A look inside Emmons School
Number of students/grade levels offered: 381 students in kindergarten through eighth grade
Number of staff: 59
School mascot: Raiders
When was school built: 1844
School history: Emmons School is named for Myron Emmons who donated a portion of his land for the first schoolhouse at the southeast corner of Beach Grove and Route 59. The first school was built as a subscription school by six families. There was no school tax at the time, so every family gave money to support the school according to the number of their children that were pupils. In 1870, when it was determined that the Emmons land was too low, the current school site was purchase from the Grimm family for $20.
Principal: Cyndy Vandrush
• Serving in her 27th year
• Favorite school memory: "There are so many after 27 years!"
• What is unique about your school? "Emmons is a unique place to teach and to learn. We have been able to provide a quality education for Emmons students since 1844, because of the commitment our community has made to support Emmons School. As you can see from our beginnings, Emmons started with the support of the community and it has thrived over the many years because of it. When our latest addition was finished we knew we could not call Emmons a 'little school' anymore. We don't need to fetch water and wood before the school days begin. We have gained a beautiful addition and renovations in the recent years that are "concrete" indicators. Day after day there are many parents who come to give of their time to enhance our students learning. Emmons School thrives on the deep roots that Myron and his neighbors gave to us. Sound education with a deep community spirit is the "EMMONS WAY."
• What are you most proud of? "Over my 27 years, I am the most proud of our students' efforts to learn, and the staff who keep our students best interest as their goal."
• If all school enrollments were determined by choice, what would you say to potential parents to convince them to choose Emmons School for their children? "A few years ago we asked our staff and our parents to fill out a card to give us just a few words that come to mind when they think of Emmons. Here are some of the most frequent answers we received: caring, family, small school, great school."
• If you can get one thing accomplished between now and the end of May in your school, what would it be? "We have been transitioning from the Flexible Service Delivery system that we have used the past seven years, to an Early Intervention System. These methods provide for teachers problem-solving to deliver interventions to struggling students, prior to special education entitlement. Like Flex, EI is data-driven with periodic progress monitoring of student success with the interventions. Our Early Intervention Team has been working over the past months to align our previous Flex system with the new requirements, and now we are implementing the system with all of our staff. We would be so pleased to have our EI system working smoothly by May."
Emmons School
Address: 24226 W. Beach Grove Road, Antioch
Phone: (847)395-1105
Web site: www.emmons-school.com
School district: Emmons School District 33