The Second Step Curriculum

An experienced educator and administrator, Suzana Ustabecir is an instructional effectiveness specialist for the Chicago Public Schools. In this position, Suzana Ustabecir works toward achieving academic excellence and success for students. One way is to incorporate both social-emotional learning into a curriculum. Ms. Ustabecir has used the Second Step curriculum to bring these principles into the classroom.

Social-emotional learning addresses essential non-academic skills that are necessary for children to succeed at school and through adulthood. These skills include empathy, emotion management and recognition, problem-solving, impulse control, the ability to calm oneself down, communication, and assertiveness. Schools that incorporate social-emotional learning into their classrooms experience a noticeable difference in cooperation, academic performance, and improved confidence among students. 

Second Step is one curriculum that helps teachers easily implement social-emotional lessons into their weekly routine. Teachers explain important concepts with the help of pictures, video, or audio, and then help students practice those concepts in group discussions, writing assignments, or in partner activities. Teachers reinforce those concepts and communicate them to parents so that education can continue at home.

Resulting from decades of research and experience, Second Step is currently being used in over 70 schools with 14 million students each year. As a result, teachers and administrators are helping their schools to be environments that are marked by safety and respect.

New Leader's Roberts Award for School Innovation

Suzana Ustabecir spent six years as a math and science teacher and seven years as a principal before taking on her current position with Chicago Public Schools as an instructional effectiveness specialist. As an education professional, Suzana Ustabecir engages with a number of organizations, including New Leaders for New Schools.

New Leaders for New Schools was founded in 2001 with just 14 individuals enrolled in the inaugural Aspiring Principals program. Over the last 17 years, the organization has trained more than 3,000 educational leaders responsible for nearly 500,000 students in over 30 cities throughout the United States. Every year, New Leaders, working with national board member Linnea Roberts, recognizes exceptional and groundbreaking solutions to critical school challenges with the Roberts Award for School Innovation.

The award, which comes with a $25,000 prize to be used for student enrichment projects, takes into account virtually all aspects of a learning environment, from school culture to college preparedness. In order to be eligible for the Roberts Award for School Innovation, a school’s principal or leader must have completed the Aspiring Principals program and have demonstrated a strong commitment to the organization and its goals. Ten awards are distributed every year to enrichment projects with the potential to effect as many students as possible. More information about the program can be found online at www.newleaders.org.

Three Places to Experience in Dubrovnik

Suzana Ustabecir went on to achieve her master’s of education in administration and supervision at National Louis University. Suzana Ustabecir of Chicago is an experienced traveler

An educator based in Chicago, Illinois, Suzana Ustabecir has over 15 years of experience in the education field. Suzana Ustabecir’s hobbies include traveling, and she recently visited Dubrovnik, Croatia, often called the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” Three things to experience in this ancient city include: 

1. The City Walls. Dubrovnik is surrounded by massive and ancient castle walls, built from the 13th to 15th centuries to protect against Turkish invaders. Today, visitors can take the mile trek and snap some photos of the city below. 

2. Lokrum Island. An uninhabited island just a 10-minute ferry ride from town, Lokrum is a popular place for sunbathing and hiking. It also boasts botanical gardens and an old monastery to explore. 

3. Franciscan Monastery. Having operated for over 700 years, this ornate monastery lets visitors see ancient laboratory equipment in its museum while also enjoying its architecture. The monastery is located in Old Town on Dubrovnik’s main street.

The New Leaders Aspiring Principals Program

An experienced educator and educational administrator, Suzana Ustabecir has served for more than 15 years with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), first as a middle school math and science teacher and then as a principal. For the past year, she has served CPS as an instructional effectiveness specialist. In addition to her work with CPS, Suzana Ustabecir remains actively affiliated with the New Leaders organization.

Formerly known as New Leaders for New Schools, New Leaders is dedicated to training transformational principals and other educational leaders. It launched its flagship program, Aspiring Principals, in 2001. 

Seeing that principal training and preparation was often disconnected from the real world of schools and classrooms, New Leaders designed Aspiring Principals to help school principals lead with an approach that enables teachers to grow and students to learn. The program takes place in three basic stages. The training stage consists of a three-week Summer Foundation, one to two in-person group training sessions per month, various online tutorials, and one to two years of induction support. 

