Our littlest learners have been back in school for three weeks, and the excitement is contagious! We were thrilled to welcome over 400 guests for Grandparents Day. What a joy to see generations learning and laughing together. A special thank you to our families for allowing our students to shine during the recent School Board Meeting; their presence reminds us all of the importance of early learning.

Looking ahead, we are excited to share that on October 10th, our Full Day and PM classes will join the district Homecoming Parade, showing that even our tiniest hands have giant futures! In addition, four classrooms will participate in Hispanic Heritage Night, celebrating culture, language, and traditions with our community.

Academically, our children are engaging daily with the Frog Street curriculum, and the DRDP (Desired Results Developmental Profile) will be used to assess our little ones. These tools help us track growth and ensure every child is developing the skills they need for long-term success.

Stay connected with us by following Kankakee School District 111 Early Childhood on social media for updates, photos, and celebrations of learning.

From Human Resources to People Services: A New Chapter for KSD111

Every great story has a turning point, and for Kankakee School District 111, that moment has arrived for the department once known as Human Resources. What was once primarily viewed as the office of compliance and paperwork has now evolved into something much more dynamic—People Services.

Guided by the vision of Dr. Lance, this change represents more than a new name. It reflects a cultural shift toward building trust, communication, and connection. The focus is no longer just on managing regulations but on nurturing the people who make KSD111 thrive—our educators, staff, and support teams.

At the heart of this transformation is a team dedicated to walking alongside every employee:

Together, this dedicated team embodies the true spirit of People Services—building relationships, supporting growth, and elevating excellence across Kankakee School District 111.

In today’s world, safety at schools is more important than ever.  Schools are meant to be places where students can learn, grow and prepare for the future, not worry about potential dangers.  Keeping everyone safe takes teamwork, planning and smart improvements. Our goal is to strengthen security while still keeping a positive and welcoming atmosphere.

This summer the security team completed a comprehensive three-day certification training with NASRO (National Association of School Resource Officers) for SSO (School Security Officer). 

Below are Security’s Vision and Mission Statement detailing the importance of security within the district. 

Vision: A school community where every student, staff member, and visitors feel safe, valued and empowered to learn and thrive from fear of disruption through innovative, integrated and compassionate security practices.

Mission: To protect and support the school community by ensuring a safe, secure, and welcoming environment that fosters learning, respect and personal growth.  We are committed to proactive prevention, rapid response, and collaborative partnership with students, staff, parents and local agencies to safeguard everyone on our campuses.

Greetings from the District 111 Special Education Department! 

Our entire team continues to prioritize instructional practices that promote meaningful learning and skill generalization beyond the classroom. Current initiatives emphasize aligning individualized instruction with evidence-based strategies that foster independence and prepare students to apply learned skills in community and real-world settings. Staff are engaging in ongoing professional learning to strengthen data-driven decision-making, with a focus on collecting, analyzing, and applying student performance data to guide instruction and monitor progress.

This intentional approach ensures that instructional practices remain responsive, targeted, and effective in supporting student growth across environments. We look forward to starting our annual review meetings and encourage parents or guardians to reach out with questions or concerns that may arise! 

At the heart of our schools is the belief that every child deserves to feel seen, supported, and celebrated. Our Student Support Services Department is here to walk alongside families, staff, and community partners to make that belief a reality. Whether it’s helping students build strong social-emotional skills, supporting regular attendance, promoting healthy choices, or making sure every child feels safe and cared for, our team is dedicated to removing barriers and opening doors to opportunity.

We know it takes a village to help children thrive, and we are grateful to partner with you—our families and community—to nurture not only academic growth but also confidence, resilience, and well-being. Together, we are building a culture where students feel a true sense of belonging and are prepared to shine in school and beyond.

As we head into the Fall season, the days are getting shorter and it is darker earlier so please keep an eye out for school buses. Never pass a bus with flashing red lights.

If you have an address change, please contact your students building as soon as possible so we can adjust the bus routing.

Please make sure your students know their way to and from their bus stops. With it getting darker earlier, things could look a little different to our younger students and we all want them home safely.

If you want to be able to see information about your students route, please download the “My Ride K-12” app here: https://myridek12.tylerapp.com/login.

September marked the first full month of competition for Kankakee Athletics, and it’s been an exciting start to the fall season! This year’s fall sports groups—including Football, Cheer, Girls Flag Football, Boys Soccer, Girls Tennis, Cross Country, Girls Volleyball, Girls Swim, and Golf—feature over 250 student-athletes, making it the busiest time of the year for our programs. All teams are competing in Southland Athletic Conference play, with a few non-conference games and matches mixed in.

October promises even more excitement as all teams continue conference play and prepare for the state playoff series.

Stay tuned for more updates as Kankakee Athletics proves why we #KayUp, #ProveIt, and #WeAreKankakee!

The Public and Community Relations Department has been hard at work ensuring a smooth rollout of ParentSquare for staff and families—thank you for your patience. As a district we are working hard to strengthen communication across ParentSquare, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. The team is also collaborating with the IT Department on a new, user-friendly district website that rolls out this Fall. Our media team has been busy capturing headshots, website photos, and districtwide events—from classrooms to athletics. This year, we’ve welcomed five AIM High student workers who are gaining hands-on experience in PR and media while supporting districtwide events and communication needs.

With a passion for nurturing young minds and empowering future generations, Mr. Terence Dillard has dedicated his talents to creating positive learning environments where all students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Born and raised in Pompano Beach, Florida, he developed an early interest in the field of education.

Throughout Mr. Dillard’s 20-plus-year career, he has held various roles in education, from classroom teacher to coach, district behavioral specialist, and assistant principal. No matter the role, Mr. Dillard strives to create inclusive and engaging learning environments. His commitment to continuous improvement inspires both colleagues and students.

In addition to his professional achievements, Mr. Dillard is a mentor and a father. He enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf in his spare time.

Mr. Forman has been an educator for 25 years. During this time, he has worked with students from kindergarten through 8th grade. He began his career in Summit, IL, serving as a Physical Education teacher for 18 years. While teaching, Mr. Forman also coached many sports and served as Athletic Director for six years, successfully managing both roles simultaneously.

Scott holds a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Olivet Nazarene University, and a second Master’s degree in School Administration from Saint Xavier University.

In 2019, Mr. Forman began his administrative career as the Dean of Student Services at Heritage Middle School in Summit. He was later promoted to Assistant Principal and Transportation Director. He now serves as the Assistant Principal at Mark Twain Primary and Steuben Elementary.

Mr. Forman and his wife, Kelly, have been married for 24 years and have three children: Reilly (23), Mackenzie (19), and Aiden (16). He is passionate about sports and is an avid Chicago Bears fan.