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Granite City, Ill., July 20, 2026 – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 is underway with hiring for the 2026-27 school year, and currently has substitute openings:

• Substitute Administrador
• Substitute Administrative Assistant
• Substitute Café
• Substitute Custodian
• Substitute Nurse
• Substitute Paraprofessional
• Substitute Teacher

GCSD9 Employment Opportunities: https://www.gcsd9.net/employment

GCSD9 District Application: https://granitecitycusd9il.tylerportico.com/portal/launcher/

For additional information, please contact GCSD9 Human Resources at (618) 451-5800, Ext. 2004 or 2005, or visit our website at: www.gcsd9.net.

By Chris Mitchell '95

Every Friday throughout the 2026-27 school year, Granite City Community School District #9 will be highlighting a staff member for going above and beyond to give students a positive experience.

This week's staff spotlight features Stephanie Schleper.

Schleper serves as a Human Resources Specialist at the GCSD9 Board Office and is entering her 14th year with the district. She began her GCSD9 career during the 2012-13 school year as a substitute administrative assistant and paraprofessional, never imagining that those opportunities would lead to a rewarding career in human resources.

Schleper earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice from Southwestern Illinois College before completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources Management from Western Governors University.

She provides a behind-the-scenes look at Human Resources, sharing how GCSD9 recruits, welcomes, and supports employees while also giving us a glimpse into her life outside of work.

What does a typical day look like for you in the Human Resources Department, and what are some of the responsibilities people may not realize happen behind the scenes?
Working in Human Resources is far from having a “typical day.” Some days involve supporting various departments with their specific requirements, handling employment verifications, researching information for the Teacher Retirement System or Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (where some data is so outdated that it can be found on index cards), managing daily insurance modifications, processing leave of absence requests, posting job vacancies, calculating changes in salaries, onboarding new employees, and managing retirees. For our department to be successful, we have to be adaptable, as we have multiple tasks to oversee and each day can bring unexpected challenges.

Human Resources supports every employee in the district. What are some of the most rewarding parts of helping support our teachers, support staff, administrators, and applicants?
I consider myself to be a highly empathetic person with strong emotional and social awareness. I make an effort to see things from the perspective of those who approach me with questions, concerns, or even frustration. Understanding that our diverse backgrounds and experiences influence our identities, I remain mindful of this when assisting employees. When I have truly supported someone or eased their worries, it gives me a real sense of happiness. That is the reason I love my job!

Hiring the right people is one of the most important responsibilities of any school district. What qualities do you look for in candidates, and what advice would you give someone interested in joining the GCSD9 family?
There is so much more than simply employing individuals with the right education,  experience, or a great resume.  We look for genuine engagement, empathy, and a student-centered approach. Ultimately, we are looking for staff who have a deep, authentic passion for nurturing children, and are ready to represent our great school district. Although I may have a preference for our school district, I would suggest that interested individuals consider substituting or seeking student teaching opportunities with us. Gaining experience in the district, regardless of the role, will allow you to understand the amazing culture of our school district.  

A big part of your job is coordinating the onboarding process for new employees. Why is it so important to make that transition as smooth and welcoming as possible for new staff members?
Onboarding is truly my favorite part of my job! I gladly dedicate a considerable amount of time to my new employees because I want them to get to know me and feel at ease reaching out for my assistance. Starting a new job or transitioning to a different school district can be both exciting and daunting, as well as stressful. By being present for our new staff, ready to address their questions, and guiding them step by step, I aim for them to feel an immediate sense of belonging by the end of the process.

When you're away from work, what are some of your favorite hobbies or interests?
When I'm not at work, I tend to stay home a lot. I have a strong passion for animals, especially dogs, and since animals have such brief lives on this planet, I try to spend as much time as I can with them. My signature phrase has always been "I've never met a dog I didn't like".

If you would like to nominate a deserving staff member, please email: information@gcsd9.net

Granite City, Ill., May 28, 2026 – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 announced enrollment and registration for the 2026-27 school year opens on Monday, June 1.

Families can register by using your SKYWARD account, and will have to make a designation to receive bus transportation.

For all NEW enrollments, visit the GCSD9 Enrollment/Registration website (www.gcsd9.net/registration) for required documents prior to visiting our enrollment center.

In accordance with enrollment and registration requirements, families currently restricted from accessing the Online Registration option will soon receive further instructions to complete the registration process.

James J. Greenwald Administration Building
3200 Maryville Road
Granite City, IL 62040 

Admin Office Hours:
Monday through Thursday: 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m.-Noon 

Enrollment Office Hours:
Monday through Thursday: 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Friday: 7-11 a.m.

The school district will be closed on Friday, June 19.

Students will not be allowed to attend school on the first day if not registered or enrolled. The first day of student attendance is set for Thursday, August 13. In addition, students not registered by Monday, August 3 will not receive bus transportation until Wednesday, August 28.

If you have questions please visit Student Services at the James J. Greenwald Administration Building at 3200 Maryville Road, call 618-451-5800, or visit our website: www.gcsd9.net.

NOTE: Registration cannot be completed on the Skyward app. Families must login through a web browser on your computer or phone.

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Granite City, Ill., 28 de mayo de 2026 – El Distrito Escolar Comunitario Unificado #9 de Granite City (GCSD9) anunció que el proceso de inscripción y registro para el año escolar 2026-27 se abrirá el lunes 1 de junio.

Las familias pueden registrarse utilizando su cuenta de SKYWARD y deberán indicar si desean recibir el servicio de transporte escolar (autobús).

Para todas las inscripciones NUEVAS, visite el sitio web de Inscripción/Registro de GCSD9 (www.gcsd9.net/registration) para consultar los documentos requeridos antes de acudir a nuestro centro de inscripciones.

