IROQUOIS COUNTY, IL, April 22, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Andrew Jordan former Principal, Superintendent of Donovan CUSD #3, launched a new personal pledge aimed at addressing a growing issue in education: the gap between community support and consistent action by implementing high impact tutoring and social emotional support staff to connect with students district wide.
The pledge, called "Show Up Weekly," is built around one idea—small, repeatable actions can improve student outcomes when done consistently.
Jordan's approach comes from years of hands-on leadership, including turning unused spaces into learning hubs and running weekly student progress reviews by incorporating community members to mentor and tutor students in the building daily through multiple grants.
"You don't get ten minutes to think in the fourth quarter," Jordan said. "You read the situation and act."
"We didn't need a complicated report. We needed to know what happened this week."
"If a student hasn't moved in two weeks, that's our signal to try something new."
"Football showed me that preparation and teamwork solve most problems."
These lessons from both athletics and education shaped the pledge.
Why This Issue Matters Right Now
1 in 4 teachers leave the profession within five years (National Center for Education Statistics)
Chronic absenteeism has doubled since 2020, affecting student learning nationwide
Schools using weekly progress monitoring improve outcomes up to 30% faster (RAND study)
Over 60% of parents say they want to help schools but don't know how (Pew Research)
The gap is not awareness. It's action. By bringing in and hiring additional community members through grant funds we were able to monitor and connect with students on an individual level.
The "Show Up Weekly" Pledge: 7 Personal Commitments
Andrew Jordan Principal is committing to the following behaviours and encouraging others to do the same:
Check student progress weekly instead of waiting for reports
Spend time in classrooms or school spaces every week
Respond to issues within 48 hours, not weeks later
Run short, focused meetings with clear actions
Act on one piece of feedback each week from staff or students
Repurpose one underused space or system every quarter
Communicate openly with families at least once per week
"You don't fix schools in big moments," Jordan said. "You fix them in small moves, every week."
Do It Yourself Toolkit: 10 Free Actions Anyone Can Take
This pledge is not limited to school leaders. Anyone can take part.
Spend 10 minutes helping a student with homework
Visit a school event or game this month
Write a short thank-you note to a teacher
Ask a student what they need help with—and listen
Volunteer one hour at a local school
Share positive school updates with your network
Help organise a small study group
Offer a skill (writing, math, coaching) to students
Check attendance patterns if you're a parent and address gaps early
Encourage consistency—show up at the same time each week
These actions require no funding. Only time and attention.
30-Day Progress Tracker
Week 1:
Identify one student or group to support
Complete one action from the toolkit
Week 2:
Repeat the same action
Track what changed
Week 3:
Adjust your approach based on results
Add one new action
Week 4:
Continue weekly action
Reflect on progress
Share results with someone else
Goal: Build consistency, not perfection.
Call to Action
Andrew Jordan Principal is inviting educators, parents, and community members to take the "Show Up Weekly" pledge.
Start with one action this week. Track it. Repeat it. Share it.
Consistency builds impact.
"You don't need a title to help students," Jordan said. "You just need to show up."
Andrew Jordan served as the Superintendent of Donovan CUSD #3 in Illinois and a former Illinois Principal of the Year. He has led multiple school improvement efforts, secured over $270,000 in grant funding, and is known for applying practical, hands-on leadership strategies to improve student outcomes in rural education systems.
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