On April 23, more than 50 district leaders from across the Midwest gathered in Chicago for an exclusive DMG roundtable, Sustainable Success: Creating Lasting Impact with Focused Resources.
This working session brought together peers facing similar financial and operational pressures to exchange strategies, ask tough questions, and focus on what’s actually driving impact in districts today. The conversation opened with a State of the Sector grounded in today’s realities: rising student needs, tighter budgets, and growing pressure to deliver results. From there, the focus shifted to how leading districts are responding.
At Rockford Public Schools (IL), Superintendent Ehren Jarrett and team shared how they’re using DMG’s PRISM to take a more strategic, data-driven approach to resource allocation.
At Community Unit School District 300 (IL), Superintendent Martina Smith highlighted how a special education opportunity review helped realign systems, teams, and MTSS implementation to deliver more consistent, equitable support across schools.
Key takeaway: sustainable success isn’t about doing more, it’s about aligning what you already have. Leaders left with a clearer, more disciplined approach to investing every dollar where it matters most
John J-H Kim, DMG’s Founder and CEO, shared an overview of the U.S. education sector.
Left to right: Simone Carpenter, DMG Director; Ehren Jarrett, Superintendent, Rockford Public Schools; Kristina Perry, Director of Accountability, Rockford Public Schools; Jason Barthel, CIO/COO, Rockford Public Schools
Left to right: Jade McLaughlin, DMG Director; Martina Smith, Superintendent, Community Unit School District 300