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Archives for November 2025

Northern Kane County Region 110 and Alignment Host Landmark Career Pathways Advisory Meeting

2025 Advisory Team meeting - room overview

Over 60 leaders from business and industry across the Fox Valley region volunteered their time and industry expertise to form a Career Pathways Curriculum Review and Advisory Council Model to support School Districts U-46, 300, 301, 303 and Elgin Community College. This unprecedented gathering provided actionable insights into the essential skills and knowledge that should be part of the region’s high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) curricula for the 11 high schools in the region.

Representatives from diverse fields—including Business, Finance, IT, Computer Science, Engineering, Manufacturing, Healthcare, First Responder Services, Law and Public Service, Programming, Communications, Marketing, Graphic Design, and Education—participated in focused discussions to ensure students are prepared for the evolving workforce.

Key Themes and Foundational Skills Needed in Today’s Workforce

Breakout sessions by industry sector revealed several common foundational themes of identified opportunities in today’s entry level workforce that need to be addressed as early as high school to better prepare students for the future workforce. Examples of skills identified across multiple industry clusters included:

  • Professional Skills: Initiative, reliability, and accountability
  • Communication: Strong oral, written, and digital communication skills
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Independent and collaborative approaches
  • Academic Foundations:
    • Mathematics: Algebraic reasoning, spreadsheets, budgets, and statistical data
    • English Language Arts: Oral and written communication, digital literacy, and presentation development
    • Science: Pathway-specific courses such as anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, and health-related sciences
    • AI competency in various applications

A Milestone Event

This was the largest advisory board meeting of its kind, featuring curriculum and work-based learning leaders Dr. Todd Stirn (Northern Kane County Region 110), Joseph Sieczkowski and Jonathan Anderson (District 300), Stephen Buchs (District 301), Dr. Monica Boehle (District 303), and Myka Kennedy (District U-46) as well as numerous educational leaders from Elgin Community College including Dr. Sandra Gonzalez, Dr. Parul Raval, and Dr. Farah Bennani among others. The meeting was facilitated by Regional Director Terry Stroh (Northern Kane County Vocational Region 110) and Executive Director Nancy Coleman (Alignment Collaborative for Education).

“This morning, Northern Kane County Region 110, with the support of our business and community partners, held regional advisory committee meetings simultaneously across more than a dozen industry clusters for all four school districts,” noted Director Stroh. “When we began planning, I hoped for 20–25 business partners to attend. The room was packed with over 60, highlighting the commitment of our partners and the collaboration across districts and industry.”

Thank You to Our Business Community and Postsecondary Partners for a “Win-Win”

“This event highlights the power of collaboration among our school districts, business partners, and education organizations,” said Nancy Coleman, Executive Director of the Alignment Collaborative for Education. “It was Alignment’s honor to bring together such a depth of knowledge and experience to support the region’s school districts. We are strengthening our region’s 11 high schools to deliver academic and career education that is a precursor to preparing students for the future workforce. The investment today will pay for itself as we ensure within a decade a workforce that meets and hopefully exceeds the region’s need for continued economic growth and community prosperity.”

Participating Organizations

  • A-Tec Ambulance
  • Advocate Sherman Hospital
  • Alignment Collaborative for Education
  • AVID CNA School
  • Baird Warner
  • Bartlett Police Department
  • Braden
  • Bucher Hydraulics
  • CCS Technology
  • City of Elgin
  • City of Elgin Fire Department
  • City of Elgin Police Department
  • Elgin Community College
  • Elgin Development Group
  • Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning
  • Explore Elgin Area
  • Gail Borden Public Library
  • Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc.
  • Hanover Park Fire Department
  • Hoffer Plastics, Inc.
  • Howard Sportswear
  • Jeniko Machine Works
  • Junior Achievement- Chicago
  • Kane County Health Department
  • Matrix Design, LLC
  • Northern Illinois University
  • Northern Kane County Region 110
  • Rosati’s
  • School District 300
  • School District 301
  • School District 303
  • School District U-46
  • sitebyMIKE
  • Southern Illinois University
  • Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare Services
  • Village of Bartlett Police Department
  • VNA Health Care
  • Well Child Center
  • Wintrust
  • Wolko Design Group
  • YouthBuild
  • Zurich Insurance

Central Community School District 301 Launches Healthcare Pathway

District 301 interns visit a resident at the Atirum Oak Crest

With the launch of a new Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program, students at Central High School can now earn their CNA certification while still in high school, building a strong foundation for a wide range of healthcare careers responding to the growing demand for skilled medical professionals. Dr. Todd Stirn, retired 301 superintendent and current work based learning specialist for Northern Kane County Region 110, described it best as a rocket launch into healthcare careers.

