Jeff Pesek's Tumblr Blog

Chicagoland native Jeff Pesek serves as president of the board of J.S. Morton High School District 201. An alumnus of J.S. Morton High, Jeff Pesek has a deep-seated passion for improving the educational standards of the Cicero, Illinois, school district and for working with community members to achieve his vision. In his private life, Mr. Pesek donates his time and resources to local charities, including regional chapters of the American Red Cross and the United Way. Since assuming leadership of J.S. Morton High School District 201, Jeff Pesek has worked diligently and, as a result, achieved important gains for the district. Among his accomplishments, he restructured district office functions and staff to better support the district’s core educational mission, and he championed the recently formed Learning Support System, which placed a few experienced specialists and administrators in charge of creating the curriculum for the district. Mr. Pesek also balanced the district budget, a task previously thought to be impossible. He accomplished this by working closely with administrators to review past procedures and by implementing technological improvements and other efficiencies.

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About the Aging Support Program from United Way

The president of the board of education for J Sterling Morton High School District 201, Jeff Pesek is dedicated to issues of school finance and technology initiatives. An active member of his community, Jeff Pesek also supports charitable organizations like United Way. The largest privately-funded nonprofit organization in the world, United Way helps almost 2,000 organizations in over 40 countries and territories. Dedicated to issues affecting income, health, and education, the organization partners with a wide variety of corporate and governmental organizations to improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people in need. One of United Way’s most expansive programs is focused on aging and helping to ensure that older adults live financially secure, healthy lives. Projections predict that, by 2050, 80 percent of older people will live in poorer countries, and the organization works to protect these individuals from elder financial abuse. In Baroda, India, it helps elderly people group their monthly bills to decrease stress levels and the chance of injury. In Northeast Florida, the organization partners with care providers and hospitals to examine their support systems for senior citizens. Additionally, the organization offers seniors volunteer opportunities, which have been shown to reduce depression and increase longevity and a sense of connection to others.

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Benefits of Helmets for Riding All-Terrain Vehicles

Jeff Pesek currently serves as president of the board of education of J. Sterling Morton High School District 201 in Illinois. When he is not chairing board meetings or attending school events, Jeff Pesek enjoys spending time with his son and riding all-terrain vehicles. Riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) can be thrilling, although it can be dangerous. A rider should wear a helmet for safety at all times in case of a spill. Helmets designed for off-road driving and Motocross sports generally function well for ATV riders, although individuals should consult with a specialist when it comes to properly fitting a helmet to protect the head and neck. Beyond the safety issue, individuals wearing protective head gear can benefit in a number of additional ways. A brightly colored helmet can help a person stand out against the surrounding area if other off-road vehicles are active. Many models not only provide protection but cut down on wind resistance and noise. These helmets can also shield a rider’s eyes against the wind as well as debris in the air and bright sunlight.

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Illinois Computing Educators Hosts 2016 Conference in St. Charles

As the board of education president of J. Sterling Morton High School District 201, Jeff Pesek helped to implement open-enrollment Advanced Placement programs. In addition, he established a balanced budget and installed financial software programs for the Cicero, Illinois, district. Dedicated to helping others in the education field, Jeff Pesek gives presentations at conferences across the state, among them, gatherings of the Illinois Computing Educators (ICE). ICE leads the educational community in Illinois to partake in advanced learning through technology. It does this through professional development, advocacy, funding, and collaboration. ICE is an affiliate of the larger organization, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). The 2016 ICE Conference takes place at the Pheasant Run Resort & Conference Center in St. Charles, Illinois. Keynote speakers include Jennie Magiera, the White House Champion of Change; Adam Bellow, Ed Tech Entrepreneur; and Tom Murray of the Future Ready Schools Initiative. The conference will run from February 23-26.

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Preparing Students for Advanced Placement Study

Jeff Pesek, president of the Board of Education of the JS Morton High School District in Illinois, has leveraged his position of leadership to expand student access to advanced placement (AP) courses. By establishing a pre-AP summertime seminar and the Summer Math Academy, Jeff Pesek helped the district to secure state recognition as a leader in achieving Latino success in AP coursework. Advanced placement courses do much more than give the already-college-bound student an academic advantage. In an economy that prioritizes advanced analytical thinking skills, the advanced placement course allows students to begin developing these skills at the secondary level. This experience can help improve a student's chances of earning a college degree. Many authorities in education are turning away from the view of AP study as an elite opportunity and toward the philosophy that it can be part of the standard college preparatory program for all students. This mindset has resulted in more states encouraging enrollment in AP courses, particularly among those students with ability and drive who had not previously considered themselves as potential candidates. Nationwide, schools continue to work toward identifying students whose participation in AP and other academically rigorous courses may help to improve their chances of college success.                            

