Welcome to the Flossmoor Hills team! Beginning on July 1, 2024, Ms. Abby Girard will join the Flossmoor Hills administrative team as the assistant principal. Ms. Abby Girard brings six [6] years of administrative experience to Flossmoor School District 161. She has served as an Associate Principal, Student Services Coordinator, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports [MTSS] Coordinator. Her experience with Pre-Kindergarten and Early Intervention Programming, Special Education, and leading teams will be valuable to our District and to Flossmoor Hills Elementary School. Ms. Girard earned a Master of Arts in Education Administration and a Chief School Business Official [CSBO] Endorsement from Governors State University.
Please welcome Ms. Abby Girard to the Flossmoor Hills administrative team. Beginning on July 1, 2024, Ms. Girard will Ms. Girard brings six [6] years of administrative experience to Flossmoor School District 161. She has served as an Associate Principal, Student Services Coordinator, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports [MTSS] Coordinator. Her experience with Pre-Kindergarten and Early Intervention Programming, Special Education, and leading teams will be valuable to our District and to Flossmoor Hills Elementary School. Ms. Girard earned a Master of Arts in Education Administration and a Chief School Business Official [CSBO] Endorsement from Governors State University.
The Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education is pleased to announce the assistant principal selections including Abby Girard at Flossmoor Hills School, Cameron Small at Heather Hill School, and Laura De Biasio at Serena Hills School beginning on July 1, 2024. The Assistant Principal positions are new positions for the 2024-25 school year. Out of an initial pool of 39 candidates, the interview committee screened 16 applicants in Round 1 before moving forward with 8 candidates for Round 2, and 4 finalists for Round 3. The different interview committees included administrators, teachers, and staff. The selected candidates were approved at the Board of Education meeting on February 19.
Assistant Principal responsibilities will include leading teachers in improving instruction, facilitating Special Education meetings, communicating with families, evaluating staff, supervising students, and managing daily routines and procedures. The Assistant Principals will promote the educational well-being of each student in the school and will support the District’s academic and behavioral expectations.
With regard to the appointment of the new assistant principals, District 161 Superintendent, Dr. Dana Smith, stated, “Ms. De Biasio, Ms. Girard, and Mr. Small will make an immediate impact in District 161 because of their shared focus on creating great learning experiences for children. I am excited for their contributions to our school district and the success that will follow.”
Mr. Cameron Small is currently a Dean of Students at Parker Junior High School. Mr. Small spent 15 years as a Health teacher before being hired by District 161. Mr. Small has great experience in building relationships with students and families and promoting a collaborative school culture. He has experience in coaching students in a variety of sports including basketball, volleyball, and track. Mr. Small earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Concordia University.
Ms. Abby Girard brings six [6] years of administrative experience to Flossmoor School District 161. She has served as an Associate Principal, Student Services Coordinator, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports [MTSS] Coordinator. Her experience with Pre-Kindergarten and Early Intervention Programming, Special Education, and leading teams will be valuable to our District and to Flossmoor Hills Elementary School. Ms. Girard earned a Master of Arts in Education Administration and a Chief School Business Official [CSBO] Endorsement from Governors State University.
Ms. Laura De Biasio has spent the past 5 years in District 161 as a Special Education teacher. Prior to being employed in District 161, Ms. DeBiasio taught in therapeutic day schools. She has extensive knowledge in how to scaffold learning to meet the needs of all students. In addition, Ms. De Biasio has served as a school mentor, cooperating teacher for local University students, and has served as a leader on multiple building level committees. She has her Learning Behavior Specialist 1 Endorsement and earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.
District 161’s Board of Education President, Dr. Carolyn Griggs, stated, The Board of Education is thrilled about the addition of the assistant principal positions at the elementary schools. There were many great candidates and these individuals were selected based on their strengths and the needs at each school. Ms. Girard, Mr. Small, and Ms. De Biasio are excellent additions to the District 161 administrative team.”
