Shelly was recognized for coordinating all of the transportation for ACCESS testing. She worked closely with our team to ensure all of our remote students had the opportunity to show what they know on the state language proficiency assessment. She was critical to the success of our testing session and made sure all of our students were transported in a timely and safe manner. I am so thankful for such an organized and dedicated transportation department. Thank you to Shelly and all the transportation staff for making the impossible happen.

Adie McHugh, Marlene Collins, Kara Smit, Nikki McDougal, Dave Creagan, Farah Daoud, Feras Majeed, Jolanta Maslek, Noof Watson, Jessica Mycyk, Nikki Inglot and Chris Phillip.

Jean was recognized for being "simply phenomenal all year!" Somehow Jean manages to capture the attention of her in-person and remote learners every single day. She keeps things fun, exciting and encouraging. She makes time for all of her students and gives them equal attention and support. She shares funny stories and makes her classroom feel warm and inviting, all while teaching difficult math concepts. She keeps parents informed of what students are learning and provides concrete ways we can support their learning at home. My daughter looks forward to her class every day and loves learning from Ms. Park. I'm incredibly thankful for all of Ms. Park's hard work, dedication and love for her students. My daughter has been a remote learner and is now an in-person learner. Ms. Park made the transition seamless and we could not have made it through this year without her! Thank you Ms. Park, you deserve this recognition and much more! 

Sheri Stupay, Mary Ruiz, Ewa Bienkowska, Pam Weszelitz, Terri SooHoo, Julie Martini, Robin White and Dorita McCabe

Margaret is the most amazing co-teacher and such a loving teacher to our students. She is always going above and beyond for her students. Even though this year is different, she always finds ways to motivate students in learning by making it fun, exciting, and engaging. Margaret is so dedicated to her students and colleagues!! We are so lucky to have her at Glen Oaks!

Barb Simich

Maria was recognized for being one of the most kind-hearted, dedicated staff members that I know. Maria goes above and beyond to invest in each person she comes in contact with (both students and staff). She treats everyone like they are the most important person in the world. Maria takes time everyday to individually invest in each student and make sure they know that she cares. Maria is a valuable asset to my classroom and without her my classroom would not be the same. She contributes valuable information to each discussion and lesson. She is amazing at acknowledging each student and reinforcing positive behaviors. I truly can not imagine my classroom without her in it and am beyond thankful that we work together on a daily basis. 

Jen McCormick, Britni Vienna, Katie Westin, Jean Park, Kristle Pappas, Toni Mock, Marty Carr, Gloria Scislowicz, Mandy Cesak, Melissa Koshiol, Lisa Quigley, Jacque Clancy, Kelly Vittorio and Erin Fitzgerald

The District 117 Psychologist Team was recognized for their hard work, constant support, flexibility and true team effort. Illinois schools continue to experience vacancies due to the shortage of school psychologists, including District 117. Despite the impact of the pandemic and the staff shortage, Karen Canning, Shannon Parquette, Michele Zilinskas and Mike Nigro continued to work as hard as ever, functioned as a true team, demonstrated flexibility, and supported teachers, administrators, parents and students each and every day. We give four stars out of four stars to our Four Stars! Thank you for all you do! 

Anna Kowal-Swiech

Marty was recognized for  being an amazing asset to the Glen Oaks' 4th-grade math team. Every week, he prepares the lesson plan template and maps out the weekly standards before team planning even begins! Then during lesson planning, he works with his team to ensure that all of the standards are covered. This includes preparing lessons and activities to meet the needs of his students. After planning, he works to create engaging lessons and activities. He is also on the math planning committee. On the committee, he works to continuously improve the math units.

Nicole Inglot

Nicole was recognized for her support and collaboration that she has given to the Sorrick staff. She has a clear vision of how to help the EL students and is willing to adjust and adapt what the teachers need to do to help the students be successful. She shares valuable lessons that help keep our students engaged by using a variety of teaching methods. She has done a wonderful job getting things done efficiently and effectively to help encourage students to have the desire to continue the learning process. We are happy to have her as part of our team!

