Parent-volunteer ever ready to roll up her sleeves

BY KAREN BERKOWITZ | kberkowitz@pioneerlocal.com November 12, 2012 8:34AM

Red Oak School parent-volunteer Susan Kaden of Highland Park (left) interacts with pupils (from left) Adam Agonoy, Jack Marcus and Johan Palmer during a book fair she organized. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media

AGE: 37

AVOCATION: Red Oak School volunteer

WORDS TO LIVE BY: “By volunteering, I communicate the value I place on education, not only for my own children, for a generation of children.”

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Updated: May 23, 2013 4:55PM

S usan Kaden’s volunteer work at Red Oak School recently earned her an Award of Excellence from the State Board of Education. “From the most mundane to the most challenging task, Susan is always ready to roll up her sleeves,” observed Red Oak Principal Jeanne Banas.

Kaden serves on the PTA’s Welcoming Committee, organizes the Book Fair, leads the Social Action Committee and plans assemblies to reinforce positive behavior. Every Friday, she takes photos of students who’ve been named Red Oak Rocket winners to promote students’ pride in their own accomplishment. She’s also a prime mover behind the annual 5K run benefiting North Shore District 112’s educational foundation.

Q. You previously taught in a diverse high school setting in Evanston, working with high achievers and struggling students. Has that experience influenced your volunteer work at Red Oak School?

A. I know all students are capable of being successful in a school environment; it is a matter of finding opportunities and approaches that allow for that success. At Red Oak, I have the opportunity to enhance the work of the terrific teachers by helping create opportunities for students to feel successful. For example, service learning projects can be empowering and transformative to a young person who otherwise may have trouble connecting with conventional academic work.

Q. You started volunteering at Red Oak when your sons were in kindergarten and have taken on more leadership roles over time. What drives your commitment?

A. I feel strongly that education is a collaborative effort between parents, teachers and administrators. Strong schools must have strong parental involvement.

Q. You do a lot as a member of the school’s PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) team to reward positive behavior. How does that help the school overall?

A. The PBIS model not only promotes good behavior, but uses common language and appropriate modeling to do so. This provides students and staff a clear understanding of the behavior expectations. Students in this environment feel safe and are more likely to experience success and realize their potential.

Q. You’ve organized student fund-raising projects for hurricane and tsunami victims. I’m told you also went a step farther to help staff create lessons related to the projects. Why was that important to you?

A. An educational component adds significant value to any social action project. When students are engaged in a topic, identify a problem and then set a course to address that problem, they participate in a powerful learning and problem-solving experience. It was a joy to collaborate with creative, motivated teachers on these projects.

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