By mid-May, representatives of BWP Associates will be giving District 161 school board members a look at candidates for the superintendent’s position. Superintendent Dana Smith announced to the board in February that he would be stepping down after nine years with the district. He has been named superintendent for Community[Read More…]
Education
Flossmoor School District 161 schools earn national recognition for building culture of belonging
Flossmoor School District 161 announced on Tuesday, April 28, that Flossmoor Hills Elementary School and Serena Hills Elementary School have both been named 2025–2026 Capturing Kids’ Hearts® National Showcase Schools. The national recognition highlights each school’s intentional focus on relationships, student engagement and creating a positive learning environment. Under the[Read More…]
Associate principal, 2 administrators appointed at H-F
The District 233 school board created a new associate principal position and appointed two new administrators at its April 21 meeting. Brian Garland will be associate principal for strategic initiatives, a newly created position. He currently is Math Department Lead. Garland joins Assistant Principal Jim Schmidt and Associate Principal Craig[Read More…]
H-F looks to start agriculture, natural resources program
The District 233 school board took the first step on April 21 to start an agriculture, food and natural resources (AFNR) pathway that will give students coursework on all things that are impacted by farming. The board gave its approval for administrators to file for three grants that can partially[Read More…]
Two H-F students receive HSC’s Aesha Jackson Award
An award honoring the memory of Aesha Jackson, an engineer who was passionate about opening the world of STEAM to young people, has been awarded to two Homewood-Flossmoor High School students. The Aesha Jackson STEM Leader Award was presented by the Homewood Science Center to Annie Ford and Janell Robertson[Read More…]
District 153 school board approves tenure for 19 teachers
The District 153 school board on April 13 approved tenure for 19 teachers and certified staff using the Illinois State Board of Education guidance. Tenure is awarded to those who have received high ratings in their classroom work. The state recently changed the tenure rules reducing the time from four[Read More…]
Hart School honor society inducts 43 new members
The James Hart School chapter of the National Junior Honor Society conducted an induction ceremony on Monday, April 13, for 43 new members. The students worked to fulfill the five pillars of NJHS: scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship. Superintendent Scott McAlister said the seventh and eighth graders “represent everything[Read More…]
H-F’s Reynoso awarded 4-year Posse Scholarship
Homewood-Flossmoor High School senior Anthony Reynoso is a 2026 Posse Scholarship winner. Reynoso was awarded a four-year scholarship by the Posse Foundation. He will be attending Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. He is excited about his upcoming visit to campus. Reynoso was selected for the merit-based scholarship based on[Read More…]
Girls learn about science careers during STEAM event at Net Zero building
Students gathered around tables, working to build the longest bridge they could using popsicle sticks and wooden blocks as part of an engineering challenge. The activity was one of several hands-on sessions during the Girls STEAM Celebration at Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s Net Zero Science Building. Nearly 100 students from James[Read More…]
Efforts of Churchill School students raises $26,000 for PTA
The gym at Churchill School filled with joy and laughter as kids ran in circles, music blaring. It’s Glow Run! Classrooms cycled through the gym all school day on Friday, April 10. Each of the 27 classrooms got about a 30-minute Glow Run session. The gym lights are out. Colored[Read More…]


