2017-2018 Nominees

While performing weekend security checks on Mother's Day, Clark noticed water entering Dorn, Oak Ridge, and Conrady schools from the heavy rain storms. Clark worked to remove the water at all 3 schools so that no damage occurred and to ensure everything would be normal for school on Monday morning. He spent the better part of the day away from his family on Mother's Day so thanks to his wife for her patience and understanding. Thanks to Clark for his efforts.

Haneen is an outstanding teacher who is very dedicated and passionate about her job. She works so hard and well with diversity. All of our Bilingual students who attended her class come back to us with a positive learning experiences and attitudes. Haneen is an exceptional asset to our district. Haneen goes out of her way to guarantee the best experience for all of her students. Her positive attitude and strong devotion in insuring that every single child is learning is noted and pretty much appreciated. She is an excellent team player. All respect to Mrs. Hammad for being the educator she is. Our panthers are very lucky to have this rich and positive experience!!

Mrs. Kaiser always brings tons of energy to math class at Sorrick School. That positive energy converts to energy to resolve math problems by our kids. Thanks to Mrs. Kaiser math and science class was never boring. Kids want to practice math at home because it is fun. Quick thinking, resolving math problems, great knowledge, all thanks to Mrs. Kaiser.

Great teacher, always listens to the little problems our little kids have. Made my daughter love school even when my daughter barley spoke English entering 1st grade.

Linda just celebrated her 45th anniversary of service to District 117.  Her dedication to the vision of "being best for the world"; is unmatched.  Linda has the highest standards for our student population and has been an instrumental key to the success we have achieved.  Her wisdom and high quality of work will be sorely missed in 117.  Thank you, Linda for all you have done for the parents, staff and students. Your commitment to the education of this community's children is unrivaled.

Ms McMillin has been a real help to my daughter since she began school at Oak Ridge in 2015. However, this year, she truly went above and beyond. During the madness of preparation for PARCC and MAP exams, the math department allowed for a period of Khan Academy at home. My daughter really wanted to participate, however, we had never before accessed her account from home. Her teacher had taken ill during that week, and we struggled to access the site with my daughter's login. My daughter had said that Ms McMillin had tried to help her, so I took a chance and reached out for some support. Despite being in the midst of her own Reading Night preparations, Ms McMillin took the time and courtesy to try to figure out how to access the account. Not only did she take time out and work on something that was outside of her duties, we were able to access the account. My daughter was able to participate in the competition because Ms McMillin cared enough to take ten minutes to help us. It was a real kindness. She showed the best kind of professionalism and courtesy, and I am grateful knowing that there are educators like Ms McMillin in our district.

Christine Denson is a STAR for so many reasons! When she represents a team on a committee such as Science and Field Trip, she is on top of it! From informing the teachers involved, to the paperwork, to activities and resources, she shares it all and keeps us all VERY organized!When she is on your Math team, again she has so much energy! Before every quarter she has us all prepared with assessments, rubrics, homework, flashcards, etc. She is constantly researching online, locating helpful videos, songs, station games, and creating her own activities as well. She is even making sure our Ninja Math is ready to go for next year!If you ever a question about technology...Christine is the person to ask! She's very helpful and patient assisting all our needs in that area, especially with Google!With her students, Christine has high expectations! She expects all students to do their best and she will be there every step of the way to guide them and motivate them as well. Her excitement is contagious and that is visible within her classroom. Christine is an expert at what she does and we don't know what we would do without her on our team! She deserves to be recognized as a STAR! We are so thankful for everything she does!

Phil Arredia is being nominated for the dedication to and professionalism in performing his job as dispatcher in the transportation department. He goes above and beyond to see that the department runs smoothly. He treats everyone with respect and practices the motto of "No Child Left Behind" when it comes to getting them to and from school. He's a pleasure to work with and is not only a major asset to the transportation department but to the district as a whole.

Rose has been a wonderful asset to our classrooms. Her strength and positive attitude inspire us on a daily basis. Rose enters the classroom each day with a smile on her face and she is eager to help in any way possible. She has made a difference not only in our students' lives, but our lives. We are grateful each day to have her. Thank you for all that you do, Rose!

Cathy Cozzie joined the Glen Oaks staff as a paraprofessional this school year.  Every day, in every way, she goes above and beyond expectations.  Cathy appears tireless as she assists both students and teachers.  She not only follows directives, but also anticipates needs and proceeds accordingly.  Without being asked, Cathy extended the care and concern of faculty during dismissal by positioning herself a block away from school so that she could help our students cross the street safely while also directing traffic!  She was instrumental in obtaining a additional crossing guard for the safety of our students.  We are so fortunate have the opportunity to work with Cathy Cozzie.  She is a unique individual indeed!