The practice stage consists of a yearlong residency that includes both team participation and leadership. Finally, the feedback stage consists of multiple one-on-one critical sessions with an expert coach.

New Leaders' Principal Institute

Since 2016, Suzana Ustabecir has been serving as instructional effectiveness specialist for Chicago Public Schools. Suzana Ustabecir received her master's degree in educational leadership from National Louis University and underwent the principal residency program under New Leaders for New Schools.

Since launching its Aspiring Principals program in 2001, New Leaders has helped train over 2,000 education leaders, consequently influencing nearly half a million students in over 20 cities across the country. At the core of the organization's programs is the Principal Institute. 

The Principal Institute aims to address the apparent lack of access to high-quality training for principals, providing targeted, job-connected support to those who are currently serving as principals or assistant principals.

What makes training at Principal Institute unique is its research-tested curriculum that offers training, practice, and feedback. As a result, trainees are subjected to real-world practice in order to learn relevant solutions to particular challenges in their own work areas. Moreover, trainees are equipped with useful skills imparted to them by expert coaches – former principals who provide necessary feedback throughout the training.

In order to support New Leaders' programs, or for more information, visit NewLeaders.org.

Key Benefits of Social and Emotional Learning

As an instructional effectiveness specialist for the Chicago Public Schools, Suzana Ustabecir draws on more than 15 years of experience as a school leader within the district. Suzana Ustabecir has implemented the Social and Emotional Learning Standards Curriculum and has introduced several new techniques within that content area.

Social and emotional skills play a key role in a student's ability to succeed, both in school and beyond. Students who engage in social and emotional learning develop the ability to understand their own feelings, values, strengths, and weaknesses, and can connect their thoughts to their behaviors. They learn to manage strong emotions and control their impulses in pursuit of a higher goal, such as school success, while making decisions that benefit themselves and others.

Social and emotional learning also teaches students how to understand others and to build positive relationships. This involves the development of active listening and respectful communication skills, as well as the ability to diffuse conflict.

Data indicates that these learning processes reduce levels of aggression in schools and correlate with higher levels of scholarly achievement. Experts attribute this to the ability of social and emotional education to cultivate a culture of respect and emotional safety, which in turn improves students' ability to focus on their goals. Meanwhile, students develop into confident and emotionally secure individuals who can thrive as productive citizens.

Places to Visit in Dubrovnik

Some of Suzana Ustabecir’s accomplishments include
starting focus teams that permitted students in grades 3-8 to achieve
 a 70 percent attainment on the NWEA test in both math and
 reading. Suzana Ustabecir, avid traveler

A graduate of National Louis University in Chicago with a master of education in educational leadership, Suzana Ustabecir serves as an instructional effectiveness specialist with Chicago Public Schools. In her free time, Suzana Ustabecir enjoys traveling and has visited Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Known as the Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is located on the Dalmatian Coast. Here are a few things to see and do in this coastal city:

- Stradun. This 300-meter pedestrian walkway in the center of the city offers a number of restaurants and cafes. The white limestone pavement was laid in 1468, but many of the buildings along the walkway were constructed in the 17th century after the earthquake of 1667. 

- Fort Lovrijenac. Nicknamed Dubrovnik’s Gibraltar, this fortress dates back to the 11th century and features a gateway and two drawbridges to protect against invaders. 

- The cable car to Mount Srd. Scaling the incline over Old Town, this orange cable car gives riders a great view of the Adriatic Sea. At the top of the mountain, visitors can eat at the Panorama restaurant while they enjoy the view.

Key Skills for Principals and Other School Leaders

As principal of the Harriet E. Sayre Language Academy
in Chicago, Illinois, Suzana Ustabecir achieved
significant student academic, behavioral, and social-emotional
growth while optimizing operational efficiency.Add caption

Suzana Ustabecir has been a part of the education field for nearly two decades, serving Chicago Public Schools in numerous roles. While she currently serves as an instructional effectiveness specialist, Suzana Ustabecir has also been a middle school teacher, resident principal, and principal.

