Quincy Public Schools
James McAdams has been working at Quincy Public Schools since September 2001, where James serves as the High School Department Head for the ELL Program. James also works as an ESL Teacher at North Quincy High School, Quincy High School, and Point Webster Middle School. James is experienced in providing professional development as an Independent Consultant, teaching as an Adjunct Professor at Eastern Nazarene College, and participating in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program. James holds a Master's degree in English as a Second Language from Eastern Nazarene College.
Quincy Public Schools
Quincy Public School District #172 is a large unit district located in west central Illinois. The QPS mission is to educate students and teachers to achieve personal excellence. QPS is a Pre K -12 district with more than 6,500 students enrolled. The district includes a Pre K/Head Start school, seven elementary schools for grades K-3, an intermediate school for grades 4-5, a junior high for grades 6-8, and a high school for grades 9-12. In November of 2014, an 89 million dollar bond referendum for five new state of the art K-5 elementary schools and an expansion to the high school passed overwhelmingly in all voting districts. As a result, the district will transform into five elementary schools for grades K-5 over the next few years. In the 2016-2017 academic year the district adopted a middle school model for grades 6-8, and a traditional high school for grades 9-12. In 2018-2019 the district will transition to K-5 Learning Communities. Currently, QPS has two Leader In Me schools on the path to Lighthouse status; and two schools having achieved Lighthouse status. QPS offers a rigorous standards aligned curriculum, including AP courses at the high school, Project Lead the Way courses in grades 7-12, accelerated course in grades 4-8, and STEM courses K-12. Students at all grade levels have access to technology in a blended learning environment, which was made possible through the generous support from community partnerships and the Quincy Public Schools Foundation. QPS offers many robust co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities through the music department. In addition, the QJHS and QHS athletic departments offer a variety of extra-curricular activities.