Mike worked on a project for me at Oak Ridge to investigate adding locks to existing cabinets.  His compassion to helping the District is outstanding.  Mike goes out of his way to make sure every detail is included in every project he works on.  He makes every person feel important. There is no job that doesn't get Mike's full attention.  He is a true asset to the NPD117 Team!  I feel honored to be able to work with him.

Kristen Morphew is being recognized for her many successes and accomplishments over her years at NPD117. Kristen joined the Glen Oaks family as a third and then fifth grade teacher and had energy not surpassed by many.  Her ability to reach her students by finding their talents, and strengths brought students to their highest potential. Her drive to dig deeper into curriculum with her leadership skills, proved pivotal to her success as a Team Leader and later as Assistant Principal.Her door is always open, be it personal or professional conversations, Kristen always listens.  Everyone who leaves her office just 'feels better'.  She is caring and compassionate. Her enthusiasm and positive attitude is contagious.Kristen is always pushing the envelope, relentless in finding ways to 'be better'.  She is a team player; which with Gaylyn Pollard and the Glen Oaks Staff, led Glen Oaks to their Blue Ribbon Award.We wish her the best as she continues her time and talents in education as the new Curriculum Director of School District 114.You will be greatly missed!

Darcey is a team player.  She is under the radar when it comes to doing random acts of kindness.  Darcey frequently comes up with innovative ways to recognize student accomplishments via display walls, and has organized after school activity incentives for PBIS.  Her role in organizing Student/Staff year end competitions adds to the fun of wrapping up the school year.  Darcey contributes her time and talents to the Social Committee making sure in times of sadness or celebration, staff members are remembered.  You never know when the Glen Oaks Panther mascot might pop up at a special event or PTA function.  Thank you for all you do for the students and staff at Glen Oaks.

After changing rooms with my one-on-one student, Laura Kenny and Jen Jensen both made the transition a smooth one for the student and made me feel like a part of the team right from the start.  The transition has been so good for the student and it is because of the care and patience of these two amazing teachers.  I think they should be recognized for their outstanding work with all of the students in 2/3 instructional. I've learned so much from them!

Laura Kenny constantly provides materials and instructions on how to provide for the individual needs of our students.  Her dedication to her class goes above and beyond and she is an inspiration to me to do my best to improve our teaching environment.

Debbie Johnson is being recognized for being an amazing teacher who always has time to help students who are struggling academically, socially and emotionally. She is such a valuable part of our team at Glen Oaks and the students recognize how much she cares about them. She is a great example of addressing students as a whole person and accessing their learning potential. She teaches students not only the importance of education but also how to be good people. She is a teacher who truly makes a difference in the lives of others.

Laura is being recognized for being a wonderful part of our social work team. Laura works with many students each day with personal issues, discipline, and conflicts. Laura is very patient and attentive to student needs and is a valuable part of our PBIS program.

Diane Padilla is being recognized for all she has done for a specific family at Conrady that speaks Spanish and requires interpretive services. Diane has sat through many meetings to address this student's special needs, and has done a remarkable job translating back and forth between staff and parents, as well as community providers. It is not easy to take the technical terms involved in the special education process and translate them to Spanish, and back again to English. At the same time, she has tried to build a relationship with the family as a familiar face in the school who they can trust and rely on. For these reasons, I believe Diane is one of the "stars" in NPD 117.

Carrie is being recognized as an exceptional advocate, mentor and friend. Carrie has been dedicated to making sure instructional teachers are comfortable with the implementation of the new LLI guided reading program. Additionally, she has spent time making materials for teachers and brainstorming new ideas to help students with disabilities access the curriculum. She has willingly spent more than enough of her own personal time on the phone with me after school to help me plan, problem solve and simply share a good laugh. District 117 is so lucky to have someone as dedicated and passionate as Carrie for all her work in the field of special education.

Katie Ruzich is being recognized for not only adding immeasurable support in instruction, but also for collaborating with ELA teachers in planning and developing tools to aid in instruction, targeting areas of improvement and working with small groups as well as individual students to help them maximize their potential. She consistently brings positivity, professionalism and a calm demeanor, which is welcomed by both students and teachers alike. She is a pivotal member of the fourth-grade ELA team and has consistently gone above and beyond to not only help the ELA teachers, but also create projects and resources to help all students. Our fourth-grade team and students are more successful because of the contributions she makes.

