On Friday, February 13, Crete-Monee SD 201-U hosted a districtwide School Improvement Day for all staff. With approval from the state and the Regional Office of Education, the district dedicated the entire day to professional growth and collaboration focused on initiatives to improve student success.

The district was honored to welcome Dr. Anthony Muhammad as the keynote speaker. Ranked among the world’s Top 30 Global Education Professionals, Dr. Muhammad is internationally recognized for transforming school culture, building high-performing Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), leading school transformation, and deepening understanding of the teacher’s role in student success. He is the author of eight books and has partnered with districts for more than 950 professional development days worldwide. His work has shaped schools across the country, and now he has brought that expertise to the district.

During his visit, Dr. Muhammad worked alongside staff to strengthen school culture and deepen the district’s Professional Learning Communities at Work framework, equipping educators with meaningful strategies to enhance collaboration and student achievement. Staff members also had the opportunity to participate in a book signing following his sessions.

“One thing that resonated with me that Dr. Muhammad spoke on was that culture is how we behave, and climate is how we feel,” said Sandra Brookins, Division Leader at Crete-Monee Middle School.

Throughout the day, additional professional development sessions were offered, including teamwork activities, an ELL workshop, Devereux de-escalation training, instructional strategy sessions, PLC journey discussions, and more—all designed to support continuous growth and excellence across the district while also providing Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit hours for staff.

“This day reflected our purpose as educators to ensure that we are elevating ourselves to give our students the very best,” said Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning Dr. Ghantel Perkins.

Thank you to Dr. Ghantel Perkins and the entire Office of Teaching & Learning for securing this opportunity for staff. Hosting a leader of this caliber underscores the district’s commitment to excellence, growth, and investing in its educators, because when educators grow, students thrive.

Check out the district’s overview video to see highlights from this impactful School Improvement Day. Also, view reflection videos featuring staff and the keynote speaker, sharing their experiences and key takeaways: