North Central College announces new educational partnership with Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

New partnership expands program outreach for its Master of Education in Educational Leadership

North Central College’s School of Education and Health Sciences and the School of Graduate and Professional Studies have forged a partnership with the Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (IL ASCD) to promote character education across Illinois. The partnership enables North Central to expand its outreach for the Master of Education in Educational Leadership degree program to IL ASCD’s more than 2,000 members. 

The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development is an international professional organization dedicated to creating meaningful partnerships with groups that support their core mission in championing educators who adhere to a “whole child” approach. Launched in 2007, ASCD's Whole Child Initiative is an effort to change the conversation about education from a focus on narrowly defined academic achievement to one that promotes the long-term development and success of children. Members of the IL ASCD advocacy task force continue to keep the names of ASCD and IL ASCD in the minds of Illinois legislators as the go-to organization on learning.

North Central College is committed to inspiring well-equipped, principled, responsible leaders. Through a $3.2 million grant—the College’s largest ever private grant—North Central has launched character education initiatives designed to have a lasting impact on educators, aspiring leaders and administrators. These initiatives focus on social, emotional and ethical competencies with an ultimate goal to nurture and foster cultures of character in the school systems in which they serve.

“This partnership underscores North Central’s important role and history of success in helping prepare school leaders to create cultures of character within their schools and communities across Illinois,” said North Central College President Troy Hammond. “Thanks to the support of the Kern Family Foundation, we’re able to make our character education initiatives available to more educators throughout the region.”

Commenting on the partnership, Ryan Nevius, executive director of IL ASCD said, "The demands of the 21st century require a new approach to education, one that fully prepares students for college, career and citizenship. Research, practice, and common sense confirm that a whole-child approach to learning will develop and prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow. Partnerships with stakeholders such as North Central College help ASCD build a foundation for this critical work.”

Dr. Bruce Spitzer, professor of education and chair of the department of education at North Central, recognizes the power of working with the IL ASCD, “We are so proud to be actively engaged with this well-respected organization. We look forward to opportunities ahead that will allow us to share resources, explore new ideas and address educational challenges to improve teaching and learning.”

The partnership also extends North Central’s ability to reach educators currently underrepresented in administrative ranks, including those who work in underserved communities and who have demonstrated a commitment to fostering a culture of character in the school setting.

For more information about the College’s character initiatives and Master of Education in Educational Leadership degree program, visit  https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/character-initiatives.