuity across municipalities. In addition, with the Oak Brook Mall shooting in December 2021 as a guide, we will focus on creating more robust reunification plans.

The Regional Office of Education will do everything in our power to prevent an incident in our county. We offer professional learning opportunities for school personnel focused on supportive measures to keep students connected. We encourage the use of school-wide strategies, such as lessons focused on self awareness and conflict management, restorative discipline practices, positive behavior intervention systems, and identifying trusted adults.

Truancy

The COVID19 Pandemic isolated students from school, leading to higher numbers of students who are chronically truant (a school-age child who is absent without valid causes for 5% out of 180 consecutive days). In addition to our Truancy Department hosting school support meetings, home visits, and hearings, we have offered ongoing training to school personnel in order to increase student attendance.

When students remain in school and eventually obtain their diploma, they are more likely to become productive citizens of the County. We are partnering with schools to host parent nights to educate families about school anxiety and refusal behaviors. We also connect students with the resources they need to successfully return to school. We will provide the most effective and efficient services for truant students.

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

One thing the pandemic taught schools is one size does not fit all. Schools saw changes in their academic scores, student behavior, and attendance. Many schools were implementing a systems approach to the areas of academics, behavior, and attendance prior to the COVID pandemic. Now our office is assisting schools with returning to their systems of support with a new perspective following a global pandemic.

Licensure

The Regional Office of Education monitors whether educators in the classroom have the appropriate qualifications to be teaching the children in DuPage County. The office also offers the service of conducting fingerprinting for background checks to ensure the people working with our children are also safe. This department also conducts training for substitute teachers and assists people with registering for programs and testing (GED) to obtain their High School Equivalency Diploma.

Professional Development

Educators and school staff must continue learning throughout their careers. We provide professional learning opportunities based on the school district needs. The learning may be virtual or in person workshops, webinars, networking meetings, or a coaching relationship to support school improvement. The more prepared both teachers and support staff are, the more confident we can be that our children will receive an outstanding education.