Regional Meeting for Northern Illinois Leadership Communities
Members from our northern Illinois Leadership Communities, please join us for a virtual regional meeting to continue building a shared sense of purpose and goals.
Recommendations for the New State Attainment Working Group
On March 13, Governor Pritzker signed an executive order establishing an interagency working group to develop a new statewide postsecondary attainment goal for 2040 that focuses on credentials of value and economic mobility for Illinoisans. This builds on more than 15 years of work to drive toward the state’s previous goal of 60% postsecondary attainment […]
Vermilion County Career Blitz Connects Students with Local Careers
More than 200 high school freshmen recently participated in the Vermilion County Career Blitz, an interactive career exploration event held at the Danville High School Field House. Students from nine school districts rotated through hands-on stations hosted by regional employers and organizations representing industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, engineering, technology, education, and public service. […]
Legislative Tour Features Student Speakers in Southern Illinois
State legislators, SI Now executive director, students, ISBE and DCEO staff, along with regional leaders visited career and educational programs affiliated with Vienna High School and Five County Regional Vocational, as part of a Southern Illinois legislative tour focused on workforce development, career and technical education (CTE), the return on investment relating to evidence based […]
Incoming Freshmen CTE Day
Vienna High School welcomed eighth-grade students from its feeder schools, Buncombe Grade School, Cypress Grade School, Dongola, New Simpson Hill, and Vienna Grade School, for its 2026 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Day. The event invited incoming freshmen and other students considering enrollment at Vienna High School for the 2026–27 school year to explore the […]
Shawnee College CTE Day
In February 2026, Vienna sophomores had the opportunity to attend the Career Technical Education Day at Shawnee Community College. Students were introduced to numerous career education opportunities available at Shawnee. “As they came back to school, many students were excited about potential career opportunities and spoke with excitement about their experience,” said Vienna’s Director of […]
Vienna Students Earn Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification
Students in Mrs. Leslie Bradley’s Education class at Vienna High School recently completed their Youth Mental Health First Aid certification, gaining skills that will serve them well in future careers, centered on helping others. The certification was made possible through instruction from Arrowleaf professionals, Emily Middleton and Fallon Mills, who guided students through training focused […]
District 214 Hosts Annual Robot Rumble
Hundreds of students came together at Elk Grove High School for District 214’s annual Robot Rumble. The two-day event featured 43 student-built robots from 15 schools competing head-to-head in a high-energy showcase of innovation and teamwork. Behind every match were months of preparation. Students designed, welded, wired and programmed their robots from the ground up, […]
Barrington High School Hosts 2026 Career Pathway Summit
Barrington High School recently hosted its 2026 Career Pathway Summit, bringing together students, educators, and industry professionals to strengthen connections between classroom learning and real-world careers. The event began with a networking lunch followed by a “State of the Pathways” presentation highlighting the school’s expanding career pathway programs and partnerships. Participants then joined breakout advisory […]
Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Pilots Program with 8th Graders
The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce offers a Certificate of Employability program and visits local high school classrooms to walk students through a five-session course. This spring, they launched a pilot with Morrison Jr High School, engaging 8th-grade students in discussions about soft skills and career exploration.