By Dr. Jeff Feucht, Superintendent
This quarterly feature focuses on exceptional District 117 educators who truly embody our D117 Portrait of a Graduate. Our fall edition features Chris Bailey from ACHS and Tyra Stall from LCHS! I was honored to sit down and interview each of them and learned how, through their unique approaches and dedication, they serve as shining examples of the competencies we aim to instill in all of our Sequoits & Eagles by the time they graduate!
Chris Bailey: A Model of Emotional Intelligence, Collaboration, and Courage
Chris Bailey has served ACHS for 18 years, teaching Physical Education and Driver Education while coaching track and cross country. Bailey is far more than a teacher or coach. Chris is a trajectory-changing trusted adult who has shaped lives through intentional relationship-building, high expectations, and a belief in student growth.
My photo with Chris is in front of Charlie Smith, an IHSA State Champion cross country runner he coached who won the school’s first XC State Championship in 2019. This was only the second state championship in school history after Patrick Schoenfelder won a state championship in wrestling in 2017!
What Chris was too modest to tell me in his interview, but ye olde Google machine spilled, was that he personally won THREE IHSA State Championships at Westmont (IHSA Cross Country in 1993 & 1994 and IHSA Track & Field 3200 Meter in 1995)! After graduating, Bailey attended ISU, where he won 10 individual conference championships and was an All-American in 1999 in the 10,000 meters. He was named the Illinois State University Athlete of the Year in 1998 and 1999 and inducted into ISU’s Hall of Fame in 2012.
When asked which Portrait of a Graduate competency most resonated with him, Bailey quickly pointed to "Is Emotionally Intelligent," sharing, "I'm a relationship guy. I feel like if I get to know the kids beyond just their classroom teacher, if they get to know a little bit more about me, I think that trust helps." This commitment reflects our goal that a District 117 graduate "Builds and sustains strong, healthy relationships with peers and adults," and "Practices responsible decision-making and considers impact on others."
Bailey's humble strategies are remarkably powerful. From "getting to know you" forms at the start of the semester to revisiting those responses to spark meaningful conversations months later, Bailey models what it means to connect with students in purposeful ways. He even asks students to name an adult in the building they trust, a research-based practice from SEL programs that gives staff vital insight. "Most students list someone. If they don't, I take that as a challenge to become that person for them," he said.
His commitment to collaboration with both students and colleagues is equally impactful. In describing his shared office and teaching work with Driver Ed colleagues Bryn Nottoli and Rob Hafer he praised their synergy: "We're constantly brainstorming how to revamp our behind-the-wheel curriculum. Bryn's not afraid to try new things, and we bounce ideas off each other." These habits reflect our Portrait of a Graduate “Collaborates” goal that graduates "Take responsibility for self and team through shared, focused leadership" and "Actively listen to discover mutual understanding by providing and receiving feedback."
Bailey also embodies the Portrait competency "Is Courageous," noting that many students in his Driver Ed course are nervous or afraid to drive. He helps them "plan to succeed" by talking through their fears and creating attainable goals. In PE, he encourages students to focus on growth: "I'm not expecting you to break five minutes in the mile, just do your best. If you did two push-ups today, let's try for three next time."
One of the most moving moments in our interview came when Bailey shared how a former athlete, whose father had passed away, found calm in seeing Bailey at her wedding years later. "She told her mom afterward, 'I was nervous until I saw Coach Bailey. Then I felt okay.'" This is what it means to make a lasting impact.
Chris Bailey lives the competencies we hope to develop in every student. His ability to model emotional intelligence, collaborate with integrity, and help students face their fears has changed the trajectories of countless students and athletes and serves as an inspiration for the rest of us!
Tyra Stall: A Science Educator Who Leads With Courage, Critical Thinking, and Collaboration
At LCHS, science teacher and instructional coach Tyra Stall is a dynamic example of what it looks like to bring our Portrait of a Graduate competencies to life. With 22 years of experience across middle school, high school, and even higher education, Tyra blends deep content knowledge with a passion for building confidence and skills in students and colleagues alike.
Stall points to the Portrait competency "Is Courageous" as a foundational part of her classroom culture. She encourages students to take academic risks, noting, "We actually kind of plan to fail. There might be mistakes. We're going to make it better for the next round." In her words, "If you do something perfect the first time, then you haven't put enough risk into the project." This directly aligns with our vision of a graduate who "Creates, monitors and reflects upon ambitious goals," and who "Advocates for self and others in a socially responsible and empathetic manner."
She also fosters a culture of critical thinking. Every day, her science classes start with a challenge problem, and students know they aren’t expected to get it right the first time. Instead, Tyra walks them through their thinking. She described a recent osmosis lab where one group had opposite results from every other group, and the class analyzed the anomaly together. In doing so, Stall brings to life our definition of a graduate who "Examines and challenges assumptions in making decisions based on a thorough understanding of authentic evidence," and who "Consistently improves the quality of one’s own thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing."
Collaboration is another of Ms. Stall's strengths. "I don't know how you learn without talking to people," she said, describing how her students share ideas, model for each other, and take turns leading. This collaborative spirit is just as strong among her peers. "Our science team is amazing. If I’m struggling with content or a student situation, I know I can go to anyone on the team and talk it through." This reflects our goal that students "Inspire and motivate others through the sharing of ideas toward a common purpose" and that they "Actively listen to discover mutual understanding by providing and receiving feedback."
Perhaps what stands out most about Tyra is how she walks alongside students for years. Having taught many students in both middle and high school, she returned to the classroom after a stint in EdTech because she missed those daily student connections. One student who once dreaded math and science is now majoring in STEM at college after being inspired in Ms. Stall’s class. She changed the path of that student’s life through her dedication!
Tyra Stall's classroom is a space where it's safe to take risks, where mistakes become stepping stones, and where students learn to think deeply and work together. She doesn’t just prepare students for science tests, she prepares them to persevere through the rollercoaster obstacles we all face living our lives and thinking through challenges!
Mr. Bailey and Ms. Stall each offer a compelling reminder of how our staff can reflect and reinforce the same skills we hope to see in every graduate: the ability to communicate, collaborate, think critically, embrace diversity, be emotionally intelligent, and act with courage. Their example lights the path forward for all of us at D117.