School administrators, especially principals, require a diverse skill set to succeed in the field. Social skills, such as the ability to interact with people effectively and direct them toward a common goal, are essential to working in the school administration field. Principals must be able to remain authoritative without sacrificing approachability. They must also communicate effectively, providing clear direction to school staff and creating a clear sense of expectations.

In addition to these core skills, principals must also be stellar problem solvers. Working in such a position requires a comprehensive understanding of many factors, such as budgetary issues, resource management, and competing needs. Principals must be able to balance these concerns against one another and find a way to improve every element of a school's operations without leaving anything neglected.

New Leaders Transforming Teams Program

Suzana Ustabecir comes to her school
leadership role with a master of education in
 administration and supervision, as well as a
bachelor of arts in elementary education.

Suzana Ustabecir is an experienced schoolteacher and educational administrator who has served multiple principal and assistant/resident principal positions with Chicago Public Schools. Since 2016, she has provided the district with targeted educational services as an instructional effectiveness specialist. To augment and inform her professional activities, Suzana Ustabecir holds active membership in New Leaders.

Originally established as New Leaders for New Schools, the group has helped train and prepare approximately 3,200 educational leaders in 30 cities across the United States. In addition to offering programs for teachers, principals, principal supervisors, and district administrators, the organization helps to build successful instructional teams through its Transforming Teams initiative.

Providing an organized framework for effective collaboration, Transforming Teams balances in-class content, such as research-based online tutorials and case studies, with real-world practice, such as collective instructional planning to meet specific pedagogical priorities. These include helping participants master the best practices of high-functioning teams and use data to support strategic planning with a concentration on standards-aligned instruction..

Chicago Leadership Collaborative (CLC)-Chicago Mayor’s Merit Pay Plan

An experienced resident principal and administrator,
Suzana Ustabecir draws on six years as a cluster
lead teacher at the elementary level.

Suzana Ustabecir maintains a career with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) as an Instructional Effectiveness Specialist. Previously, Suzana Ustabecir served Chicago schools as a K-8 principal from 2009 to 2016. In 2011, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel announced a merit pay plan for Chicago public school Principals known as the Chicago Leadership Collaborative (CLC). 

Developed to increase principals’ accountability and retain highly qualified professionals, the CLC—through state recognition and performance pay — rewards principals for creating environments that promote student success. A total of $5 million was earmarked to fund the performance bonuses, which ranged from $5,000 to $20,000 per principal, for five years. In addition, the CLC established a professional development program aimed at preparing principals to lead schools toward success.

In 2012, when the first round of performance bonuses was awarded, Suzana Ustabecir was one of the 82 Chicago Public Schools principals out of 444 to receive a performance based merit bonus.

Feeling that the school would not have improved without the efforts of everyone, especially the teachers, Suzana Ustabecir decided that the bonus award should go to them. She then donated the entire bonus award to the school to be used for teacher initiatives as decided by teachers.

The Colorful Island of Burano in Venice, Italy

Suzana Ustabecir created a comprehensive strategic
plan and implemented a number of instructional development
 methods, including training programs
and pedagogical focus teams. 

Beginning her teaching career as a magnet cluster lead teacher in the Chicago Public Schools, Suzana Ustabecir went on to serve as a principal, administrator, and, most recently, an instructional effectiveness specialist with the same school system. Suzana Ustabecir enjoys traveling abroad during her free time, citing Burano near Venice, Italy, as one of her favorite destinations. 

An island in the northern part of the Venetian Lagoon approximately 40 minutes from Venice by boat, Burano is known for its colorfully painted homes. With a population of around 3,000, the densely built island is crisscrossed by canals laden with fishing boats that are just as colorful as the buildings. It is also well known for its narrow streets, numerous footbridges, and the famous leaning bell tower at the Church of San Martino. 

Burano is also known for its fine Burano lace. Exported around the world, Burano lace is a source of livelihood for the island’s residents that dates back to the 16th century. For a more comprehensive history of the lace, the Museo del Merletto (Museum of Lacemaking), found in the historic Podesta of Torcello, is open to tourists.

The Astonishing City of Dubrovnik

One of Suzana Ustabecir's favorite travel
destinations | Suzana Ustabecir is an avid
world traveler in her free time.