The Illinois State Board of Education has presented the Those Who Excel program since 1970 to commend educators who have made noteworthy contributions to our elementary and junior high schools. School District 161 proudly announces 9 honorees across four categories. Congratulations to all!
• Dr. Gina Isabelli, Principal of Western Avenue School, is celebrated with the Special Recognition Award.
• Gayle Dickerson, Student Support Personnel at Flossmoor Hills Elementary School, is acknowledged with the Meritorious Service Award.
• Lesa Waishwell, a Western Avenue Elementary School teacher, is honored with the Special Recognition Award.
• The Instructional Coaching Team from all buildings is recognized with the Meritorious Service Award. This team includes Nancy Larocca, Jennifer McLean, Amy Gehrt, Christina Bollenbacher, Tiffaney Washington, Stephanie Levy, and Alyssa Zajack (not pictured)
Congratulations to all the recipients for their exceptional achievements!
• Dr. Gina Isabelli, Principal of Western Avenue School, is celebrated with the Special Recognition Award.
• Lesa Waishwell, a Western Avenue Elementary School teacher, is honored with the Special Recognition Award.
• Gayle Dickerson, Student Support Personnel at Flossmoor Hills Elementary School, is acknowledged with the Meritorious Service Award.
• The Instructional Coaching Team from all buildings is recognized with the Meritorious Service Award. This team includes Nancy Larocca, Jennifer McLean, Amy Gehrt, Christina Bollenbacher, Tiffaney Washington, and Stephanie Levy.
Congratulations to all the recipients for their exceptional achievements!
Flossmoor School District 161 will join the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in the
eleventh statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions. The survey provides a
unique opportunity for students, teachers, and parents to have a voice in improving their
schools. From January 30, 2024, through March 29, 2024, students and teachers will be asked
to take a 30-minute research-based survey to help identify strengths and weaknesses in their
school’s learning environment. The parent survey supplement will also be administered during
the same survey window. These surveys will serve as an opportunity for schools to reflect on
progress since the last statewide implementation.
https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois/5e/2023/
Thank you for your participation!
Meet the cast of Toy Camp the musical! This act is coming to Flossmoor Hills in the spring under the direction of Mr. Burke and Ms. Davis. Congratulations to all our thespians! We can't wait to see you on stage.
We 100 days SMARTER!!
Congratulations to our 1st Place winner in the district spelling bee tonight! We are so proud of you for your hard work! This top speller will go on to represent Flossmoor Hills and the district at the regional spelling bee in March!
We are so proud of our 5th grade students for representing Flossmoor Hills this evening in the district spelling bee! Thank you to Mrs. Thompson, our ACE teacher for preparing our students to compete!
Good luck to all students participating in the Flossmoor School District 161 District Spelling Bee.
Tonight! 6 pm
Hosted at Parker Junior High
G-O-O-D-L-U-C-K
Students in art class are developing their skills and techniques while working on their architecture fantasy villages. They have been learning about lines, texture and using color.
Congratulations to our music teacher, Mr. Burke and our 5th grade students for participating in the Illinois Music Education Conference on Saturday. Our 5th graders participated in the all state chorus with talented students from across the state. We are so proud of you both!
Kudos to our 5th grade reading mentors! They partnered with kindergarten to help them read picture books.
The FH Principal Advisory Council met with Dr. Smith and had a very productive discussion! They gave Dr. Smith advice on after school activities, playgrounds and other school ideas!
Check out these fourth grade students using reciprocal teaching strategies to engage in discussion around the text and create their own high level questions!
Cookies and math fun! These third graders are mastering division using the book, The Doorbell Rang. They were tasked with dividing cookies to share and write equations.
Tonight’s Parent University focusing on Maintaining Strong Connections will now be taking place via Zoom. Please follow the link below to attend. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9583817339?pwd=ZnFmVXVkSE5vMVJzNmVQQUJWWGRydz09
Thank you to everyone that came out for MLK Day of Service! We made cards of encouragement to support the veterans at Manteno Veterans Home!
FH students writing down their visions, goals and dreams! #dreamlikeMartin
