Building Bright Futures, One Child at a Time

The Kankakee School District 111 Early Childhood Education Program currently has open enrollment slots available for qualifying families. We encourage parents and guardians to apply today and give their children the strong foundation they deserve for lifelong learning and success. We have various programs, and we serve children and families from birth to 5. Please call 815-802-4966 for assistance. 

While the recent government shutdown discussions have caused uncertainty across many federally funded programs, please know that our Early Childhood operations remain stable. I am in constant communication with our Head Start Grantee Specialist, and to date, we have not experienced any challenges with our monthly grant drawdowns. According to the Illinois Head Start Association (IHSA), the National Head Start Association (NHSA), and federal government officials, there are no anticipated disruptions expected for our program at this time.

We continue to advocate for sustained investment in early learning, ensuring that every child in Kankakee has access to high-quality education, family support, and opportunities to thrive.

“Early childhood education is the key to the betterment of society.” — Maria Montessori

Together, we are building bright futures, one child at a time—because every strong start creates a lifetime of success.

Each year, students who are learning English take part in an assessment called ACCESS for ELLs—which stands for Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State. This test helps teachers, schools, and families understand how well students are developing their English language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

ACCESS isn’t about passing or failing—it’s about measuring growth. Just like we track how students improve in math or reading, ACCESS shows how English learners are progressing in their ability to understand and use English in academic settings. The results help teachers plan lessons that meet each student’s language needs and ensure that every learner receives the right kind of support.

Students in Kindergarten through 12th grade who have been identified as English Learners take the ACCESS assessment once a year, usually in the winter months. Younger students take the test on paper, while most older students complete it on a computer.

The test covers four areas:

After testing, families receive a report showing their child’s English proficiency level, from Level 1 (Entering) to Level 6 (Reaching). These levels help teachers and parents see how a student’s English skills are developing over time. When a student reaches a high enough level, it may indicate they’re ready to transition out of English language support services.

Families play an important role in supporting their child’s language growth. Encouraging students to read, write, and speak in English at home—while continuing to value and use their home language—can make a big difference. Staying connected with teachers and celebrating progress, big or small, helps build confidence and motivation.

The ACCESS assessment is one of the many ways schools and families work together to make sure English Learners have every opportunity to succeed. By understanding each student’s strengths and needs, we can continue to build classrooms where every language and culture is valued, and every student has the tools to thrive.

The Maintenance Department is staffed by 48 full-time custodians, 8 skilled maintenance workers, and 3 groundsmen. Our team has already begun preparing for winter by ensuring that roofs and gutters are clear of leaves and debris. Boilers have been inspected, and all equipment is ready for when the snow begins to fall.

Our top priority is to ensure that students, staff, and community members remain safe when entering and leaving any of our 11 school buildings.

Winter Weather Preparedness: Stay Safe and Ready

Protect People, Pets, Plants, Pipes, and Practice Fire Safety.

Keep everyone warm, safeguard pets, insulate pipes, cover plants, and always practice fire safety.

Even with today’s technology, we can’t always predict when extreme winter weather will strike. Cold, ice, sleet, and snow can be dangerous for students, faculty, and buildings alike.

Follow these tips to stay safe and prevent damage during winter conditions:

Our Health Services Department is proud to share an incredible achievement — 97.4% of KSD 111 students are medically compliant!

This milestone reflects the hard work and collaboration of our families, nurses, and staff who ensure that students are healthy, safe, and ready to learn each day. Thank you for helping us make student wellness a top priority!

Here’s how each school did:

As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, we’re excited to welcome a new season — and a new menu — in our cafeterias! Beginning November 1st, our Fall/Winter Menu will debut across the district, bringing cozy, seasonal favorites for both students and staff to enjoy.

This season also gives us the chance to explore Nutraplanet, our exciting cafeteria experience that makes lunchtime not only delicious but also educational and entertaining for our students.

And what’s fall without a little Thanksgiving cheer? On November 20th, we’ll be serving up a special Thanksgiving meal — complete with turkey, dressing, and all the classic fixings — a comforting taste of home right here at school.

Great things are happening at Kankakee School District 111 as we invest in both the curriculum and culture of our schools! Our focus ensures every student benefits from high-quality instruction and a supportive, positive school environment.

