Our Stories
“Coming to Wagoner is like coming to a Grand Opening!” When a new student told me they felt that way walking into school each day, it stopped me in my tracks and reaffirmed my commitment to making our school community a kind place. As the principal at Wagoner Elementary, I can say that kindness is […]
With the holidays fast approaching, I thought now was the perfect time for us to highlight something we can all celebrate: kindness. In 2017, Stand and other valued partner organizations launched Teach Kindness, a suite of best-in-class social-emotional learning activities, to help schools teach students the skill of kindness. We knew then that social and emotional […]
As Stand for Children Illinois’ Community & Family Partnerships Director, I am thankful for the connections and relationships I have built in the communities that we serve. Also, I feel very strongly that it is my job to share resources with our communities and families. So, it was both a privilege and honor to lead […]
I recently crossed off an item on my to-do list, and I hope you’ll join me by making sure your voice is heard as CPS gathers community feedback on how they measure school quality. This helps the district know what’s working, find and fix things that aren’t, and be transparent with our Chicago community. Add your voice […]
Exactly 66 years ago today, on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her act of courage has inspired countless others to make the world a better and fairer place, including those of us at Stand for […]
“How can I help?” Four magical words that I need to remember to say more often to friends, family, and colleagues. Here’s how six volunteers are helping Stand Illinois fight for educational equity and justice. Perhaps they may spark in you an idea for helping others; these folks definitely inspire me. Melissa Hostetter is a first-grade […]
