WHD SD147 introduces blended co-teaching model to align specialized services with Thornton
The district will implement a new blended co-teaching model for eighth graders receiving specialized services to ease their transition into high school.
Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, West Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147 will shift to a blended co-teaching model for eighth grade students receiving specialized instruction that aligns with Thornton Township High School’s teaching model.
The change comes as Thornton begins phasing out self-contained classrooms. According to assistant superintendent Theresa Smith, if a student struggles academically in a co-teaching environment, they will get placed in a separate therapeutic school. It’s unclear why the changes are happening.
“I’m going to do a blended model for our eighth grade students where we are preparing them as much as we possibly can to be in a co-taught classroom,” Smith said during the board’s regular meeting on May 4. She noted that the alternative schools do not offer extracurricular activities like volleyball and band, “so that takes away [the students’] experiences.”
As the District adjusts, Smith said, “Our goal is inclusion. Our goal is to ensure that our students are prepared with grade-level content.” She stressed that there is no “special education curriculum” but rather general education with “accommodation and modifications” for students.
“I am concerned about our students going over to Thornton next year,” Smith said, “so I want to make sure that we do everything we can [so] that they’re at least in that environment with their gen-ed peers and to improve the coordination between general and special education.”
New school leadership
The board approved new leadership for both Rosa L. Parks Middle School and Lincoln Early Learning Center for next school year.
Current Parks principal Erick Garza is taking a new position at Oswego School District 308’s Hunt Elementary School, the Shaw Local reported. Kevin Johns will join as Parks’ principal. He is currently the principal of Independence School at Special Education Joint Agreement School District 802 in Chicago Heights.
Kimberly Porter-Beamon, assistant principal of Posen-Robbins School District 143.5’s Kellar Middle School, will become the principal of Lincoln Early Learning Center. The Center’s current principal, Dr. Sarah Midlock, has been reassigned to Assistant Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessments.
All of these changes will go into effect July 1, 2026.
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