Kristle Pappas

Kristle was recognized for being a tremendous asset to our Oak Ridge special education team. It is inspiring how much she cares about her students and their learning. On many occasions Kristle has gone above and beyond for her students, as well as the IEP teams she is part of. It is much- appreciated and does not go unnoticed. It is clear how passionate she is about teaching and supporting her students so they feel cared for and appreciated. It is a pleasure to work with her and I look forward to the rest of the 2020-2021 school year. 

Marty Carr and Gloria Scislowicz 

Marty was recognized a second time this month along with Gloria for being dedicated professionals  who spend countless hours after school designing an honors curriculum and assessments that will push our highest students even further. I am impressed by their willingness to learn new grade level standards, their ability to compromise and their positive attitude while working late into the evening. District 117 is extremely lucky to have such devoted teachers like Gloria and Marty. 

Dave Creagan and Jola Maslak

Dave and Jola were recognized for working tirelessly for our remote students. The duo  coordinated with all grades to get the supplies needed and spent many hours putting together packets then distributing them. They are always available to help students and staff with any tech questions. Both Dave and Jola will do whatever is needed in the building, including subbing. I enjoy working with both of them! 

Ron Dorsey

Ron was recognized for always being there to to help and fix our buses in a timely matter. If you have a problem with the bus he addresses it promptly! Great Mechanic! 

Samar Maadi, Haneen Amira and Lydia Gamboa

Jessica was recognized for her support and collaboration that she has given to the Sorrick Staff. From the moment she came to Sorrick, she has had a positive and approachable demeanor. She has worked tirelessly to help make in-person and remote learning possible for our students. Jessica walks parents through technology problems, assists students in the classroom and provides the teachers with practical solutions to allow maximum learning in the classroom. We love that she embraces collaboration and is committed to working toward a shared goal with all staff members. Jessica has been a great addition to Sorrick School. We are lucky to have her as a part of our team. 

Rabab Magid

Rabab was recognized for creating a warm and welcoming environment for all her students and going above and beyond to meet all of their needs. Rabab's positive energy lifts up her entire hallway. Her friendly attitude is noticed by all.

Lauren Grzych and Kristina "Nina" Miller

Lauren and Nina were  recognized for working diligently and collaboratively to implement the District's mask-training program that was developed in response to the health and safety guidelines. These ladies have partnered with students and their families to hold virtual and in-person mask trainings. Lauren, a district speech language pathologist, and Nina, an occupational therapist, held joint sessions to successfully teach these eight students how to wear a mask. They continued to be innovative problem solvers who stay positive even when there was a setback. Because of Lauren and Nina's dedication and the support of the parents, these eight students were able to return to in-person instruction safely. Initially, each of these students had difficulty tolerating a mask due to their unique circumstances. The efforts and expertise of these ladies to meet the communication and sensory needs of each of these students led to this amazing success! District 117 is so lucky to have you both!  

Katie Westin

Katie was recognized for being such a fantastic teacher. She goes above and beyond in supporting her second- and third-grade honors math students and shares her wealth of knowledge with the fifth-grade math team. Katie has been so wonderful and calm during this pandemic. She’s been focused on providing her students with the best possible instruction. During this time, Katie has been a dedicated member of the 3rd grade honors math committee. We are so lucky to have Katie Westin on the Glen Oaks' team. 

Michelle Kjeldsen

Michelle was recognized for always being supporting and helping me with everything. She is an outstanding team member and mentor! I definitely couldn't have gotten through this semester without her. 

Emily Betts and MaryBeth Hines

 Emily and MaryBeth were recognized for staying positive and patient with students this year. They have kept open communication consistent with updates. My son is doing fully remote learning. He has thrived because of both of them. They clearly are a team and it shows. During this difficult time they have gone above and beyond to be the best teachers for the students at Conrady. 

Rich Waddicar

Jen was recognized for  being an exemplary supportive colleague. Jennifer is always there when you need her support. With all of the new changes that we have encountered this year, Jennifer is always  going above and beyond helping and supporting others making sure that our needs are met. Her support goes beyond description. Her thoughtfulness, caring and compassion for helping others is truly remarkable. Thank you Jennifer for everything that you do!!!  