A professional educator in Chicago, Suzana Ustabecir has an admirable track record of elevating a public school’s performance under her leadership as principal. In her time away from school, Suzana Ustabecir enjoys traveling. One of the most memorable places she has visited is the Old City of Dubrovnik in Croatia. 

Located on the Dalmatian coast, the walled city of Dubrovnik was a naval powerhouse beginning in the 13th century. At the height of its glory in the 16th century, it had one of the world’s largest merchant naval fleets. The inhabitants of Dubrovnik became very wealthy and led worldly lives. 

They built magnificent buildings, palaces, monasteries, fountains, and splendid Baroque churches protected by strong fortifications. Today, one can wander into the pedestrian-only Old City and see these astonishing structures, experience the marbled streets, and walk along the massive walls that protected the city. 

Museums filled with artifacts reveal the city’s storied past. To top it off, visitors can head for the beaches and take a dip in the inviting waters of the Adriatic.

Educator and Administrator Suzana Ustabecir

Educator and Administrator Suzana Ustabecir from Suzana Ustabecir on Vimeo.

Chicago-based Suzana Ustabecir is an experienced public school educator and administrator. Starting out as a middle grades teacher at Chopin Elementary School, in the short course of over 15 years, Suzana Ustabecir has worked with various educational institutions in Chicago and successively served in the capacity of resident principal, administrator, acting assistant principal, and finally as an elementary school principal. Currently, she holds the position of instructional effectiveness specialist in the Chicago public school system.

Greek Dishes Inspired by Italian Cuisine

Suzana Ustabecir has had a long career in education for Chicago Public Schools, including positions as teacher and principal. In her spare time, Suzana Ustabecir enjoys baking sweets and desserts.

A recipient of a master of education in administration and supervision from National Louis University, Suzana Ustabecir most recently spent seven years working as a principal in the Chicago Public Schools system. Outside of her professional life, Suzana Ustabecir enjoys baking, cooking, and exploring Greek cuisine.

In recent years, popular health books and numerous medical studies have touted the health benefits of the traditional Greek diet, which is rich in olive oil, fish, and fresh vegetables. However, a visitor to Greece may be surprised to learn that the term “Greek diet” can mean something very different to those living in different parts of the country. One of these unique culinary regions is the Ionian islands.

The Ionian islands and its most popular destination, Corfu, were occupied by Venetian invaders for more than four centuries, and this influence is noticeable in the food, which resembles traditional Italian cuisine. For example, one of Corfu’s trademark dishes, pastitsada, features pasta and a thick tomato sauce flavored with garlic, onion, and white wine. However, the dish gets its local flavor through the addition of cloves and cinnamon. Another Italian-inspired Corfu specialty is sofrito, a veal dish that takes its name from the Italian word “frito,” meaning fried. Like much of Mediterranean culture, these dishes represent the blending of numerous peoples, religions, and empires in the region for thousands of years.

Suzana Ustabecir - Accomplished School Administrator

Suzana Ustabecir's photograph from a recent trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia. Away from her professional activities, Suzana Ustabecir enjoys traveling.

Scholarships from the National Society of Leadership and Success

An experienced educator in Illinois, Suzana Ustabecir has served as an instructional effectiveness specialist in the Chicago Public Schools, where she helps teachers and administrators improve their skill sets and pedagogical approaches. 

A school administrator with a master of education in administration and supervision from National Louis University, Suzana Ustabecir has worked as a teacher, administrator, and principal in Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Currently, she works as an instructional effectiveness specialist for CPS. Suzana Ustabecir holds membership in the National Society of Leadership and Success, the largest leadership honor society in the United States. 

In a typical school year, the National Society of Leadership and Success gives more than a quarter-million dollars in scholarships and awards to eligible members. A National Review Board carefully reviews submissions based on criteria such as leadership, service, and financial need, awarding both need-based and mission-based scholarships and grants. Additionally, the Stephen Covey Tribute Awards include Chapter of the Year awards and Advisor of the Year awards for individuals and chapters who have made outstanding contributions to the mission of the organization. More information on scholarships and awards is available at societyleadership.org.