Shadia Salem is being recognized for being a true gift to District 117. She is incredibly talented and hardworking. She has been instrumental in assisting teachers in the integration of technology into their classroom. Shadia also presents at many area conferences for District 117 about technology integration and supporting ELs. Additionally, she assists in leading the World Study committee and does countless other things in District 117. Thank you Shadia!

Sherri Stupay is being recognized for being a wonderful addition to Glen Oaks School. She is always quick at fulfilling classroom book requests for teachers and students. Her patience and kind words are always a highlight of our visits to Glen Oaks library. Thanks for being such an effective and supportive part of our school.

Caroline Sweiss is being recognized for representing NPD 117 at the Illinois Gifted Conference and for doing an outstanding job of showing teachers how to integrate technology and vocabulary instruction for high-level learners. She is a true asset to our district.

Natalie Profita is being recognized for her technology integration. Natalie’s leadership and guidance in providing technology integration in all curricular areas is highly valued. She goes above and beyond in her role to support teachers, students and district office staff with technology usage. Her work is always of the highest quality as well. Thank you Natalie for everything you do for so many people in District 117.

Adie McHugh is being recognized for her leadership in ELA and Social Studies. Adie has been a great addition to District 117. During her two-and-a-half years at Conrady, she has done so much. She started the Honors Symposium, provided leadership in curriculum revisions for Social Studies and ELA and has restructured Assets. Her teams appreciate all she does to make their jobs easier. Thank you Adie for your dedication to our staff and students.

Adrienne Pavek is being recognized for her leadership in math and science. Adrienne’s work as the math and science team leader at Conrady is exceptional. She is highly dedicated to District 117. She goes above and beyond in providing leadership, guidance and support to teachers and students. Her math knowledge and guidance across the district is highly valued. Thank you Adrienne for all you do.

Megan Sumner is being recognized for her hard work, dedication and the help she has provided. Even though I don’t have Miss Sumner as a teacher anymore, she has been more than caring. She has read my poems, my essays, and it’s those things that mean the most. She is incredible, and she has shown me the path when I didn’t know where to go. Miss Sumner always has energy which is what I miss most about her class. I want to thank her for everything she has done for me because she truly made me the writer I am today. Without her guidance, I don’t know what I would have done.

Andy Anderson is being recognized for being an outstanding principal at Conrady. As an active member of the school’s PTSA, one of our biggest challenges is engaging our community in educational matters and relaying the importance of valuable social learning and experiences. Mr. Anderson’s leadership and compassion has provided an atmosphere where we’ve been welcomed to do just that. He encourages input from parents and has supported or taken under advisement requests for changes or improvements. His leadership has certainly set Conrady apart from neighboring schools and districts.

Andrea Hogan is being recognized for her hard work and dedication in pursuing her National Board Certification. She is always willing to share her knowledge and resources with anyone, and continually works hard to provide the best services she can for her students every year. We are very lucky to have her as part of our team. (As an aside, Andrea – along with Amanda Leyden and Samar Abousalem all completed their National Board Certification together last month). 

Jamie Albon is being recognized for sending detailed emails to parents of her students each week letting them know what the class is working on. Her emails include a list of what will be covered the next week, important reminders and also a list of books each week that she thinks the kids would find interesting and why. It is good information for the parents and makes us feel that she really cares about the success of our kids. 

Salena Palacino is being recognized for being an outstanding employee. She shows love for the children and is always there to help out in any situation. Her creativity is amazing and she has brought a whole new life to the classroom. Salena is so considerate when working with the needs of the children and has patience and understanding. 

Julianna Joy is being recognized for being in a league of her own. I have worked with her for several years and the attention and support she shows the children is nothing short of amazing. She has the most creative activities and her energy and spark are truly gifts to the children she supports. 

Sophia Feliciano is being recognized for her dedication and caring nature as a classroom nurse. She looks after their medical and health needs and makes sure the students are safe and comfortable. She is remarkable and I am lucky to work with her. 

Helen Makropoulos is being recognized for being a star in the classroom. She goes above and beyond to meet the needs of the children. Helen is caring and kind and has genuine concern for the children in the class. She treats every child as if he/she was her own. She is an amazing support, and I couldn’t do my job without her. 

Tiffany is being recognized for doing an outstanding job as the new fifth-grade band director. She has done a great job creating and organizing both the recruitment and tryouts for the band program as well as communicating all of this information to the staff. Tiffany is both self-motivated and extremely motivational. 

Mike is being recognized for responding to building emergencies on Saturdays. He responded without hesitation and worked to ensure the buildings were safe and secure. His efforts, like most of his job duties, are behind the scenes aren’t noticed by most. His efforts make it easier for teachers, staff and administrators to focus on teaching and learning. Keep up the great effort. 

