St. Clair County Circuit Judge Heinz Rudolf joined Illinois Supreme Court Justice David Overstreet in presenting to the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools on behalf of the Illinois Judges Association.
The presentation was held on Jan. 9 and focused on the collaboration of the judiciary with local schools to educate students on the issues of law and technology. Specifically, they spoke on the topic of “creating and continuing a healthy partnership with the Illinois Judges Association, Regional Offices of Education, and Intermediate Service Centers with the purpose of bringing judges free in-school programming to every Illinois school.”
“On behalf of the St. Clair County judiciary, I want to thank the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools for inviting Illinois Supreme Court Justice Overstreet and me to speak about the Illinois Judges Association’s in-school programs and how building a partnership with the Illinois Judges Association and the Regional Office of Superintendents could aid Illinois students in navigating the challenges they face daily in their ever-changing world,” Rudolf stated.
“Thank you to Judge Rudolf for coordinating this opportunity to present to the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools and his leadership in the presentation as well as his continued efforts to reach out to the students in our schools,” Overstreet stated. “I also appreciate the Regional Superintendents inviting us and for their cooperation as Illinois Judge Association members statewide have positive, inspirational, and educational interactions with thousands of students statewide annually.”
The purpose of the presentation was to develop the relationships the Twentieth Judicial Circuit has created with its local school leaders through the program at a statewide level.
“The school outreach programs have been invaluable to our local children, and the Twentieth Judicial Circuit is committed to developing a strong working relationship with our schools,” St. Clair County Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson stated.
Rudolf previously received the Presidential Award from Overstreet, who currently serves as President of the Illinois Judges Association, for his contributions to the judicial school outreach program. The two have worked together to foster the program.
The in-school programming offered to Illinois schools provides the judiciary an opportunity to discuss drug and alcohol prevention with “Seven Reasons to Leave the Party;” provide a civics presentation on the judicial process with “Courtroom in the Classroom,” encourage reading with “Page it Forward;” explore the dangers of the Internet, social media, apps and cellphones with “Worries of the World Wide Web;” educate the youth about police interaction, social media and how being with the wrong people can land them in jail with “Your Future, Your Choice;” and present on how the judiciary affects the students in the classroom with “The Courts and You: Your Rights When You Snap ‘[F#$!] School.”