Lake County Gazette

Grayslake Community High School District 127 will host the Lake County Manufacturing Alliance on September 17, offering a tour of its manufacturing and technology labs. The event aims to demonstrate how the district prepares students for future careers.

Gina Schuyler, CTE Department Chair for Careers and Community Partnerships, has played a central role in linking classroom learning with career opportunities. In 2024, Schuyler received Lake County Partners’ inaugural Talent Advancement Award for her contributions to advancing student career pathways. She was also invited to contribute to an initiative where she discussed D127’s summer manufacturing camps and their impact on students' perceptions of workforce opportunities.

“These camps are about more than teaching skills,” Schuyler wrote. “They’re about building bridges—between schools, communities, and industries—so every student sees a place for themselves in the workforce.”

Under Schuyler's leadership, D127 offers summer manufacturing programs where middle schoolers engage in engineering and design projects such as making custom light sabers and welding fire pits. An Inclusion Camp provides hands-on technical experiences tailored for students with unique learning needs.

The programs connect students with local employers through tours of businesses like Laser Precision, Fischer Paper Products, and Gold Bond, Inc. Manufacturing Instructor Chris Ellingsen noted: “When students walk through a plant, they see how the things they build in our labs can translate into meaningful work. It’s eye-opening and inspiring.”

Business and community leaders attending the upcoming tour will observe firsthand how education at D127 intersects with industry needs.

“Gina’s work exemplifies our mission of empowering students through authentic learning,” said Superintendent Dr. Mikkel Storaasli. “She is opening doors not just for students, but for our entire community.”

Schuyler has also supported initiatives such as the Illinois Career Pathway Endorsement and regional partnerships that expand internships for students. Her efforts have helped position D127 as a leader in career-connected education within Lake County.

At the core of her work is a focus on student success. “At the end of the day, this isn’t just about manufacturing,” she said. “It’s about showing students they belong in the future workforce—and giving them the tools to succeed.”

Grayslake Community High School District 127 serves Lake County and includes Grayslake Central High School and Grayslake North High School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district employs 195 teachers who earn an average salary of $79,647; nearly 60 percent are women (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data, there are no teachers in the district with more than ten absences per year (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

Demographically, the student body is 58.5 percent White, 25 percent Hispanic, 7.2 percent Asian, and 4.3 percent Black (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In fiscal year 2020, spending per student totaled $31,874 (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).