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District celebrates Blue Ribbon award and highlights Horace Mann early‑childhood program improvements
Summary
Cook County SD 130 recognized early‑childhood staff for a Blue Ribbon Parents as Teachers award and Horace Mann principal described inclusive pre‑K programming, expanded playground accessibility and family engagement plans.
Cook County School District 130 highlighted early‑childhood achievements and staff recognitions at its Nov. 4 meeting, including a Blue Ribbon designation from the Parents as Teachers affiliate and program improvements at Horace Mann school.
Alma Tano, director of early childhood, said the district team attended the Parents as Teachers international conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, participated in more than 40 sessions and met 90% of the program's 81 quality standards. "We met at 90%," Tano said, noting the Blue Ribbon Award recognizes program fidelity to the model.
Horace Mann's principal described a half‑day program that serves roughly 200 students across blended and special‑education classrooms, emphasizing social‑emotional learning, trauma‑informed practices, co‑regulation with adults, and family engagement through initiatives such as Honeybee University. The school added shaded playground areas, accessible surfacing to improve mobility access, a communication board for nonverbal students and sensory walls in the gym to support regulation.
Students from the district student advisory board presented monthly awards for responsibility, kindness, respect and leadership; the board announced another student award presentation is planned for December.
The recognitions emphasize the district's focus on inclusive early‑childhood services and building family partnerships; staff said they will continue to share outcomes from parent engagement efforts and program expansions.
