The Kaneland High School Armory emerged as a result of the identified need to strengthen the prior resource study hall model. The Armory project has been in full implementation for three years, providing resource services and study skills instruction to students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 plans.

The Armory focuses on accommodations and consultation services to support instruction in all classrooms. The teachers in the Armory help students with homework, study skills and provide aid with social skills.

There will be a change for the Armory next year that will include two levels of study skills. Freshmen and sophomores will receive more focused support and juniors and seniors will have their own study skills to work on individual goals, according to staff member Kristen Faber said.

The team of teachers consists of Richard Zabelin, Nora Tomasik, Suzan Blackney and Sandy Faletto. This team’s job is to identify needs, explore best practices to meet these needs and create a program that has now grown and spread to other schools anddistricts.

Also, the paraprofessional aides are an integral part of the support system for all students at Kaneland and within the Armory.

“We, as an Armory staff, help provide the necessary skills to help students achieve college and career readiness,” Faletto said.

The high quality of this program along with the hard work and dedication of  Sandy Faletto, Kristen Faber and the Armory staff led to the nomination for the Merit Award of Excellence of 2012. Due to their forward thinking and implementation of a new and innovative way to meet student needs through presenting the Plan-Do-Study Act model for school improvement, which is trying a plan, looking at the results and then making changes to improve that program or service.

They won at the National Quality Education Conference in Louisville, Kentucky on Nov. 11 and 12, much to the delight of the teachers.

“I was very excited to see the Armory win the merit award because I knew all of the hard work put forth by our special ed staff and our students paid off and was recognized,” Faletto said.

After winning the award, Faletto’s new goal is to create an even more inviting and positive environment with many resources and services available to help all students no matter what their learning style is to be successful.

“The Armory is truly a great place to be because of our students and all of their efforts and enthusiasm,” Faletto said.

On the other hand, Faber is already trying to spread out learning and teaching skills and choices throughout different districts and schools.

“We have shared our idea of having an armory to other schools, and they’re starting similar programs to help their students,” Faber said.

Faletto and Faber’s students also expressed a delight in the award.

“I feel proud of being an Armory student because it makes class feel special. It’s exciting knowing that the class won an award because they really deserve it,” sophomore Cassandra Stasik said.