"Today Matters" Summit Hill School District 161

Eric is a second year music teacher in Summit Hill School District 161, coming to us with 6 previous years of experience. In this session, Dr. Paul McDermott, Superintendent, and Eric discuss a love for the arts and how to share a teacher's passion and motivation with their students.

In his third year of offering insights into Summit Hill School District 161, Dr. Paul McDermott, Superintendent, relays the Opening Institute speech of what to do with Momentum. In a highly personal, engaging array of words, Dr. McDermott casts the vision for the 2023-2024 school year.

Often, people inquire about what school leaders do in the summertime when staff and students are off on break. Here, in Summit Hill School District 161, we are busily preparing for next year with staffing, building preparations, calendaring events, and setting a vision worth pursuing for our school community. With that being said, and continuing with the 2023-2024 District-wide theme of "Momentum," Dr. Paul McDermott discusses how SHSD161 will use Momentum as a way to maximize student potential...while creating an enjoyable learning space for all.

As we head towards Spring Break, Dr. McDermott, Superintendent of Summit Hill School District 161, reviews this year's theme of "Think Big..." the progress made, and lays the ground work for the rest of this year...and next. He discusses the 23-24 theme of "Momentum" and asks the entire learning community to jump in! Enjoy!

The start of a new year offers the opportunity to examine our priorities. In this episode, Dr. Paul McDermott prioritizes students, staff, and the way we treat one another in Summit Hill School District 161.

Schools should be institutions of kindness. In this episode, Dr. Paul McDermott, Superintendent of Summit Hill School District 161 in Frankfort, Illinois shares his thoughts about the topic...and how SHSD161 is meeting the call to kindness.

As a follow-up to the 2022 Opening Institute podcast, Dr. Paul McDermott expands on this year's theme of "Think Big." Also included in this episode is a brief history of how Summit Hill got its name...and what this means for the future of our students.

Welcome listeners to a collection of thoughts from Superintendent, Dr. Paul McDermott. Throughout the year, podcasts will be released offering a glimpse into the work being done on behalf of students in Summit Hill School District 161. Enjoy!

This Today Matters Podcast talks about passing kindness forward. If we take the time to care for those around us, it makes our schools and communities a better place for all. Also, it helps us become the people we were meant to be. Enjoy!

In another edition of the Today Matters podcast, Dr. Paul McDermott, Superintendent of Summit Hill School District 161, talks about mentoring...and the power of having the right people in your path. For this podcast, Dr. Michael Gardner, former principal of Lincoln-Way East High School and Lincoln-Way North High Schools, visits with Dr. McDermott and talks about his career, what schools/students need today, and how to "flourish" in 2022. 

In another edition of the Today Matters podcast, Dr. Paul McDermott, Superintendent of Summit Hill School District 161, discusses how to be thankful during Thanksgiving. He will talk through a pair of challenges that were presented to the great staff of Summit Hill School District 161, and what was learned along the way.

In this episode of "Today Matters," Dr. Paul McDermott talks through his thoughts regarding student-centered classrooms and what this means to education today.

September 11th profoundly impacted all Americans...today's "Today Matters" reflects on this, servant leadership, and a path forward...together.

Welcome to the second "Today Matter's" podcast, a collection of thoughts from, me, Dr. Paul McDermott, proud Superintendent of Summit Hill School District 161, serving Frankfort, Mokena, and Tinley Park, IL. I'm often asked about what happens at the Opening Institute, where a district collects its people together prior to the opening of school for the year and the return of the students to their schools. The answer is actually very important: we look to cast a vision, unite our team, and offer employees an over-arching philosophy that will offer support of everything else we do for the school year. This podcast is much longer than the first, as I work back through the speech delivered to the staff on August 23rd, 2021, at the kick-off for District 161. We will return to shorter, more typical episodes next time. Enjoy!

The 2021-2022 School Year is right around the corner in Summit Hill School District 161 in Frankfort, Mokena, and Tinley Park, Illinois! With that being said, here are a few thoughts that will help steer our direction in the inaugural Superintendent's podcast by Dr. Paul McDermott.