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Irving Elementary praised for first-grade gains; parent-mentor program adds seven adults
Summary
Irving Elementary reported measurable first-grade growth and introduced a state-funded parent-mentor program that added seven adults to classrooms to support literacy and math.
Irving Elementary School officials told the Berwyn South School District 100 board that first-grade classrooms have shown measurable reading and math growth this year and that a new parent-mentor program has added seven state-funded adults to the school to support instruction.
Principal Marty Stura described Irving's instructional approach, centered on professional learning communities and common assessments, and said the school's Illinois state report card lists it as “commendable.” Stura highlighted first-grade benchmarks: 62% of Irving first graders were at reading benchmark compared with 39% districtwide, and 74% were at benchmark in mathematics compared with 58% districtwide. "When students feel seen and valued, they take risks, they try harder, they grow," Stura said.
Stura described how first-grade teachers Rebecca Stokes and Shauna Tulin use common assessments and MTSS routines to identify gaps, group students by need and deliver targeted interventions. He said the school tracks both unit-level and year-to-year growth and uses that evidence to change instruction immediately.
Stura also introduced a parent-mentor program developed with Youth Crossroads that places trained parents in classrooms for roughly 2½ hours a day, four days a week to support foundational literacy and math instruction and provide a pathway to paraprofessional roles. "Seven more adults helping our kids succeed," Stura said, noting the positions are funded by the state and that the mentors receive training from Youth Crossroads and school staff.
A parent involved in the pilot told the board she appreciated the school's willingness to try the model and to build a training pathway: "Thank you for believing in us," she said. The board and administration invited the teachers and parent mentors to the podium for recognition and photographs.
The district said it plans to continue monitoring outcomes and to consider expanding the parent-mentor model to other schools if results and capacity allow. The spotlight presentation prompted board members to encourage replication of Irving's approaches across the district.
Next steps: the board and administration will continue to track first-grade outcomes and the program's implementation; no formal district-wide policy change was announced at the meeting.
