A big shoutout to all the incredible administrative professionals across our district! Thank you for keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Your hard work and dedication make a difference every day. ✨
From left to right: Teacher Cassandra Salas-Mikaio, Principal Joey DiIulio, Principal Patrick Versluis, Superintendent Dr. Sharon Williams, Teacher Angie Paprocki, and Instructional Coach Bettina McWilliams.
We are thrilled to announce Dr. Yolanda Grandberry Pugh as the new Dean of Students at Rock Island High School, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year!
Dr. Grandberry-Pugh currently serves as the Interim Dean at RIHS. She is a 20-year veteran of the district and has served as a teacher in the English department at RIHS, principal designee at one of the elementary schools in the district, and is a participant in the newly formed Aspiring Leaders Academy.
Congratulations, Dr. Grandberry Pugh!
This year, Thomas Jefferson scholars set an ambitious goal: 11,000 books checked out from the library. Last week, they didn’t just meet it – they surpassed it weeks ahead of schedule!
This milestone reflects the power of the Reading Revolution – scholars actively engaging with books, building strong literacy habits, and growing as readers every day.
Congratulations, Bulldogs! Keep reading!
We are thrilled to announce Mr. Mario Sherrell as the new principal of Thurgood Marshall Learning Center, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year!
Mr. Sherrell was selected to serve as Interim Principal of Thurgood Marshall Learning Center in January of 2026. During his time as Interim Principal, he has worked to improve daily attendance practices, increase scholar engagement, and implement consistent, trauma-informed approaches to student support.
Additionally, he has prioritized relationship-building with staff, scholars, and families, helping to foster a more positive and structured school climate.
Congratulations, Mr. Sherrell!
Rocky pride was on full display last night as we celebrated our Rocky Special Olympics bowling and basketball teams, as well our Rocky Swim Team at the April 14 Board of Education meeting!
The Special Olympics basketball team earned an incredible 2nd-place finish at the state tournament – an outstanding accomplishment that reflects their hard work, determination, and teamwork. Congratulations to coaches Jeff Martens, Lisa Martens, and Meghan Miers for their leadership in guiding our team to this outstanding achievement!
We couldn’t be prouder to celebrate our two incredible RIHS Special Olympics bowlers, David Pack-Lewis and Izaak McMeans, for placing first and second in state! Special shoutout to their dedicated coach, Stacy Rel.
We are also especially proud of Andrew Oliver and Nathan Anderson for representing Rocky at the state level for diving and the 100-meter butterfly! We extend our appreciation to Head Coach Rebecca Brown and Head Boys Diving Coach Sarah Fueling for their leadership in guiding this team to success!
Well deserved, and congratulations to all involved!
Lillian shared her book A Different Set of Eyes, inspired by her brother, Joe Foran, who has autism. In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, Lillian and her family are proud to raise awareness by sharing their story, promoting understanding and inclusion through the power of storytelling.
Thank you to Lillian and her family for inspiring our scholars!
We’d like to give a huge thank you to our amazing RIMSD librarians:
Edie Crayne, Denkmann
Elizabeth Saunders, Earl Hanson
Amy Jahn, Edison Jr. High
Lori Gregan, Eugene Field
Sarah Freeman, Eugene Field
Donna Manning, Frances Willard
Shannon Fuhrer, Longfellow
Melissa Knoeferl, Rock Island Academy
Dee Anderson, RI Center for Math & Science
Diana Bush, Ridgewood
Mary Mendelin, Rock Island High School
Amy Curtiss, Rock Island High School
Amy Marshall, Thomas Jefferson
Karen Long, Washington Jr. High
Your passion, dedication, and the love you bring to your libraries make a lasting impact on our scholars and school communities. Thank you for all that you do!
Mark your calendars! Children who turn five on or before September 1, 2026, are eligible to start school in the 2026-2027 school year in the Rock Island-Milan School District. Below are the upcoming Kindergarten Round-Up dates for all elementary schools.
Rock Island-Milan, as part of our Building Our Future Facility Management Plan, we are excited to share details about an upcoming project and invite you to learn more.
Please join us for a community meeting at Rock Island Academy on Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 5-6 pm to learn more about upcoming construction projects.
Please view the flyer below for more details. We hope to see you there!
During National Assistant Principals Week, we recognize the dedication, leadership, and heart these school leaders bring to their schools every single day.
Take a moment to thank an assistant principal who makes a difference!
On Tuesday, Deputy Superintendent Dase and District Safety Manager Charles Butler visited five schools as “Spring Santas!”
During the spring intersession, scholars had the opportunity to participate in the Spring Break Writing Challenge, crafting letters to share why they would love to receive a specific toy from a curated list.
Congratulations to all the scholars!
Rock Island-Milan,
This is a friendly reminder that all district facilities will be closed on Friday, April 3, in observance of Good Friday!
https://www.rimsd41.org/events
Yesterday, RIMSD41 welcomed partners from ESS (Effective School Solutions) and State Representative Gregg Johnson for a visit focused on scholar well-being.
Guests heard a brief presentation from Principal Turner and ESS about how their partnership is expanding access to mental health care. Rep. Johnson has played a key role in securing funding for these clinical therapy services at Earl Hanson, helping to strengthen the support systems our scholars rely on every day.
Thank you to ESS and Rep. Johnson for continuing to invest in our scholars and this important work!
Rocky was proud to host Senator Mike Halpin as he stopped by to personally congratulate Courtney Walls on her IHSA Girls State Wrestling championship, recognizing her outstanding achievement with an official certificate of recognition. Congratulations again, Courtney! 💪
Happy Paraprofessional Appreciation Day!
Today, RIMSD proudly recognizes the paraprofessionals whose daily contributions make a lasting difference across our schools. Your commitment and care help ensure scholars feel supported, valued, and empowered to learn each day. We are grateful for the impact you make and the role you play in strengthening our school community!
Happy April, Rock Island-Milan!
Here are some important dates to keep in mind for this month.
“Wake up, Mr. West!” ☀️This morning’s inservice kicked off with an energizing message from renowned guest speaker Mr. Damon West, setting the stage for a day of meaningful breakout sessions and professional learning.
A huge thank you to Mr. West for the powerful reminder to be a coffee bean – when the pressure is on, we have the ability to transform the environment around us. That message couldn’t come at a better time!
The 4th quarter is here, and the finish line is in sight. Be a coffee bean. Finish strong!
