Flossmoor School District 161 Recognized With 2025–26 Bilingual Education Award

FLOSSMOOR, IL — Flossmoor School District 161 has been selected as a recipient of the 2025–26 Bilingual Education Award (BEA) from the Illinois State Board of Education, recognizing high-performing districts for excellence in supporting English Learner (EL) students.

This award is based on multiple indicators of success, including:

• Receipt of Title III funds in Fiscal Year 2026
• District performance on the ACCESS assessment in Fiscal Year 2025
• English Learner Progress to Proficiency rates in Fiscal Year 2024
• Carryover percentage of Title III Language Instruction Educational Program and Immigrant Student Education Program funds in Fiscal Year 2025
• Whether the district has received the BEA within the previous three years

In addition to this recognition, the district will receive a $10,000 award to support the implementation of new and impactful opportunities for English Learner students. District leadership is currently working closely with English Learning (EL) teachers to determine how these funds can best support students and enhance programming.

“This recognition reflects the dedication, expertise, and commitment of our educators and staff who work tirelessly every day to support our English Learner students,” said Amabel Crawford, Director of Learning and Instruction. “We are proud of the progress our students are making and grateful for the educators who make that growth possible.”

“I am so grateful for the warm welcome from this incredible team and already feel fortunate to be part of such a dedicated group,” said Gabriela Salerno-McKinney, the newest member of the district’s EL team. “I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the future.”

The district also recognizes its outstanding EL team members: Emily Brodsky, Danielle Montijo, Tina Morris, Elaine Wengert, and Kelly Wojnovich.

The district extends its appreciation to its teachers, support staff, and administrators whose ongoing efforts ensure that English Learner students have the instruction, resources, and encouragement they need to thrive academically and linguistically.