Stephen Buchs, Director of Curriculum 6–12 and College Partnerships, led the initiative alongside Department Chair Kelly Greene, noting students’ strong and growing interest in healthcare fields. Certified School Nurse Joyce Turnipseed now supervises the clinical coursework and supports students earning dual credit through Elgin Community College (ECC).

“This project has been a long overdue need to provide an option for students with an interest in any future healthcare profession,” said Stephen Buchs. “The investment by the district is minor in comparison to the student lives that will be changed by the pathway, even when it required overcoming challenges surrounding building space, finding licensed instructors, and managing student growth. The work invested by so many people to make the program a success is well worth it. District 301 is proud to stay a student-focused district so that every student today and in the future has access to a variety of careers.”

District 301 Group 1 interns at the Atrium Oak Crest
District 301 Group 1 Interns at the Atrium Oak Crest
District 301 Group 2 interns at the Atrium Oak Crest
District 301 Group 2 Interns at the Atrium Oak Crest

This work could not be done without our business and community partners. The Atrium at Oak Crest is now the clinical rotation site for the 11 CNA students. When asked about the clinical supervision and the partnership with The Atrium, Joyce Turnipseed praised the opportunity for students to transfer “their classroom learning into compassionate care gaining valuable hands-on experience in a real healthcare setting”.

Susan Cincinelli, Executive Director of The Atrium, enthusiastically greeted students the first day of the clinical experience.  “It is a privilege to welcome District 301 CNA students to Oak Crest, where our 122-year tradition of dignity and caring continues to define our mission. Sharing the Oak Crest philosophy with the future leaders of healthcare is a true honor, and we are proud to partner with these dedicated learners—and share our mission-based approach. At Oak Crest, our goal is to continue to move toward an inclusive community where youth and aged people live together and learn from one another; these young people are reminders of what can be accomplished when the barriers of ageism are removed.”

Northern Kane County Region 110 and the Alignment Collaborative for Education applaud Central 301 and The Atrium at Oak Crest for launching this program and creating strong partnerships that connect students with real-world experience. The collaboration between Central 301 and The Atrium at Oak Crest exemplifies how schools and community organizations can work together to develop the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Stephen Buchs and Joyce Turnipseed (301) joined Terry Stroh, Todd Stirn and Nancy Coleman to visit with The Atrium's mother and daughter management team, Susan and Wendy, to finalize plans for District 301's first clinical rotation.
Stephen Buchs and Joyce Turnipseed (301) joined Terry Stroh, Todd Stirn and Nancy Coleman to visit with the Atrium’s mother and daughter management team, Susan and Wendy, to finalize plans for District 301’s first clinical rotation.

Karen Fox receives “Volunteer Extraordinaire” Elgin Image Award

The Alignment Collaborative for Education had the distinct pleasure of nominating Karen Fox for the “Volunteer Extraordinaire” Elgin Image Award. As a Governing Board member and community leader, Karen has been instrumental in providing support to students and families throughout School District U-46. Having served as a teacher and educator for over 35 years, Karen has shaped decades of students for future success.

Karen’s contributions to the community are not just limited to education. Examples of that leadership include guiding the community’s Census 2020 campaign, assisting U-46 with its latest successful referendum, serving as president of the Gail Borden Public Library Foundation as well as assisting Alignment with the implementation of the Elgin Neighborhood Network with United Way Metro Chicago.

Karen’s legacy is defined by her “contagious spirit of service” quietly encouraging and championing what is best for Elgin, its students and their families. Her nomination read “When Karen Fox is at the table, great things happen.” Thank you to the Elgin Development Group for selecting Karen for this award. All of Elgin will agree that no one deserves it more!