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The education program at the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center is considered among the best in Illinois, so juvenile detention leaders from across the state came to Kane County on Friday, May 15, to learn a little more about how the JJC is going “from good to great.”

The Kane County Regional Office of Education and the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center invited seven other juvenile detention centers in Illinois to meet Friday for the 2^nd annual Illinois Juvenile Detention Conference.

Illinois Youth Center Warrenville, Illinois Youth Center St. Charles, River Valley Juvenile Detention Center Joliet, The Sangamon County Juvenile Detention Center, Minard E. Hulse Juvenile Detention Center, and the Springfield Juvenile Detention Center were in attendance.

Director of Professional Development Shirley LeClere and Assistant Director of Professional Development Kathy Lawson introduced the conference by explaining the history of the program and the ROE’s involvement in transforming a good classroom to a great classroom.

Kane County JJC Principal Ivars Spalis introduced the underlying theme, which was based on Jim Collins’ book, From Good to Great. Although the book was geared toward best practices in business, two main principles were highlighted as the mantra for continuing success of the JJC: the who and the what. Defining these components are essential for success within an organization, especially when tasked to adapt to the unique needs of students. With the “right people on the bus,” even when confronted with an obstacle, the educators at the JJC are prepared to work together and remain determined. The second necessity noted in Collins’ book is that of a humble staff, yet one that embodies the courage and drive to put the organization first.

The Kane County’s JJC’s staff is comprised of six teachers and a principal: Rich Grenda, special educator coordinator/data analyist, Dr. Pat La Bouff, language arts instructor, Jimmy Pawola, history instructor, Zachary Steffes, math instructor, Rachel Kurkowski, biology instructor, Steffanie Weil, a paraprofessional, and Ivars Spalis the principal. Each of the instructors presented on their subject-area at the conference.

The Kane County JJC leaders also highlighted their experience with scheduling, curriculum mapping, lesson planning, professional development, technology in the classrooms, assessments, and student credit and transcripts.

The Kane County JJC was created by an agreement between the St. Charles School District, the Chief Judge and the Kane County Regional Office of Education makes this possible.

To guarantee that students in juvenile detention continue to be educated and make a successful transition back into their public school program, the Kane County Regional Office of Education runs the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center Education Program.

An agreement between the St. Charles School District, the office of Chief Judge Judith Brawka and the Kane County Regional Office of Education makes this possible.  Certified teachers give daily instruction year-round in language arts, math, science and social studies.

Learn more about the other ways the JJC is assisting incarcerated youth here.

• This article was written by Ellen Kamps of the Kane County Regional Office of Education, made possible by Regional Superintendent Patricia Dal Santo.