To ensure our students receive the highest quality education possible, we partnered with Curriculum Management Solutions, Inc. (CMSi) to conduct a comprehensive audit of our entire educational program. This detailed and independent review was designed to provide specific feedback regarding the strengths and weaknesses in the structures and processes associated with the design and delivery of curriculum across our system.

The audit was truly extensive, involving a deep document review, district-wide surveys, and numerous focus groups and interviews with a wide range of stakeholders, including staff, board members, students, and families. CMSi also conducted classroom observations, reviewed curriculum materials, student work samples, and held interviews with principals and teachers across our schools. We extend a huge thank you to everyone who participated; your candid and thoughtful feedback is crucial. This independent analysis will now guide us in making strategic, data-driven changes that will directly improve student learning and boost achievement in every classroom and on every campus.

A comprehensive report will be shared at our December school board meeting. 

We are also continuing our work with Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH), a nationally recognized framework focused on creating emotionally safe, high-performing classrooms and schools. This process is more than just training—it’s a mindset that equips our staff to:

By integrating the CKH framework, we are building a school climate where every child feels safe, valued, and ready to learn. Ultimately, this focus on trust and emotional safety directly enhances academic and behavioral outcomes.

The Technology Department consists of several Technology staff that play a pivotal role in the successful integration, maintenance, and support of the technology in each of our District buildings on a daily basis.  These specialists serve as the primary technical resource for the teachers and staff, ensuring that the technology tools and hardware are reliable and functioning as expected.  By providing this near immediate assistance and personal guidance, the Technology Department’s goal is that instructional time is maximized without the disruption of technology issues.  The Department restructured the Technology Work Order system nearly 18 months ago by changing the ticketing system, providing immediate resources to common issues, and ticketing communication methods, and has been a big part of the success of the team!

·  Keith Ahrens: Educational Technology Facilitator

·  Anton Kuhar: Technology Support Specialist

·  Javier Rosas:  Technology Support Specialist

·  Tommy Boudreau: Technology Support Specialist

·  Kelly Shoup-Ryan: Technology Repair Specialist

Djimon Smith is an accomplished educational leader and currently serves as an Assistant Principal at Kankakee High School, where he champions equity-centered leadership, student achievement, and staff support. He brings a proven record of driving measurable school improvement through innovative programs, data-driven interventions, and strategic community engagement.

Previously, as Dean of Students at both Crete-Monee High School and Central Middle School, Djimon significantly reduced discipline infractions from 886 to 770 at the high school level and 394 to 258 in major categories at the middle school. This was achieved by implementing restorative practices, targeted interventions, and student success plans. He developed "no contact" contracts, organized intervention teams integrating PBIS, MTSS, student support services, facilitating mediations and SEL lessons. His initiatives also included launching an in-school suspension program grounded in restorative practices, creating a Dean's List to celebrate academic and behavioral excellence, and hosting attendance and behavior incentives such as FunOlympics and monthly reward events.

Djimon's leadership extends to fostering positive school cultures. He has demonstrated this by founding the Building Response Team (BRT) to address staff concerns, organizing father-engagement programs, and increasing safety through strategic staff placement and oversight of building security. He has also advanced instructional practices by providing professional learning on de-escalation, cultural responsiveness, and trauma-informed strategies. Additionally, he has conducted learning walks for feedback, and implemented fidelity checks for IEP and BIP compliance.

His career began as Director of Bands in Matteson School District 162. During this time, he authored a district-wide instrumental music curriculum, created a comprehensive department handbook, and doubled music notation literacy over two years. He continues to innovate by leveraging newsletters, stakeholder meetings, and data-focused discussions to strengthen communication, improve attendance, and enhance academic outcomes.

Beyond his school roles, Djimon serves as President of the Black Male Educators Alliance of Illinois and contributes to multiple boards and community organizations. With an unwavering commitment to student success and staff empowerment, he embodies the belief that schools should be places where all students not only survive but thrive.

My name is Abraham Mobley, and I am proud to serve as the Assistant Principal at Kennedy Middle School. I began this role in July 2025. Prior to joining Kennedy, I held various administrative positions, primarily in southern Cook County.

I began my teaching career in August 2011 as a 5th-grade teacher. My mission as an administrator is to create a school culture where every student feels seen, supported, and capable of success—and to empower teachers with the systems and feedback that help them grow as educators and leaders.

In my spare time, I enjoy cooking on my grills, cheering on the Chicago Bears and Bulls, and collecting sneakers. I am excited to be part of the Kennedy family and look forward to furthering the mission of our district!