Debbie is being recognized for her calm and caring ways of keeping students happy. It is a pleasure being an aide in her classroom. Debbie has a gift for teaching. She uses strategies that help kids remember what they have learned. Her patience is amazing. If students are struggling, she finds a way to make the light bulb go on. Her teaching gives students the confidence they need to be successful.  

Rita is being recognized for going above and beyond in making sure teachers got their science materials in the beginning of the year. She stayed in daily contact with the curriculum department to make the start of the school year much smoother. Her eye on details and extra efforts made the crazy start of the year smooth! 

Kevin is being recognized for going above and beyond in his role as team leader. His leadership, expertise and guidance resulted in the highest math scores at the elementary schools on the PARCC tests. He is also assisting Sorrick School in providing guidance on meeting the needs of High-Level Learners in math. Kevin is an asset to District 117. 

Dave is being recognized for his dedication and commitment to SD 117. During his first few months as Team Leader, he has stepped in and taken the lead in both ELA and Science in grades second and third. Dave also goes above and beyond as the summer school coordinator each year. He has been a great addition to the curriculum team. 

Kara is being recognized for going above and beyond as a Technology Instruction Coordinator. This year she has taken the lead on the science implementation for Glen Oaks and Oak Ridge. She attends additional professional development and lends her experience and expertise as a former Conrady science teacher. She also has transformed the Learning Links registration process by moving it to online. 

Amanda Pratl, along with Sue Dembek and Bob Clasby, is being recognized for helping my child really grasp concepts of things this year and getting him excited to go to class, which usually never happens. He talks about his teachers and what he is learning. These teachers are doing a great job teaching their students and making them feel loved and supported. 

Sue Dembek, along with Bob Clasby and Amanda Pratl, is being recognized for helping my child really grasp concepts of things this year and getting him excited to go to class, which usually never happens. He talks about his teachers and what he is learning. These teachers are doing a great job teaching their students and making them feel loved and supported. 

Bob Clasby, along with Amanda Pratl and Sue Dembek, is being recognized for helping my child really grasp concepts of things this year and getting him excited to go to class, which usually never happens. He talks about his teachers and what he is learning. These teachers are doing a great job teaching their students and making them feel loved and supported. 

Paula Coughlin is being recognized for her many years of providing additional assistance to some of our students who require outside counseling services. Paula has worked hard trying to find services for our students and this summer she worked out an agreement with Metropolitan Family Services to get our students in more quickly so as they can start receiving services in a more timely fashion. I just made a referral for one of our students who is a high-achiever but struggles emotionally. Because of Paul’s hard work, this student is set up with an outside counselor. The parent called to say how thankful she was for getting her child the quick service. Without Paula’s help, this process would have taken months instead of two weeks.

Andrea Hogan is being recognized for her versatility. She certainly has found her calling in life. Andrea had a chance to move from a 4th grade teacher to a homeroom teacher to a reading specialist. And specialist she is! Andrea is always calm, always smiling and always accommodating. She has a passion for books and her excitement for books is contagious. She has taken it upon herself to inspire the Glen Oaks’ staff with a monthly bulletin board to recognize staff members. Andrea is always professional and her expertise as a reading specialist is relied on from parents to staff. 

Katie Kubski is being recognized for being an OUTSTANDING teacher! She goes above and beyond for her students and modifies their needs. She makes sure every student feels special. Katie is always kind, caring and encouraging. She is a true star!  

Stacey Lavelle is being recognized for submitting a grant for the Dollar General Youth Literacy Foundation. We received a $2,000 grant to fund the Glen Oaks’ “Only One You” book project for the 2017-2018 school year.  Her hard work, determination and critical and creative thinking skills were essential to this grant being awarded. 

Rich Waddicar is being recognized for being a wonderful person. Rich is caring, thoughtful and always there to help with whatever staff or students need. He is the one we call in an emergency and, oftentimes, he is charged with cleaning up the worst messes possible. He never complains. He takes pride in making sure Glen Oaks looks great and runs smoothly.

Gaylyn Pollard is being recognized for her exemplary role as the leader of Glen Oaks School. Focus, confidence, transparency, integrity, inspiration, passion, innovation and patience are just some of the words that describe Gaylyn as a leader. She is the reason Glen Oaks is a great place to work. We always know that Gaylyn has our backs and is looking out for our best interests and those of the students we serve. She understands that to get the best out of her team, that team must feel appreciated. Through her kind words, thoughtful gifts and constant praise, we know we are appreciated. Her hard work and countless hours dedicated to District 117 reflect her passion for teaching students and leading her team. 

