Lake County Gazette

Grayslake Central and Grayslake North High School student leaders participated in the Northern Lake County Conference (NLCC) Leadership Conference, joining students from across the region to discuss leadership principles and strategies.

The keynote speaker, Johan Khalilian, addressed the group with a message encouraging students to "lead with authenticity and be the best version of yourself." His remarks were noted as inspiring by attendees and sparked ongoing discussions during the conference sessions.

A session titled "Collaboration = Success" was highlighted by both Dianna Repp, Student Life Coordinator at Central, and Nikki Kirchway, Student Life Coordinator at North. Repp said, “Students left with clear action steps and were energized about involving more groups in events.” Kirchway added, “They loved connecting with students across the conference; it helped them realize the great things happening in other schools and sparked new ideas.”

Throughout the event, students interacted with peers from different districts. Kirchway observed, “It was amazing to see their growth. By the end of the day, you could feel the trust forming and see genuine excitement to bring fresh ideas home.”

Following the conference, Grayslake Central students began planning ways to increase participation in their schoolwide food drive. At Grayslake North, efforts are being made to encourage inclusion by bringing more voices into club activities. The Human Understanding Group (HUG) at North also adopted new approaches for Freshman Knights Block.

Repp commented on these developments: “These experiences show students that leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all. They come back more confident, more collaborative, and more invested in their school community.” Kirchway stated: “Opportunities like this are essential. They help shape a positive school culture and remind students that their voice, and how they use it, matters.”

Grayslake Central High School and Grayslake North High School are part of Grayslake Community High School District 127 in Lake County (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to data from the Illinois State Board of Education, District 127 employs 195 teachers who earn an average salary of $79,647 before pension contributions; nearly 60 percent are women while just over 40 percent are men. No teachers had more than ten absences in a school year (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

Demographically, District 127 is comprised of approximately 58.5 percent White students, 25 percent Hispanic students, 7.2 percent Asian students, and 4.3 percent Black students (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In fiscal year 2020, per-student spending was $31,874 for a total district expenditure of $88 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).