District 87 is proud to highlight Mrs. Ashley Schnittker as she retires from her role as D87’s Associate Director of Student Services, marking the end of a 20-year chapter in her second career! Before entering education Ashley had a career in Food and Nutrition, where she served as Associate Director of Campus Dining Services at ISU. However, her drive to make positive differences in others' lives brought a career change to education. Ashley earned a second bachelor's degree in Special Education in 2005 followed by a master's in Education Administration and Foundations in 2019. Some of Ashley’s milestones and contributions to D87 include advocating for Assistive Technology, improving learning for students with special needs, overseeing the development and execution of MTSS, enhancing support for all students, and working closely with staff in developing tailored supports and services for special education students across the district, to name a few! Her dedication to inclusivity, innovation, and quality education has definitely left a lasting mark on D87 and the piece of advice that she would like to share encompasses everything she has worked towards. Ashley's Advice: inspired by author Paula Kluth’s, emphasizes the importance of 'presuming competence' - advocating for the belief that all students, including those with disabilities, can learn and succeed.
What’s next for Ashley? With retirement on the horizon, Ashley is excited about spending time with her grandchildren, traveling to destinations like Australia and Costa Rica, improving her golf game, taking pickleball lessons, and giving back to the community through volunteering.
Ashley shares that it has been an absolute privilege and honor to be a part of D87 and we feel the same about having Mrs. Ashley Schnittker as part of the D87 family for these past 20 years. Congratulations on your retirement Ashley, you will be missed!