Lake County Gazette

The start of kindergarten at Coal City Community Unit School District 1 has focused on helping students feel secure and connected as they adjust to a new environment. Educators emphasize that social-emotional learning is a key part of these first days, providing the basis for future academic and personal growth.

Students are meeting new classmates and learning classroom routines through structured activities and play. Teachers use patient instruction and modeling to help children manage their behavior, interact with peers, and explore different activities during periods such as Free Choice.

Mr. Pfeifer said, “we've already created a stoplight and a school bus based on stories we’ve read, which sparked great conversations about safety, responsibility, and working together. These early experiences are teaching us not just how to follow directions and stay focused, but how to be part of a caring classroom community.”

Teachers note that simple acts like waiting patiently or using polite language contribute significantly to student development. The classroom aims to be more than an academic space; it is designed as an inclusive environment where every child feels they belong.

Coal City Community Unit School District 1 serves Grundy and Will counties through several schools including Coal City Early Childhood Center, Coal City Elementary School, Coal City High School, Coal City Intermediate School, and Coal City Middle School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data, the district employs 153 teachers who earn an average salary of $69,297 before pension contributions; most are women (77.9 percent), while men make up 22.1 percent of the teaching staff. No teacher in the district has more than ten absences in a school year (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

Demographically, the student population is primarily White (86.9 percent), with Hispanic students representing 9.6 percent; Black and Asian students each account for 0.6 percent (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In fiscal year 2020, the district spent $21,619 per student for a total expenditure of $47 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).