Teresa Gerritsen

Teresa was recognized for  doing an outstanding job as a bus driver for one of our students. She has come up with creative ideas for keeping him safe, calm and regulated on his daily bus rides. She has reached out to other transportation staff for additional ideas and suggestions. On 11/16/2020, she came back to school after her route to attend a meeting with the team, including the parent to discuss positives and challenges that the child has on his bus rides. Teresa has truly gone above and beyond for this particular student. Thank you! 

Kelly Vittorio

Kelly was recognized for being such an amazing teacher. She goes above and beyond in supporting her students, co-workers and the Glen Oaks team. Her passion for educating students is contagious. Since the first day of school, Kelly has had a positive outlook on everything. She has continued to be a dedicated member of the 5th grade ELA team, 5th grade ELA committee, and 5th grade honors ELA committee. We are so fortunate to have Kelly Vittorio on the Glen Oaks team. 

Sheri Stupay

Sheri was recognized for being so positive, kind and calm since the first day of school. She has gone above and beyond to make sure students have computer devices to use and books to read. Sheri has been extremely supportive in every way possible. Whenever you run into her in the hallway, she stops, smiles and asks if you need help with anything. Sheri’s willingness to help is a true reflection of her dedication to supporting our students and teachers. We are so lucky to have Sheri Stupay on the Glen Oaks team.  

Erin Fitzgerald

Erin was recognized for her selflessness and stepping up big time. At the beginning of the year, we had a staff member who unexpectedly needed to take time off. We could not think of anyone better than Erin Fitzgerald, so we set up a time to speak to her. Not for one second did Erin question it, but rather jumped right in as the full-time classroom teacher. Erin has done a fantastic job all year, and we could not be more proud of the time and work she has put in. We truly don't know what we would do without her. She is a true asset to Oak Ridge and NPD117. 

Trish Nelson, Noor Farhan-Younis and Robin Neumann

Aneese was recognized for working tirelessly to support her EL students and rocks at co-teaching! Her incredible worth ethic, positive attitude and nurturing demeanor is such an asset to our building. 

Eric Carson 

Eric was recognized for his dedication and hard work to keep the students active during the day. Eric has been truly amazing during this pandemic. He has limited equipment, small teaching area, but he has been able to keep all the students happy and active. The movement has helped our students with their focus, concentration and behavior in the classroom. Eric has provided some normalcy which went a long way toward keeping the kids excited about coming to school. Sorrick is lucky to have a teacher who truly understands the importance of Physical Education as a critical part of a well-rounded education. 

Aisha Greer

Nicole was recognized  for doing  an outstanding job supporting teachers and the English Learning Programs at North Palos SD 117. She lead a team of K-1 bilingual teachers in developing Language Assessments to gauge where our EL students' language development levels are so  we can properly guide instruction. Recently, I had the opportunity to join the language assessment presentation with her and the committee members, and they did a phenomenal job! She and the team worked effortlessly on this development. Thank you, Nikki, for all of the supports you are providing for our teachers of English Learners! 

Kara Smit

Kara was recognized for  being an absolute genius, tremendously talented and one of the kindest technology support staff you could ever work with. She shares her knowledge and talent with everyone who needs her help, no matter how silly your question might be. She is always respectful and somehow always finds time for you. We are incredibly lucky having her on our team here in Conrady.

Team of Teachers: Dema Shaheen, Taylor Rott, Katie Ruzich and Chelsea Creatore.

Nancy was recognized twice now in the last two months as she was nominated for helping  make my transition from teaching 4th grade to joining the 3rd-grade team a real joy! Changing grade levels can be stressful and filled with unknowns. Nancy went out of her way to make me feel welcome as her teaching partner and answered my many questions with patience and kindness. I have confidence that when I face a problem I can go to Nancy with any question or simply to clarify information. Nancy is a very generous educator with her time and resources. I am thankful to her for sharing social studies lessons and for answering my text messages over the weekends when I am planning our units. I am so grateful to Nancy for supporting me and the students we share with compassion and professional integrity.

Team of Bilingual Teachers: Mariola Aranda, Manal Abdellatif, Amira Daoud, Kelly Scully, Rewaida Almallah and Shurook Abdeljaber.

