East Aurora School District 131 showcased its Adventures program inside the newly renovated Aries “Jaybird” Gonzales Child Center in Aurora this week.
District 131 Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Norrell said the new program will help address learning issues “for those where the regular classroom setting is not a good fit” for those students. The Monday open house featured tours, refreshments, and the opportunity to interview staff.
“It’s special because we have kids where one size does not fit all for our classroom nowadays, and at least we’re giving kids that don’t thrive or don’t come in with all the tools that are needed a chance to succeed because everything is not equal in terms of readiness for school,” Norrell said.
For many schools, Norrell said the option is to “outsource a child” which she said adds to the national problem of “over-identification.”
“Sometimes, we have to slow down and put the tools and resources in place at a younger age so we don’t have kids we’re trying to force a disruptive behavior label on when they get to middle school or high school,” she said. “For me, it’s a beautiful space but the real joy in this is that we have the chance to change the trajectory for a lot of young people before they get the label.”
The K-5 program at 1480 Reckinger Road is for kids who are not meeting with success in their classroom within any of the district’s elementary schools and will allow the district “to be a little more therapeutic in its approach to buy into school and learning.”
Norrell said the facility will be manned by a staff including an administrator and six teachers as well as a yoga instructor and staff that work with the district’s therapy dog, Vuolo. There will also be a counselor and lunch servers.
Maximum student population will be 15 to 18 students in each class, making it a junior-sized elementary school in its own right.
Norrell said she learned that having the special school was a priority among staff from the moment she became superintendent.
“We’ve always had this for grades 6-12, but we’ve never had this for elementary kids,” she said. “When I first came to the district and was visiting classes – when I talked to elementary teachers – the number one consistent theme in terms of their frustration was that there is really nothing for kids with these issues to do. We had some pretty serious cases where our children were not special education, were not on IEP, but were causing a disruption to the learning environment for everybody. I was upset that my only option was an outplace school that took non-IEP students. I thought – let’s just do it ourselves.”
Monday’s open house was jam-packed with guests that included Aurora’s new Chief of Police Keith Cross as well as District 8 Kane County Board Member Michelle Gumz who said she “was super excited to be invited.”
“I think building and grounds did a fantastic job cleaning this up and walking through – it’s going to be so great for the kids. The sensory things in each of the rooms are amazing and I’ve already decided I want to play on the equipment outside,” she said.
Staff member Amanda Arshad said she would be teaching K-5 physical education, yoga, and mindfulness. And, while her curriculum is unique, it will help teach students to self-regulate, she said.
“We’re teaching students to be mindful of their intentions and notice their own breath – what they are feeling and take stock in that,” she said. “We’re teaching them it’s OK to have these emotions – it’s OK to feel what you’re feeling.”
School principal Stephanie Steinbrecher said she has been in the district for 20 years and taught 4th grade at the Gonzales Child Center before becoming an administrator.
The biggest challenge that lies ahead, she said, is teaching those on the outside who don’t understand the school’s purpose and focus.
“I feel we’re very supported and very well set up for success as we have a very high functioning team who believes in the adventure,” she said. “We have a deep understanding that in order for students to achieve academically – they need a solid foundation in social-emotional learning and self-regulation. People on the outside who don’t have that same understanding – might not understand the work we are doing here. Once we build that solid foundation – our academics are going to soar.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.