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Wounded Warriors Economic Empowerment Programs

As an elected official, Jeff Pesek has demonstrated his commitment to the community in many ways. Jeff Pesek also donates his personal resources to the Wounded Warriors Project and other nonprofit organizations. Dedicated to supporting military personnel who have been injured in the line of duty, Wounded Warriors Project sponsors a number of programs to help these individuals achieve financial empowerment. One such program, TRACK, stands out as the nation's first education center for injured veterans. At both the Florida and Texas locations, Wounded Warriors receive comprehensive year-long training that incorporates elements of mental and physical health support. Similarly, the Warriors to Work program connects former Wounded Warriors with access to career support and development services. For Wounded Warriors with interests in technology, the Project's Transition Training Academy™ (TTA) offers hands-on learning as an introduction to information technology careers. Cosponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, the Office of Disability Employment Policy, Cisco, and the Veterans' Employment and Training Service, TTA provides courses at more than 11 on-site locations as well as online.

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Five Points to Consider Regarding 1:1 Learning Initiatives Program

Jeff Pesek is an elected official for the JS Morton High School District 201. In addition to providing policy leadership, Jeff Pesek examines potential opportunities provided by rising trends in the education field, such as the implementation of 1:1 Learning Initiatives, which aim to facilitate learning by providing all students with their own electronic handheld device or laptop. To maximize the potential of the program, instructors and education professionals suggest consideration of the following. 1. What is the purpose of the 1:1 Learning Initiative? Benefits of the program can include money saved on textbooks and paper, as well as an advantage in districts experiencing enrollment competition. However, the primary focus should remain the use of the device as a learning tool. Device functionality should always win over device appearance or trend. 2. Do teachers know how to operate the device? Every teacher within the school should be trained in the operation of the device intended for student distribution. Additionally, discussions on how to best use the device’s capabilities in the classroom are key to a successful program.  3.How will students use the device? One dilemma with distributing devices to individual students is the inability to actively monitor user activity. Providing user policies and agreements ensure students understand appropriate device use and which behaviors will result in consequential actions.  4. How will the school handle technology problems when they occur? It is usually necessary to implement a help desk or tech support system to address technological issues students may encounter with their device.  5. Can the school’s network handle the load? The school-wide wireless network will require a strong Internet connection and needs to be capable of supporting high usage volume. 6. What is the best way to implement a 1:1 Learning Initiative? Pilot programs lessen fallout risks should the program fail. Before cutting into the school’s budget for school-wide device distribution, consider beginning with smaller pilot programs. Pilot programs can help assess which classes or subjects can best utilize the initiative’s technology, allow for easier user supervision, and ensure the staff has enough training. e

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Level I CRISS Training

As president of the board of the JS Morton High School District 201 in Illinois, Jeff Pesek has overseen the balancing of the school district budget. Furthermore, by establishing the Professional Development Academy, Jeff Pesek has facilitated the provision of CRISS (Creating Independence through Student-owned Strategies) training to certificated personnel in the school district. A professional development program, Project CRISS centers on assisting educators to modify their teaching strategies. After educators successfully implement the new teaching strategies in their classrooms, their students develop an improved ability to assess their own comprehension of material, to integrate the newly learned material with previous knowledge, and to play an active role in the learning process. The first step in the program is Level I training or the “Introduction to Project CRISS” workshop. A 12-hour or 18-hour workshop, it introduces educators to the CRISS Frameworks for Teaching and Learning, and to activities and common language associated with the research behind CRISS. Workshop participants engage with CRISS materials from student perspectives. They then conduct analyses of the process from educator perspectives. During each segment of the workshop, some time is devoted to reflecting on Common Core and practice, and to discussing implementation. If there is sufficient time, participants also have the opportunity to review their course materials. The workshop concludes with debriefing, the creation of action plans, and evaluations.                            

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Supporting Catholic Charities

A policymaker for the JS Morton High School District 201, Jeff Pesek has previously collaborated with administrators to bring about changes to the school district’s operations and business. In addition, Jeff Pesek supports various charitable organizations. These include Catholic Charities, which offers a range of services to children, adults, and families. Catholic Charities accepts new volunteers and donors from the community, and welcomes supporters of all faiths. Furthermore, its programs serve people of diverse backgrounds. A potential volunteer can search for available opportunities using the VolunteerBridge online search feature. By specifying his or her preferred location and entering relevant keywords, he or she can find a variety of events and programs. Presently, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is seeking volunteers for its New Hope Apartments program. This program helps families with dependent children to find transitional housing, and requires volunteer support to collect household items and help families with the moving process.  In addition, those who wish to offer financial support to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago are welcome to do so; donors may specify a particular use for their donation or may direct funds to areas of greatest need.