Dr. Fessler Awarded Honor of '20 to Watch' List
According to the National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) Technology Leadership Network (TLN), District 59’s own Dr. Art Fessler is one to watch.
On March 6, the TLN announced its “20 to Watch” honorees for 2014-15. According to NSBA’s press release, “These distinctive education leaders from across the country are being recognized for their ability to inspire colleagues to explore and embrace innovative technology solutions that contribute to high-quality instruction and support more personalized learning experiences for students.”
Dr. Fessler, Superintendent of Schools for CCSD, is one of the two honorees from Illinois. He made the list for being committed to providing the leadership necessary to rebuild the district’s curriculum to focus both on the development of 21st century skills and the expanded use of technology. Students in grades 3-8 have both a Chromebook and a Nexus 7 tablet, while each student in grades K -2 has a Nexus 7 tablet.
“This year’s ‘20 to Watch’ honorees highlight the kind of exciting innovations that exist throughout America’s public schools. These teachers and administrators, with support from their school boards, share a vision for learning that will prepare students for future success,” said Thomas J. Gentzel, NSBA’s Executive Director. “These inspirational pioneers are having a positive impact on the districts they serve.”
Dr. Fessler was in attendance to receive his award on March 16, 2015, at the 2015 Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) Conference.
On receiving the award, Dr. Fessler stated, “It is a tremendous honor and a testament to the incredible effort our staff and students are demonstrating each and every day as they continue to work towards creating an educational environment that will prepare each student to be successful for life.”