Pat Iffland is being recognized for being an asset to the district’s transportation department. Pat knows each of the students on his bus by name and is always very pleasant and helpful. The students smile when they enter Mr. Pat’s bus and he goes out of his way to not only drive the students to and from school, but he encourages them to do their best and always be polite. His upbeat attitude and positive outlook make outside duty enjoyable. 

Sandy Ahmad is being recognized for her willingness to help others. Sandy gives 110 percent to every task and to everyone she meets. She goes above and beyond to help any student in the hallway, and any faculty member in or outside the classroom. She is the first to donate to a worthy cause. She is extremely generous with her gifts as well as her talents. Sandy is the first staff member to offer assistance if there is a language barrier or to make a phone call or assist in the office. Sandy loves what she does and it shows with her dedication to education and to the students and staff at Glen Oaks. 

Nomination #1: Margaret Bartkus is being recognized twice. First, she is being recognized individually for constantly approaching each new challenge with a positive attitude and always giving 110 percent. It was only natural that we requested she take on the task of providing teachers with training on DRA (reading inventory administration. Margaret kept in mind the needs of her colleagues when she created the presentation. She was thorough and provided the teachers with the tools and techniques needed to accurately assess students’ strengths and weaknesses in reading. Margaret is a teacher-leader in every sense of the word. 

Margaret Bartkus is being recognized a second time as part of a group effort. She, along with Dave Creagan, Kelly Vittorio, JoAnne Brotsch and Penny Pappas represented their respective grade levels and shared instructional strategies with the staff during our September Team Day. This group of talented teachers prepared a presentation that highlighted specific instructional strategies that effectively support our EL learners. Each new idea was a great addition to our teachers’ toolboxes. Margaret, Dave, Kelly, JoAnne and Penny shared the knowledge they have gained through years of experience, graduate coursework and professional development opportunities. 

Dianne Hasler helps me with registration for both my sons. When one gives customer service, it should be as though you're doing it for a relative. She took the time to walk me through the process and made the experience warm and personal regardless of what had to be looked up in different systems or reports, and showed me, not just what, but how it should be done. I recognize that there are a lot of students in our district to deal with, input into systems, and organize. I applaud her patience, attention to detail, hard work, and dedication. I know sitting at that front desk isn't easy dealing with all she has to deal with, including parents. There's no doubt that she recognizes that everyone may be going through something. I was going through something. However, I left the office feeling much better because of her service. My son said that if we ever move, please don't move us outside of this school district. Because of her being on the front line and my unforgettable and exceptional experience(s) with Ms. Dianne, I concur. Thank you for being an awesome human being and having patience with all us parents and students. I sincerely appreciate you and you're a strong asset to the school district Ms. Hasler. 

It's not what Kevin does just for me, it's what he does for the entire staff. Kevin goes above and beyond to make sure that the staff are prepared for lessons--both in having the materials they need and an understanding of the standards / skills to be taught. He wants nothing but success for the students and staff, and will do everything he can to help them achieve--he is often seen in classrooms, working with teachers and students. He has also created a math website for teachers, parents, and students to better explain the Common Core Standards, with links to sample problems, explanations, and extra practice. He spends countless hours both at school and at home in his spare time working to make Oak Ridge a great place to work and learn. He is truly an asset to Oak Ridge and District 117.

Sandy Ahmad is being recognized for going out of her way to brighten other’s days. She can always be found doing something for others. From helping with a last-minute copy to supervising patrols or trying to cheer someone up, she is always ready to jump into action.

Jamie Albon is being recognized for representing District 117 at the Illinois Gifted Conference and did an outstanding job of showing teachers how to integrate technology and vocabulary instruction for high-level learners. She is a true asset to our district.

Katie Ruzich is being recognized for not only adding immeasurable support in instruction, but also for collaborating with ELA teachers in planning and developing tools to aid in instruction, targeting areas of improvement and working with small groups as well as individual students to help them maximize their potential. She consistently brings positivity, professionalism and a calm demeanor, which is welcomed by both students and teachers alike. She is a pivotal member of the fourth-grade ELA team and has consistently gone above and beyond to not only help the ELA teachers, but also create projects and resources to help all students. Our fourth-grade team and students are more successful because of the contributions she makes.

Shadia Salem is being recognized for being a true gift to District 117. She is incredibly talented and hardworking. She has been instrumental in assisting teachers in the integration of technology into their classroom. Shadia also presents at many area conferences for District 117 about technology integration and supporting ELs. Additionally, she assists in leading the World Study committee and does countless other things in District 117. Thank you Shadia!