Speed SEJA District #802

Congratulations to the Program for Adaptive Learning staff of the month for February!

Nicole Jackson
Iron Gantan
Alease Prude

Congratulations to the Academy for Lifelong Learning staff of the month for February 2026 - Linda Love-Robinson!

Selected students of IES that are on the higher academic & behavioral levels, were taken on a special trip to CLIMB ON in Flossmoor on Tuesday. Rock climbing connects to SEL by teaching students' perseverance, self-regulation, and problem-solving as they navigate challenges one hold at a time. It also builds trust, communication, and confidence as students support one another and reflect on their strengths and growth. We had a wonderful time creating this experience for our students. Thanks Ms. Hillis and the owners of Climb On- https://www.climbonrockgym.com/.

Congratulations to Independence Elementary Staff of the Month for January 2026!

Hannah Kelly
Rick Garren
Sherri Flowers

Congratulations to the Early Learning Center Staff of the Month for January 2026!

Edgar Austero
Keith Denton
Tremia Davis

Congratulations to the Program for Adaptive Learning (PAL) Staff of the month of January!

Cleofe Gutana
Laura Zomparelli
Aryss Gayden

This month, we proudly celebrate Mr. Timothy Perry! Although this is Mr. Perry’s first year at the Academy, he has quickly become an integral part of our school family. His calm and patient demeanor has brought a sense of peace and stability to our students and staff alike. Mr. Perry demonstrates a deep understanding of the needs of our Transition students and works diligently to support them in reaching their personal and vocational goals. His positive attitude and commitment to student success truly reflect the spirit of the Academy.

Independence Elmentary School (IES): Staff & Student of the Month-October

IES celebrates our staff and students of the month that have shown RESPECT: meaning treating others with kindness and consideration. These winners were selected by their peers because they are always respectful to others, and they create a positive environment where everyone feels heard and appreciated. Congratulations to Mr. Holmes, Mrs. White, and Eric Nelson

SPEED is kicking off Spirit Week and the Independence Elementary Staff are looking fresh in their school shirts!

Check out Independece Elementary School's October Activities!

Halloween Parade:
To wrap up the month, we enjoyed our annual Halloween Parade, filled with fun costumes and smiles, and cheered on our athletes during flag football games.


Speed 802 Petting Zoo:
A special highlight was our student petting zoo, which provided hands-on, sensory experiences that connected beautifully with our SPED students’ learning goals. The joy and engagement on their faces reminded us of the power of interactive, inclusive learning moments that reach every child.

Congratulations to the Early Learning Center staff of the month for November 2025!

Teacher - Reiden Guarin
Paraprofessional - Angola McRae
Related Service Provider - Debbie Kuhnhoffer

Congratulations to the Early Learning Center staff of the month for October 2025!

Teacher - Trziah Avenido
Paraprofessional - Briana Solis
Related Service Provider - Craig Madsen

Congratulations to the Early Learning Center staff of the month for September 2025!

Teacher - Thea Trenuela
Paraprofessional - Tanya Ethridge
Related Service Provider - Cindy Revis

Congratulations to the Program for Adaptive Learning (PAL) Staff of the month of November!

Gloria Jackson
Steve Zomparelli
Travaun Whittaker

Our Book Blast event was a huge success! Students had a great time exploring new stories and celebrating the joy of reading together. Their smiles said it all—reading is fun! Thank you so much to the Books Are Fun organization for collaborating with us and all of the family and friends that donated to students!

We are excited to present our Hispanic Heritage Month Assembly a few weeks ago, a vibrant celebration of culture, history, and community. Our neighbors from Southland College Prep students came to teach our students about Hispanic music, dance, hats, stories and overall culture—it was both meaningful and engaging for our students. We can't thank Southland College Prep enough for visiting our school!

Is your child interested in athletics? Our Young Athletes program services students age 2 - 7. Check out the flyer for more information.

Congratulations to the Program for Adaptive Learning (PAL) Staff of the month of October!

Xylena Ramirez
Lori Hilliker
Regina Harden

Are you interested in getting your child involved in Special Olympics? Our award winning team would love to have your student participate in our program! Please fill out the interest form by clicking the link.

https://forms.gle/v5dNfD75m6nL6Q5L8

Our Book Blast may be coming to an end, but the excitement doesn’t stop here! We look forward to continuing to celebrate our amazing winners and their love for reading. Students Lawrence Pinkston, Lily Morenzoni, and Julius Banks were this week's winners. Sweet Julius wanted to share his winning with his teacher ♥️.