It is my great privilege to welcome you to this inaugural issue of SchoolStory, a semi-annual publication that brings together voices, achievements, and hopes from across the schools of ROE #30, serving Perry, Jackson, Union, Pulaski, and Alexander Counties. In these pages, you will find not only stories of students and teachers but reflections of entire communities that stand behind them. Together, they tell a powerful truth: our public schools and cooperatives are more than classrooms. They are engines of opportunity, centers of belonging, and sources of pride that stretch far beyond district boundaries.

This issue’s theme, “A Celebration of Local Excellence and Regional Impact,” captures what makes Southern Illinois education remarkable. Local excellence is visible every day—in the gratitude movement at Tamaroa, in the friendships and family legacies that shape Jonesboro and Egyptian, in the vibrant arts of Pinckneyville and Cobden, and in the reading revolutions taking root in Anna’s classrooms. Each story shines with a kind of determination that can only be forged in close-knit communities.

But excellence in these communities never stays contained. It radiates outward, creating regional impact that benefits us all. We see it in the career pathways at Trico and Carbondale, where students prepare for futures in healthcare, skilled trades, business, and higher education. We see it in Unity Point’s celebration of diversity that mirrors our wider world. We see it in Murphysboro’s imaginative reading tree, in Dongola’s partnership with Vienna that ensures high schoolers thrive, and in the entrepreneurial spirit nurtured through Shawnee’s involvement in the Union County CEO Program.

Athletics, arts, and innovation are also woven throughout these pages. From Cairo’s revitalized sports programs to Carbondale’s commitment to every student’s pathway, from Giant City’s Wellness Wednesdays to Elverado’s House System, our schools are finding creative ways to prepare children not only for tests, but for life. These are not isolated efforts—they ripple across our region, strengthening bonds and building resilience in every town and every household.

Most importantly, you will discover a common thread: people. Teachers who stay for decades, students who rise to challenges, families who support one another, and communities that rally to ensure no child is left without opportunity. Whether through music, reading, athletics, science, or service, the heartbeat of Southern Illinois education is the people who care deeply for its future.

As you turn these pages, I invite you to reflect on the extraordinary work being done in our schools and cooperatives. Celebrate it. Share it. And recognize that you, as community members and taxpayers, are a vital part of this ongoing story. Together, we must build a future where every child has the chance to succeed, and where local excellence becomes a regional impact felt for generations.

With gratitude and dedication,

Matthew Hickam
Regional Superintendent of Schools, ROE #30