Challand Middle School’s art program offers students a range of classes, from drawing to painting and printmaking to sculpture.

The sport of swimming first brought Kyle and Jamie Ruiz together in third grade. The 2004 Sterling graduates, who reconnected through swimming after college and eventually got married, are still giving back today as teachers and coaches.

Dixon High School's choir and life skills classes joined forces early in the 2025 spring semester to create a new singing ensemble, Voices United, that includes students with disabilities who want to sing and perform.

Open Sesame celebrates 50 years of providing child care in Dixon.

Nolan Baker is a social studies teacher at Sterling High School and also serves as its head wrestling coach. Zhane Baker is an advanced placement English teacher at SHS.

Combining her passion for teaching and basketball, a third grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary in Dixon started her own March Madness tradition centered around picture books.

Read our letters submitted by students and parents to Sauk Valley Media for our 2025 Thank You Teachers special edition

Megan Grady, an eighth-grade social studies teacher at Sterling's Challand Middle School, uses competition and interactive curriculum to keep kids engaged in history.

Brian Lobdell is a second grade teacher at Sterling’s Franklin Elementary School. He transitioned into his career at Sterling schools years ago after spending a decade as a stay-at-home dad.