Program awarded recognition in its first year from ExceleRate Illinois
When Maercker D60 announced the new section of preschool, known as Preschool for All (PFA), there was a lot of excitement in the community. Not just because it is completely grant-funded, but because it is dedicated to giving children who may not otherwise have access to a high-quality preschool option a way to get connected with passionate teachers and a supportive school community.
Director of Student Services Maureen Kidd says the district completed a proposal for the PFA grant two years ago with the award coming in time for the classroom to open for the 2024-25 school year. Like all preschool programs in the state, the Illinois State Board of Education reviews and monitors programs through ExceleRate Illinois, the state’s quality recognition and improvement system for early learning and development programs.
“There are two tools that the state uses to monitor the programs including a site visit and a tool that looks at the quality of interactions between adults and students,” said Kidd. “They look at how adults model language and early literacy and numeracy skills, but also look at the quality of the learning environment and what kind of materials and supports the students have access to.”
First-year teacher Amanda Laurinec was hired to teach in the program and quickly joined the Early Childhood team in their work. As a new teacher, she had access to the district’s mentorship program and was able to seek support from Kidd and the rest of the teachers throughout the year as they prepared for the upcoming review, which would take place during a three-week window.
By the time of the review, Laurinec had established a strong classroom community with her students, who were used to the flow of the school day and were connecting with respect and kindness. It’s a good thing too, because the one day she was unable to be in class because of illness was the day the monitor arrived.
“I spent the whole school year making sure that I was creating the best environment for the students, from wanting to reflect their cultures and languages while being fun and supportive to all learners,” said Laurinec. “So having someone here even on a day that I wasn’t here, still seeing that everything was working felt great and that the work we put in was seen.”
Thanks to some pinch-hitting on the day from teacher Elizabeth Jason and having the room and overall structure of the program well established by then, the program achieved a Silver Circle of Quality, a huge achievement for both a first-year program and a new teacher.
“The nice thing about the Silver Circle is that it affirms the level of hard work that our staff has engaged in with a very short amount of time,” said Kidd. “It really speaks highly to the level of mentoring that Amanda has gotten from our three seasoned early childhood teachers. They are really amazing at collaborating and supporting each other!”
According to ExceleRate Illinois, Silver Circle programs meet or exceed specific quality benchmarks on learning environment and instructional quality, along with selected administrative standards, qualifications, and professional development. For Laurinec and the rest of the early childhood team, this is the kind of environment they strive to build every day.
“Preschool is such a special place,” said Laurinec. “It’s where you can see a student go from uncertain to confident in just a few days, and it's incredible how quickly they become leaders, problem-solvers, and kind classmates. The daily interactions, routines, and relationships help lay the foundation for future success in such meaningful ways.”
The district will continue to reapply for the grant each year, and funding will support teacher pay as well as mental health supports for families. This includes a dedicated PFA Social Worker and other ways to help families struggling with poverty, homelessness, and other challenges. The 2024-25 school year also marked the fullest the district’s preschool classes have been, with 56 students moving from PreK to kindergarten, and where teachers are amazed at how well-prepared and confident the students are.
“Our team collaborates really well,” said Kidd. “They all have very similar classroom setups, follow similar routines, design lessons together, plan together, and work closely with their instructional assistants to create an outstanding environment for kids.”
For the 2025-26 school year, all four early childhood classrooms are full of students who are excited about learning and growing together through three different programs. The students who returned from last year have stepped up as leaders, and they are enjoying exploring new curriculum and learning thanks to a two-year cycle that switches up units. In one of Laurinec’s classes, she has 18 students who speak 15 different languages at home, a reminder of the importance and impact of a program like Preschool For All.
Students start every day with affirmations like “I am awesome, you are awesome. I am kind, you are kind. I am smart, you are smart,” so for students who are new to English, the first repeated phrases they are learning are words of affirmation. The growth and development of these young learners is something that the teachers never get tired of seeing.
“The impact of getting students into the classroom cannot be overstated,” said Laurinec. “The daily interactions, routines, and relationships help lay the foundation for future success in such meaningful ways. The amount of growth that happens in such a short amount of time is something I will never stop being amazed by. I am so thankful to be part of a school that values connection, collaboration, and care!”
Students can join the preschool program later in the year after they have turned three. To learn more about the Preschool Programs offered at Maercker D60 and submit a preschool application, visit our website.
Interested in current year or next year enrollment? Submit an application!