Evergreen Park student support services outlines SEL curriculum, resource hub, neurodiversity week and Special Olympics

In a district webinar, Rebecca Terrell, director of student support services for Evergreen Park ESD 124, summarized current programs and next steps for the department, including a community resource mapping project, expanded social-emotional learning (SEL) work and plans for a neurodiversity spirit week and Special Olympics culminating event.

Terrell said the department is organizing a district community leadership team that now includes school and community partners and is finishing a needs assessment to produce a centralized resource directory for families. “We put that needs assessment out there... we’re doing what’s called resource mapping,” Terrell said, describing work to list academic supports, parenting-education classes, mental-health resources, housing assistance and food assistance and to determine where that information will be hosted and how it will be kept current.

The resource guide is in draft form; Terrell said the group will discuss how it will be organized and disseminated at the next DCLT meeting in April. The district already hosts some links on its website and distributes flyers and QR codes at district offices and buildings; Terrell said the goal is a single hub accessible to staff, families and partner organizations.

Terrell outlined the department’s SEL and positive-behavior work: the district uses a PBIS framework across buildings, uses the Second Step curriculum K–8, and piloted Capturing Kids’ Hearts in two elementary schools. The district conducts SEL screeners twice a year in K–8; teachers complete fall and spring screeners to identify students who need individual or group supports or additional teacher coaching. “We ask all of our teachers to do it on their students for the fall and spring,” Terrell said.

The district added a sixth-grade “Lead Worthy” course this year, tied to Capturing Kids’ Hearts, to teach leadership, self-image, confidence and relationship skills within rotating specials. Terrell also highlighted a partnership with the Center for Self Actualization, which provides counselors in district buildings and delivers crisis support and staff professional development.

On family mental-health supports, Terrell said Evergreen Park has partnered with parentguidance.org to offer free, confidential parent coaching and an on-demand library of webinars and articles. “They offer a variety of things. First and foremost, they offer parent coaching... It is all free to parents,” she said. ParentGuidance provides monthly live “Ask a Therapist” sessions and evening webinars in English and Spanish on topics including anxiety, depression, vaping and screen time; the district communicates availability through district and building channels.

Terrell described inclusive events coming this spring: the district will hold a neurodiversity spirit week the week before its Special Olympics culminating event to provide lessons and activities about inclusion. The district shifted the spirit week to the week of May 19–23 so it directly precedes the Special Olympics, which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27. The Special Olympics event will include about 60 athletes ages 6–12 and roughly 20 volunteers across buildings; practices are underway.

Finally, Terrell said the district has reintroduced a Special Education Family Advisory Council (SEFAC). The group met twice so far, has chosen the name Special Education Family Advisory Council and plans to meet again on May 14; Terrell said organizers plan quarterly meetings next year that combine networking and speaker events and will publicize dates at the start of the school year.

For program details, screening schedules and materials, Terrell directed listeners to the district website at g124.org and to building-level communications and posted flyers.