The path to Trico for Amanda Speith began with an unexpected invitation. A native of Pittsfield in central Illinois, she came south for college at SIU, met her husband, and never left. It was more than just a new hometown—it was a calling that would tie her family to the school district in lasting ways. The auditorium at Trico High School even bears the name of her late father-in-law, Gerald Speith, a former teacher and current member of Trico Board of Education, a testament to the family’s deep musical and educational roots in the community.

Today, Amanda serves as Trico’s Dean of Students, a role that blends her background in social work with her passion for building a school culture where every child feels valued. “I started here as the coordinator of student success,” she explained. “At the time, social workers were just starting to come into schools, and I was one of the first. I didn’t have my Professional Educator License (PEL) yet, but I had my master’s in social work. Once I earned the credential, I became a school social worker and eventually the dean of students. This is my third year in that role.”

Her days revolve around what she calls “the climate and culture of the school.” That means handling discipline, yes, but in a way that emphasizes learning and growth rather than punishment. “We do more of a conscious discipline,” she said. “If you make a mess in the cafeteria, you help clean the cafeteria. If you mark up the walls, you help clean them. We want consequences that fit the behavior, and we always have conversations. What choice did you make? What could have been a better choice? What would the outcome have been then?”

It’s an approach rooted in her social work training. “I want them to walk away not just corrected, but equipped,” she said. One way she reinforces that is through PBIS—Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. At Trico, that takes the shape of a school store where students can “buy” items using dollars they earn for positive behaviors tracked in a system called Kickboard. One month it might be Bluetooth speakers or craft kits, another time Squishmallows or remote control cars. Last year, through a combination of donations and school funds, Trico even gave away 12 bicycles—two per grade level in the elementary school. “The kids were so excited,” Amanda said. “And the staff loved seeing that positivity ripple through the building.”

That positivity is needed now more than ever, she added, because the world children inhabit today is far different from the one their grandparents knew. “Everything is instant—Google, Siri, Amazon. They don’t have to wait for anything,” Amanda said. “And social media puts pressures on kids that older generations never faced. The selfies, the comparisons—it’s a lot.” At Trico, social-emotional learning (SEL) starts in kindergarten and builds each year, teaching students to name and manage emotions and to make healthier choices. “Every year we see improvements in behavior when we invest in SEL,” Amanda said. “Our major behaviors are going down. Kids are still kids—they’ll always make mistakes—but the trajectory is better.”

The work is not without its challenges. “There are days when I feel prickly,” she admitted with a laugh. “That’s what we call it in the office. I’ll say, ‘I’m getting a little prickly, guys, I need a minute.’ Then I step away, decompress, and reset. Because it’s not about me—it’s about the kids and what they need.” Her faith is her compass. “I lean on God every day,” Amanda said. “If I’m struggling to see a child the way I need to, I pray for a change in perspective. I want to be their light.”

That light shines brightest in the small victories. Amanda recalled one boy who had spent years struggling with behavior and frequent detentions. This year, for the first time, he’s thriving. “He came to me and said, ‘I’m not in detention anymore—can I come sit with you anyway?’ That relationship means more to me than anything else.”

Amanda is quick to emphasize that she doesn’t do this work alone. “I literally could not do my job without every single person here,” she said. “Secretaries, teachers, custodians, aides, cooks, principals—everyone plays a role. If they have good social-emotional health, the kids will too. It all builds on itself.”

When she explains Trico to outsiders, Amanda doesn’t hesitate: “It’s a family,” she said. “Every family has shining moments and darker moments, but at the end of the day, you come together and get through it. That’s what makes Trico special.”

Her words capture not just her role, but the spirit of the district itself—one where pride runs deep, challenges are met with compassion, and students are reminded daily that they matter.