Isaac Fox School

Address: 395 W. Cuba Road

Phone: (847) 540-7020

Web site: www.lz95.org/if

District's name and Web site: Community Unit School District 95; www.lz95.org

Number of students/grade levels offered: 505 students, early childhood through fifth grade

Number of staff: 65

School mascot: Fox

When was school built: Original school was opened in 1993. The addition connecting it to Middle School South was completed in 1996.

Interesting tidbit: Isaac Willard Fox (born Nov. 6, 1821, died Aug. 29, 1884) was an early landowner and farmer in Lake Zurich. The family home, Nesselrest, still stands on the lakeshore. He donated the land on which Ela Township Hall stands and directed that the land was always to be used for governmental or educational purposes. The land on which Isaac Fox School and Middle School South are situated was originally owned by a family named Tucker. In the 1920s, it was purchased by the Fisher family. It became a tree nursery in the 1940s. In the 1960s, Lake Zurich Unit District 95 bought the land. Construction of the two schools began in March 1992. Dedication of the two schools took place in the Isaac Fox cafeteria on Aug. 15, 1993.

Principal: Jill Brooks

• This is her fourth year at Isaac Fox and 15th year in District 95. She used to teach at Sarah Adams School.

• What is your favorite memory from Isaac Fox School? "One of my favorite memories was last year when we participated in National Walk to School Day for the first time. It was amazing to see the number of students and families walking to school that day. It was definitely a community experience and quite a sight to see! Families made every effort to ride or walk to school. Some of them actually drove to the surrounding subdivisions and walked from there. We now make this an annual event."

• What do you think is an unique aspect of your school? "Isaac Fox addresses the needs of educating the whole child. Besides our focus on high levels of academic success, we emphasize the importance of the arts in education. Per the Americans for Arts Web site, 'Participation in the arts opens up children's worlds and minds and offers them the skills they need for a bright future.' We feel our students also need opportunities to give back to the community through events such as the Jump Rope for Heart held in February. Last year, more than $40,000 was raised for the American Heart Association."

• What are you most proud of? "I am the most proud of every student, every staff member, and all of the parents in this building because I really and truly feel that it is a concerted effort on all of our parts that get the students to the levels of achievement. It is a partnership here. I feel that we have that trust amongst us in order to have our children achieve at the highest level of achievement."

• If all school enrollments were determined by choice, what would you say to potential parents to convince them to choose Isaac Fox for their children? "Isaac Fox School is a total experience that has high aspirations for all of its students. The school and families are intertwined in their common goal of building a foundation of excellence. The staff here stimulates learners to achieve individual success within a challenging and diverse curriculum. Isaac Fox parents hold their children's educational experience in high regard and participate in the educational process in a variety of capacities. Technology is also integrated into the curriculum as a powerful teaching and learning tool. Using this criteria, it wouldn't be difficult to choose Isaac Fox School as the place you'd want your child to begin his/her educational journey."

• How has technology (computers, the Internet) changed the way students learn over the past five years? Has that been a good change? "Technology empowers students and staff to efficiently and effectively locate information, create and design products, and manage the teaching/learning environment. Students are prepared to be effective and productive workers and citizens of the 21st century by using technology as a powerful teaching and learning tool. Technology also facilitates communication between students, staff, and parents and extends the boundaries of the learning environment."

• If you can get one thing accomplished between now and the end of May in your school, what would it be? "We're learning more about differentiating instruction. I think it's important for all students to be challenged at their individual levels and grow accordingly. Our goal is for all of our students to meet their targets on the spring assessment tests."