The Elmhurst School District 205 Board of Education convened on September 23, 2025, to discuss significant advancements in the district's learning environments, emphasizing the importance of fostering a supportive atmosphere for students. The meeting featured presentations from two school leaders, Principal Calissa Smith of Lincoln Elementary and Principal Jackie Decipio of Bryan Middle School, who shared their schools' initiatives aimed at enhancing student engagement and emotional well-being.

Principal Smith highlighted Lincoln Elementary's commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment where every student feels a sense of belonging. She detailed the school's implementation of "pride values," which are actively taught and celebrated across all grades. Key initiatives include the establishment of "calm corners" in classrooms for emotional regulation, the introduction of "grade level buddies" to foster cross-grade friendships, and partnerships with the PTA to expand extracurricular offerings. Smith reported impressive student feedback, with 99% feeling safe with their teachers and significant academic gains reflected in standardized test scores.

Following Smith, Principal Decipio presented Bryan Middle School's strategic focus on building trust between students and teachers, a priority identified through student survey data. The school has revived its student advisory committee to gather insights on trust and has implemented tailored strategies by teachers to enhance relationships within their content areas. Decipio emphasized the importance of trust in student engagement and shared that the school has conducted learning environment walks to assess and improve trust-building practices in classrooms.

The discussions underscored the district's ongoing commitment to continuous improvement in educational environments, aligning with its mission to educate, engage, and empower students. As the school year progresses, both schools aim to build on their successes and further enhance the learning experiences for all students. The board's focus on these initiatives reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that every child in the district has the opportunity to thrive academically and socially.