Unit 5 brought staff from every school to Normal West on Sept. 26 for the district’s first all-level institute day, the “Excellence in Education Summit.” The day featured 38 sessions presented by Unit 5 teachers, administrators and students across two periods, 8:45–9:45 a.m. and 10:15–11:15 a.m.

Topics ranged from viewing artificial intelligence from an equity standpoint and restorative justive practices to dyslexia support and a student-led equity and action panel.

Community English teacher Mrs. Ashley Durdan-Levy said the gathering delivered timely training.

“It was a great opportunity for Unit 5 staff to all come together in one place,” Durdan-Levy said. “The summit itself was full of relevant information.”

Durdan-Levy said seeing district leaders step in as instructors stood out.

“To be at this summit and see [leaders] be teachers for a day—that’s so powerful,” Durdan-Levy said, adding that she hopes the district continues the event with expanded instructional strategies and more time for staff collaboration.

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Mr. Brad Bovenkerk

Staff enters Normal West for Unit 5’s all-level institute day. The district employs about 1,650 full- and part-time staff serving 13,000 students across 23 schools. That staff, Community English teacher Mrs. Ashley Dudan-Levy said, “rarely” comes together.

Additional reporting by Rex Rowley, Payton Newton and Micah Drengwitz