Melissa, Danuta, Kelly, Huda, Julia and Sue Ellen were recognized for being some of the best co-teaching partnerships I’ve seen. These three pairs of co-teachers beautifully co-plan and co-teach each day. At the beginning of the year, they spent time building and strengthening their relationships while planning instruction for their students. During co-planning, they divide and conquer tasks, have open  communication and support each other’s ideas. When co-teaching, they both lead lessons for their in-person and remote students. Their excellent co-teaching truly makes a positive difference in their students’ lives. Melissa was recognized a second time for her willingness to help her new team. Melissa got a lot of "New to 4th Grade" teachers this year and has been going above and beyond to help everyone out. Each week in common planning Melissa gathers resources that the 4th grade ELA team has used in the past, gives an overview of the week to the team and offers to help anyone who needs help with the week ahead. The 4th grade ELA team would be lost without her. She even has extended her help to teachers at Oak Ridge! Her knowledge, helpfulness, kindness and organization has made the 4th grade ELA team a strong team! 

Katie Gabel

Katie was recognized for doing an excellent job this year. Every day my students are hopeful it is their turn to see Ms. Gabel. Her lessons are fun and engaging. The students are talking about the lessons when they come back to class. Katie always has a positive energy in the building and we are super lucky to have her at Glen Oaks. 

Kate Rotsch

Sandy was recognized  THREE times this month. She was first recognized for being an incredible person and staff member at Glen Oaks. She stepped in and assisted with a student loss in ways that are above and beyond what is expected. Her thoughtfulness, caring and compassion for others is truly remarkable. She is a person who makes a positive difference in the lives of staff, students and families in NPD 117. We are blessed to have this amazing person on our staff. always going above and beyond when it comes to supporting our Glen Oaks' families. Sandy was recognized a second time for always being quick to translate, provide families with support and help out in any way that she can. She does so much for our Glen Oaks community and does not like to receive recognition for all of the amazing things that she does. (She probably won't be happy about receiving this although she deserves it) :) Sandy was recognized a third time for being a  rock-star interpreter for our teachers. I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to help me at a meeting with a parent. Thank you for going above and beyond. I'm grateful for everything you do.   

Mary Sodaro (Nurse at Dorn)

Becca and Lea were recognized for being such a great help since the very start of this school year. They have been flexible with any needed schedule changes, with duties, filling in for classrooms that need coverage and helping with the passing out of breakfast at the end of the day. Their flexibility and positive attitudes are appreciated more than they know! 

Lynne Kaiser

Lynne was recognized twice this month. She was first recognized for always being extremely helpful to the other teachers, offering an abundance of advice and support. Being our most experienced math teacher at Sorrick, her door is always open for anyone who needs help or clarification, and she is always able to find time to help anyone with math curriculum and instruction. She spends countless hours creating numerous math resources and sharing them with other teachers. We are incredibly fortunate to have Lynne on our team, and we don’t know what we would do without her! Lynne was recognized a second time for her efforts to support her colleagues in math co-planning. Lynne’s math committee background and expertise has made her a tremendous asset to the first-grade team, and we are so grateful for the time and energy she has put forth to share that knowledge with the group. She doesn’t hesitate to share resources or answer any questions that her colleagues may have. 

Judy Amato

Judy always goes out of her way to make sure our items arrive when we need them. She follows up with companies if things have not arrived. She speeds up the process if we need something ASAP. She reminds us when there are things in I-Vision that need to be approved (and we have not done so yet). She searches for alternative products if something is out of stock. She finds things at lower prices to save us money, but always makes sure it is OK if she changes our order a bit. She is amazing at what she does and I appreciate her so much. 

Letty Verdin

Letty was recognized for EVERYTHING! This is only Letty's second year as secretary at Dorn, but you would never guess that. She has things totally under control during this very interesting school year! No matter what is thrown at her, she gets it done, even if it means staying until 10:00 PM (yes, seriously). She comes in on most weekends to catch up with things she did not get done during the week. She drives to remote families' houses if they can't pick things up. She is so patient with staff, students and especially parents. Her work ethic is SECOND TO NONE. Dorn would be in big trouble without her. This box to type in is not nearly large enough for me to write about all of Letty's amazing skills and qualities. 