De conformidad con los requisitos de inscripción y registro, las familias que actualmente tienen restringido el acceso a la opción de Registro en Línea recibirán pronto instrucciones adicionales para completar el proceso de registro.

Edificio Administrativo James J. Greenwald
3200 Maryville Road
Granite City, IL 62040

Horario de la Oficina Administrativa:
De Lunes a Jueves: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Viernes: 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (mediodía)

Horario de la Oficina de Inscripciones: Asistencia en Español
De Lunes a Jueves: 7:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Junio: Miércoles y Jueves, de 7:30 a.m. a 3:00 p.m.
Viernes: 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Julio: Martes y Jueves, de 7:30 a. m. a 3:00 p. m.

El distrito escolar permanecerá cerrado el viernes 19 de junio.

No se permitirá la asistencia a clases a los estudiantes el primer día si no se encuentran registrados o inscritos. El primer día de asistencia de los estudiantes está programado para el jueves 13 de agosto. Además, los estudiantes que no se hayan registrado antes del lunes 3 de agosto no recibirán servicio de transporte escolar hasta el miércoles 28 de agosto.

Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor visite el Departamento de Servicios Estudiantiles en el Edificio Administrativo James J. Greenwald, ubicado en 3200 Maryville Road; llame al 618-451-5800; o visite nuestro sitio web: www.gcsd9.net. Para asistencia en español por favor comuníquese al 618-419-5371.

NOTA: El registro no se puede completar a través de la aplicación móvil Skyward. Las familias deben iniciar sesión utilizando un navegador web en su computadora o teléfono.

By Chris Mitchell '95

Every Friday throughout the 2026-27 school year, Granite City Community School District #9 will be highlighting a staff member for going above and beyond to give students a positive experience.

This week's staff spotlight features Brad Smith.

Smith serves as the Technology Director for GCSD9 and is currently in his 20th year with the district. He began his GCSD9 career as Technology Coordinator at Granite City High School, where he led the district's building technology technicians. He later transitioned to Systems Administrator, focusing on server and network infrastructure while continuing to support the technology staff across the district.

In his current role as Technology Director, Smith oversees all aspects of the district's technology operations, combining his previous responsibilities with expanded leadership and administrative duties.

Smith discusses the day-to-day responsibilities of leading GCSD9's technology department, the lasting impact of COVID-19, the importance of customer service, keeping pace with ever-changing technology, and his vision for the future of technology in the district.

What does a typical day look like for you as GCSD9's Technology Director, and what are some of the biggest responsibilities that people may not realize happen behind the scenes?
A typical day for the technology team can vary greatly depending on if something is down. We work off of a ticketing system where staff can submit tickets for issues with equipment, it can be anything, maybe a problem with an app, someone not being able to print, or a problem within Google Workspace, Skyward, etc. . Things that happen behind the scenes are all about security and making sure that the network, servers, students and staff stay safe.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic change your job, and what technology improvements or practices have remained in place since then?
The pandemic changed everything about technology. For our team, the challenge was adding devices for all students and providing a safe and secure experience at home. Making sure that all students and staff could work from home with the ability to do everything just as if they were in their classroom and/or be in their classroom with students at home. Before COVID all of our devices were in carts in classrooms and not enough for every student.

We added over 3,000 Chromebooks in order to become one-to-one with devices and distributed them to families in parking lots at buildings which was another level of logistics. Several times I was directing traffic making sure that lines of cars were not backing up onto the streets from buildings.  Everything we use now such as Google Workspace, wireless technology, security measures, devices, insurance all changed with the pandemic and are still mostly in place.

Technology is constantly evolving. How do you balance keeping the district's technology current while also ensuring students, teachers, and staff have reliable tools they can count on every day?
I am very fortunate to have a great technology team, the people that I work alongside are the ones that keep the balance. Technology can change rapidly sometimes without much warning. An update may automatically take place that makes something not work correctly, across all devices. The team goes to work to assess what is going on and figure out a solution. 

A big part of your job is helping students teachers, staff, and administrators when technology issues arise. How important is customer service and building relationships in a role that's often focused on computers and technology?
I would say that customer service is crucial, without students and staff the technology department essentially would not exist. We strive to provide the best customer service that we can in every situation.  

Looking ahead, what emerging technologies or initiatives are you most excited about bringing to GCSD9, and how do you see technology continuing to enhance teaching and learning for our students?
Currently AI is the big topic, how will it change in the next year, 5 years, 10 years? I think it will be interesting to see what happens, much like when the internet came out. Technology will continue to grow and change, the teaching and learning process will continue to evolve around it as needed. 

If you would like to nominate a deserving staff member, please email: information@gcsd9.net

Granite City, Ill., July 8, 2026 – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 is partnering with the Madison County Health Department to host a pair of Back to School Physical and Immunization Clinics on Thursday, July 30 and Thursday, August 6 from 1-4:30 p.m. at the Granite City High School Annex Gym.

This event will be held to help protect students and others by meeting school and sports physical requirements. All incoming kindergarteners, 6th graders and high school freshmen are required to have a school physical and updated shot records.

WHEN:
• Thursday, July 30, 1-4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, August 6, 1-4:30 p.m.

WHERE:
• Granite City High School Annex Gym, 3101 Madison Ave.

INFORMATION:
• Who is eligible: Preschool-12th graders
• Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome
• Patient’s Insurance including public insurance (Medicaid) will be billed for services
• No out of pocket fees for those who are eligible
• If you do not have insurance or have questions about vaccines, please call 618-692-8954, Ext. 2

WHAT TO BRING:
• Child with their parent or guardian
• ID of parent or guardian
• Shot/Immunization Record
• Insurance Card 

SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT:
• https://form.jotform.com/261866598756177

For more information about Granite City School District #9, visit www.gcsd9.net.