Two new classes were added for the 2025-2026 school year. The pilot classes, AP Precalculus and Assyrian Language and Culture III, were proposed on Sept. 1 of last year. A teaching and learning council reviewed the proposals and made recommendations. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Christine Gonzales presented the courses to the Board of Education.

“I think Assyrian Language and Culture III and AP Precalculus work in terms of new courses, the ones that weren’t too difficult to implement, only because there was [an] existing framework and [an] understanding about what each courses are,” Gonzales said.

There is an existing framework with AP Precalculus provided by the College Board, and it was designed by college professors and teachers to focus on the transferable skills and analysis needed when taking AP Calculus in the future. There are two AP Precalculus classes offered: AP Precalculus 44, intended for students planning to take AP Calculus BC and AP Precalculus 33, intended for students planning to take AP Calculus AB. The math department from Niles North and Niles West made some modifications to allow a smooth transition from AP Precalculus to AP Calculus. Math teacher Kathleen Buttitta is currently teaching AP Precalculus 44, which is similar to honors precalculus.

“I teach AP Precalculus 44 [and] there’s some new vocabulary that the AP College Board wants students to be able to understand, so there’s some mathematical vocabulary that’s a little bit different and new. I think it gives them an opportunity to see mathematics at a higher level, slightly different than what they’re used to, and it will challenge them,” Buttitta said.

The AP Precalculus course challenges students with its rigorous content, and prepares students mathematical skills needed for calculus.

“It’s a very accessible course. The only thing that’s new about it is the AP name. But if you get over the fact that there’s an AP name, you get to take a free AP test at the end of the year, and maybe get college credit. So I think there’s always a bump in the beginning, but I think people get used to it and see the benefits,” Math teacher Kathleen Bressler said.

Math teacher James Krzeminski teaches AP Precalculus 33, and shares his observation about the students’ responses to its new format.

“It’s really interesting because I think a lot of the topics we have students have learned about in Algebra Two, but in a much more intense way. One of the big challenges is just trying to get kids to shift how they think about functions and start talking about functions. It’s a new experience for a lot of kids because there’s a lot fewer numbers going on,” Krzeminski said.

While math teachers work to reshape how students approach the new class, Assyrian teachers are also working on the curriculum despite limited resources.

“Assyrian is such a rare language that the teachers have been really trying [to] find quality resources that they can use with their classes. The two Assyrian teachers, Mr. Sargool and Ms. Yousif, connected with a professor in Iraq because he was knowledgeable about [the] Assyrian language,” Gonzales said.

She expresses how hard to find any written documentation and resources about the language, since it isn’t prominently spoken to the public. It was implemented because of the desire of the community. There wasn’t a teacher in place, so Assyrian teachers William Sargool and Christine Yousif had to seek guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education.

“They don’t have an endorsement for teaching Assyrian, whereas they have an endorsement for teaching Spanish or German. They said until one is provided by the state, our district can decide what requirements we would hold for a teacher to teach Assyrian, which worked in our favor because Mr. Sargool and Ms. Yousif already had teaching licenses,” Gonzales said.

Teachers had to seek our resources internationally to shape their curriculum.

“We found resources in Australia. We found resources in the country of Georgia. There was a very nice textbook from there, and so they kind of help shape what our curriculum currently looks like today,” Sargool said.

The curriculum they use is from an Australian teacher named Anwar Atto, an Assyrian educator, author and poet. They use an Aramaic language book from Georgia, which helps shape the curriculum in efforts for the district to provide quality education for the Assyrian community. He expresses the importance of taking the class and why students should take it.

“Students will learn a new script. The culture is very immerse. It’s a different flavor for students than what they’ve usually seen. They’ll love the music, the culture, the food and the dance. In terms of the language itself, you’re speaking thousands of year old language. I think it opens up their perspective and offers different global opportunities if they take this class,” Sargool said.