One new after-school club at Field Elementary School is proving that unplugged fun is more popular than ever. The Game Club, launched this year and open to second through fifth graders, has been a runaway success – so much…

  A new mentorship initiative is helping fifth graders at Poe Elementary School find their footing, both socially and athletically, as they prepare for the transition to middle school.  With guidance from their eighth-grade counterparts at Cooper Middle School and…

  A small but mighty group of students at Frost Elementary School is proving that you don’t need money–or even a driver’s license–to make a big impact. The Community Service Club, open to students in grades 3 through 5, has…

  The Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education on May 15 voted in favor of appointing Todd Rohlwing as its new director of safety and security, effective July 1. The district formerly shared a director of safety and…

  The Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education on May 15 unanimously voted to appoint new assistant principals for Riley, Tarkington and Whitman Elementary Schools. Ali Padalik will join the Rams at Riley as its new assistant principal,…

Dear District 21 community, We want to inform you of an ongoing investigation by the Wheeling Police Department involving an incident that occurred over the weekend at Pleasant Run/Four Acres Park. According to police reports, a woman distributed candy to children at…

Dear District 21 families, We want to make you aware of a dangerous trend circulating on social media that poses a serious safety risk to students and school property. This trend involves students inserting metallic objects, such as paper clips…

As part of its planned replacement cycle for student-issued Chromebooks, Community Consolidated School District 21 has inked a $967,150 order with CDW to purchase approximately 2,300 Acer Chromebooks. The district strives to keep its devices on a consistent refresh cycle…

  At its April 24 meeting, the Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education unanimously approved the appointments of a new executive director of human resources and a new director of student services. Lewis Roberts will become the new…

The latest edition of The 21 Ledger, our family and community newsletter, is now available! Check your email, head to our Facebook, or scroll below to read the full version. Let’s stay connected!

On May 20, Community Consolidated School District 21 will celebrate the first anniversary of the District 21 Health Center! Over the past year, the center has become an essential part of our school community, providing high-quality medical, mental health, and…

Community Consolidated School District 21 is thrilled to announce the launch of returning student registration for the 2025-2026 academic year. Starting May 1, parents and guardians are encouraged to register their returning students through our user-friendly online platform. Returning student…

  At the incredible age of 102, Mrs. Evelyn Schuler is a cherished former District 21 educator who dedicated 28 rewarding years to teaching in our district. A true inspiration, she spent her career shaping young minds with wisdom, patience,…

Michelle Turek has always loved art. She is a creative soul who immersed herself into artistic endeavor's as a child in an early pursuit of an art career. Her parents, however, wanted her to pursue a different path – a…

Common thinking about technology positions is that it requires a computer science degree. CCSD21 technology support specialist Alli Tower busts this myth. With her calm demeanor and excellent customer service support, she possesses the perfect combination of qualities to assist…

Born and raised in Albania, Dhurata Devija dreamed of coming to America to work as a teacher. Surrounded by a family of educators, she was inspired to make a difference in students’ lives, like her mother, who was an elementary…

As a third grader at Whitman Elementary School in the late ‘90’s, Janet Acosta struggled with math, English and other subjects. With the guidance and patience of teacher Clara Riley, Acosta was able to progress with the other classmates. “Ms.…

As a young immigrant from Mexico, Ariadna Navarro was a quiet child. She was in first grade and didn’t understand English when her family moved to the States. It was only when a teacher who took an interest in her…

There is a famous quote about leadership that goes something like this: Where one goes, others will follow. This couldn’t be more accurate for the Alvarado brothers, all of whom work at CCSD21. Born in Mexico, four Alvarado brothers (and…

Sometimes fate has a way of guiding you towards the next steps of your life. After being employed in a variety of jobs, including supporting autistic children at Clearbrook home-based services, working at Starbucks, and teaching kids how to swim,…

It’s so inspiring when you hear that someone has found their purpose. They radiate light. They are happy. They are energetic. They connect with others. They contribute to a greater community. Kasia Gold, library and media center assistant at Field…

Maria Elena Martinez frequently gets mistaken for a student. “It’s probably because I’m small in stature and have youthful energy,” Martinez quips. But this teacher’s assistant at Twain Elementary School has over 30  years of teaching experience both in the…

If you haven’t had the opportunity to meet Buffalo Grove resident Dennis Depcik yet, you’re missing out on knowing a local renaissance man – a cultured, compassionate and open-minded person who has worn many hats during his long, rich life.…

While Josue Velazquez’s main role as a physical education teacher at Twain Elementary School is to teach the students how to be fit and keep active, he’s much more than that. If you look up the word “mentor” in the…

As the superintendent of Barrington School District 220, Dr. Craig Winkelman’s most important objective is to be student-centered in the decisions made for the district, most importantly giving students interesting and unique experiences inside and outside the classroom. One of…

One of CCSD21’s alumna, Chris Pippin Northwick, has a simple life philosophy: make connections with others. She believes that it has a direct correlation to personal success and creates emotionally, well-balanced individuals. And she should know. As the Co-Executive Director…

Alumna Lynda (Steckling) Collins sees her life as a series of building blocks. Learning a new skill and then securing a job with exactly that skill set required. Living internationally, and then securing a job that depends on cultural diversity.…

Contributed by Thomas Parker, Communications Intern   From a young age, Jim Ray, an alumnus of District 21, learned the valuable lesson of taking the chance to try something new. This was one of many lessons he learned during his…

Contributed by Comms Intern, Thomas Parker   For as long as she can remember, Gillian Sherman has dreamed of being a teacher. Her time in District 21, attending Longfellow Elementary School and Cooper Middle School, taught her a lot and…

Glenn Meier ‘68 Contributed by Thomas Parker, Communications Intern   From being a part of the very first class at Holmes Middle School in 1966, to his current membership with the Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove, Glenn Meier has always…

Contributed by Thomas Parker, Communications Intern  Andrew Manuel Sanchez, a native of the northwest suburbs, has always felt connected to the community. During his time within District 21, Sanchez attended Twain Elementary School starting in second grade before moving on…

Maya Belorusskiy has not always been the confident and outgoing individual she is today. She described herself as shy and anxious when looking back on her days at Longfellow Elementary School and Cooper Middle School. Belorusskiy  credits her favorite teachers,…

Allyson (“Ally”) Bremer didn’t have the best time in middle school. “I was really unhappy and never pictured an opening for myself,” said Bremer. That is, until, London Middle School teacher Miss Brand (now Mrs. Thomas) came into the picture.…

  Matt Pomilia is earning his second master’s degree. This comes after earning two other degrees from other higher education institutions. Education is important to Pomilia. “It’s the process of self discovery,” says Pomilia. “It’s a way to accentuate yourself…

Maggie Khayyata “Lights Up” (a song from Harry Styles' Fine Line album)  when talking about being able to see her favorite artist in concert. Besides her love for Harry there is so much more to know about her. Maggie attended…

  Joseph Eckert is one of four physical education teachers at Cooper Middle School and believes middle school P.E. is one of the most important classes students take. “Students learn social, cognitive and physical skills when they are doing athletic…