Hickory Creek Middle School re-designated as Illinois Horizon "School to Watch"

John Viano, Executive Director of the Association of Illinois Middle-Grade Schools (AIMS), advised Principal Dr. Kevin Suchinski that Hickory Creek Middle School has been re-designated as a 2015 Illinois Horizon “School to Watch.” A national announcement of the sites selected as Schools to Watch across the United States will be made by AIMS this month.

Launched in 1999, Schools to Watch began as a national program to identify middle-grades schools across the country that were meeting or exceeding criteria developed by the Forum. The Forum web site http://www.schoolstowatch.org features detailed information about the program.

Each “School to Watch” was selected because it embodies the intersection of academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structure. Each school has strong leadership, teachers who work together to improve curriculum and instruction, and a commitment to assessment and accountability to foster continuous improvement.

Selection is based on a written application that required schools to show how they met criteria developed by the Forum. Schools that appeared to meet the criteria were then visited by state teams who observed classrooms, interviewed administrators, teachers, students, and parents, and looked at achievement data, suspension rates, quality of lessons, and student work.

Schools are recognized for a three-year period, and at the end of three years must repeat the process in order to be re-designated. Hickory Creek first earned the distinction of being designated as a School to Watch in 2009, and has been re-designated twice.

AIMS plans to hold a special recognition ceremony at Hickory Creek to honor the entire staff and administration for the re-designation. In addition Hickory Creek will be “showcased” at the AIMS annual Summer Splash event in Tinley Park on June 17 and at a luncheon at the AIMS conference June 24-27 in Washington, D.C.

Prior to its transformation from a Junior High School to a nationally-recognized middle school, Hickory Creek Middle School earned the U.S. Department of Education Award of Excellence Blue Ribbon. In 2005, Hickory Creek earned state recognition when it was designated as a “Demonstration Middle School.” Hickory Creek has had the distinction of being visited by other middle school teachers and administrators as an example of best practices as a middle school. In addition, Hickory Creek staff has made presentations throughout the state highlighting the school’s practices.