(WIFR) – School may be out for the summer but the
Boone-Winnebago Regional Office of Education
gathered hundreds of educators for its Summer Symposium.
“It’s an initiative from the state of Illinois to pour into our educators and schools to help meet kids where they are at,” said Scott Bloomquist, Regional Superintendent.
Thursday’s theme was a celebration of resilience. Educators participated in lessons on how to help students and colleagues deal with traumatic and emotional situations.
“We’re essential to the community but there is a high burnout rate and high turnover. It’s important that we’re here to best learn how to take care of ourselves and the students and families we serve,” said Belvidere Assistant Superintendent Megan Johnson, who attended the symposium with her team.
The educators had crash courses in emotional literacy,
trauma-informed
practices and how to thrive in a new age of education.
A member of Johnson’s team, curriculum manager Barb Villont says the sessions build hope.
“If we can find ways that we can learn, even today, on how to integrate social-emotional learning and even simple practices into our lessons, it will be more natural for teachers and more easily embedded,” said Villont.
Bloomquist says organizers work hard to make the event as accessible as possible to as many educators as they can.
Organizers say the success of the symposium makes them excited to hold it for years to come.
“So, to bring so many people together that have a common vision and a common mission, and a common goal and it just strengthens what you want to do,” said Bloomquist.
