
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has thrust education leaders into uncharted territory with the sudden
onset of distance learning and an abbreviated school year. As districts look to reopen for the 2020–21 school
year, the District and School Improvement (DSI) Center at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) seeks to
walk alongside district and school partners to provide support. We are introducing a virtual networked learning
community that will provide an opportunity to connect, problem-solve, and share approaches with other
educators in a dedicated online space.
DSI’s Network Learning Community features a series of virtual sessions that bring together district and school
leadership teams from across the state to share and learn from one another and from AIR experts as they discuss
reopening of school for the 2020–21 school year. By participating in the Network Learning Community, you’ll gain
a community of thought partners to help work through the decisions critical to planning for the return to school.
The current cohort of districts is limited to Illinois district and school leaders.
To learn more about the Network Learning Community, click here.
Betheny Lyke, blyke@air.org
Dawn Dolby, ddolby@air.org
Shirley Carlson, scarlson@air.org
Patti Furlano, pfurlano@air.org
Jill Shively, jshively@air.org
Lisa Jones, ljones@air.org
Cheryl Patterson-Menchowski, cpatterson@air.org