Sprague School: Parents and teachers as partners
Address: 2425 Riverwoods Road, Lincolnshire
Phone: (847) 945-6665
Web site: www.sprague.district103.k12.il.us
District's name: Lincolnshire-Prairie View District 103
Number of students/grade levels offered: There are 129 kindergartners, 156 first-graders and 172 second-graders.
Number of staff: 65
School mascot: Stripes the Wildcat
When was school built: The referendum request was approved to build the school in 1963 and the first 16 classrooms were completed and occupied in 1968.
An interesting tidbit: Laura B. Sprague, whom the school is named after, is known for teaching at the first school in Vernon Township and Lake County.
Principal: Christy Adler
• She has led the school since 1999. Prior to that, she served as assistant principal in the district's Daniel Wright Junior High School starting in 1996.
• What is your favorite school memory? Adler said one memory was watching the second-grade classes study different countries around the world. The idea has transformed into holding an annual multicultural fair given by second-grade classes. Her other favorite memory comes in the wintertime. "One of my favorite less formal memories is sledding in the wintertime with all the students. It is always a highlight in the winter. It helps recess go by very quickly."
• What do you think is an unique aspect of your school? Adler said the school continually strives for new ways to allow children to optimize the curriculum, particularly through special activities such as authors in residence. "We look for new ways to bring something new to our students. Parents help provide opportunities to students we could not do without them."
• What are you most proud of? She points to her staff, who are committed to professional growth and to be learners themselves. "If we have strong staff learners, we will have strong student learners."
• How has technology (computers, the Internet) changed the way students learn over the past five years? Adler said technology allows students access to more information pertaining to their studies. But she adds, "It is something we have to monitor. The Internet can be a dangerous place for young students if it is not monitored."