Rosary Smith

Rosary was recognized for supporting the Glen Oaks' staff and students during the tough time of losing one of our students. She jumped right in, helping the students in Asma's class without hesitation. It was so wonderful to have such a support system in place for our students and have people from around the district show up for us! 

Haneen Hammad

Brenda was recognized for doing an amazing job with being flexible and taking on the challenges of this unique school year. She has been very creative utilizing technology and making learning fun for all of her students. She is always willing to help others and share her ideas. She is doing a great job making connections with her in-person and remote students by building a great classroom community that any child would want to be a part of. We are so lucky to have her at Glen Oaks! 

Angie Danaher

Angie was recognized for doing a tremendous job helping her new team members get acclimated to Sorrick School and has worked tirelessly to make sure their team is well organized. Since the start of the school year, Angie has been so positive, supportive and solution-oriented. We are so lucky to have her  on our team! 

Leila Haddadin

Leila was recognized  for being a true mentor to me during my first year at Dorn. Having made a huge jump from the upper elementary grades to the primary grades, I was so thankful to have a friend and colleague there who was willing to share everything and be there for all my questions. Her door is always open and for that I am grateful. 

Dorn First-Grade Teachers (Lisa Wilson, Mary Jo Heinz, Kathleen Mazzone and Jennifer Tischer

The first grade teachers at Dorn were recognized for  going out of their way to help us learn the curriculum and share their resources. The first weeks of school, they shared the lesson plans they created, linking every worksheet, activity, YouTube clip or song, making our first weeks a little less overwhelming. I am so grateful for their generosity and thoughtfulness. 

Adrienne Pavek and Dorita McCabe

Adrienne Pavek and Dorita McCabe were recognized for creating an exceptional environment for both staff and students. The duo's teamwork and efforts in making this very complicated and complex school year manageable cant go unnoticed. They are always trying to find better ways to support teachers and students. Their energy in the building is one of the main reasons many of us are motivated to tackle any obstacle that may come our way. 

Michelle Estand

Michelle was recognized for being a knowledgeable, professional and brilliant Speech Pathologist, who willingly shares her knowledge and talent with others. She is proficient at using AAC with nonverbal students, and advocates for their right to be efficient and successful communicators. Michelle is also a wonderful presenter and a precious asset to NPD117 professional team. We can all learn a lot from her:)

Nancy Collias

Nancy was recognized for being a model teacher. Nancy welcomed someone who was looking for some ideas and support into her classroom with open arms. Nancy has been doing an amazing job providing her in-person and remote students with an amazing education while also building relationships with them all. We are so lucky to have Nancy at Glen Oaks. Thank you for all that you do! 

Kristen Mirus

Renad was recognized for providing love and support to ALL students. Renad is always such a positive light at Glen Oaks School. She is very loved by all of her students and colleagues. She begins and ends each day with a smile (we know she's smiling under her mask). She loves her students deeply and goes above and beyond to provide them all with the support that they need. We are all so lucky that Renad is a Glen Oaks teacher. 

Reading Specialists at Sorrick School (Lauren Wuchter, Kim Sievers, Julie McElligott and Michelle Naumann)

Lauren Wuchter, Kim Sievers, Julie McElligott, and Michelle Naumann were recognized for their dedication to their students and for being so flexible and collaborative while stepping into the role of homeroom teachers this school year. Their positive attitudes, hard work and dedication to their students is apparent each day. 

Noof Alshahin

Noof is amazing! She was recognized for being so supportive as we all stumble through the learning of new technology. She has made time to model lessons, engage with parents of remote students to support them, brainstormed solutions to our problems, and has answered every question I have asked, even if it seemed insignificant! She is a tremendous team leader.

Conrady Office Staff (Gina Shalabi, Mary Beth Murphy, Gadeer Jalal and Donna Kral) 

Gina, Mary Beth, Gadeer and Donna were recognized for assisting in reopening the school for staff and students. These amazing ladies have been working tirelessly to contact our families to ensure that students are able to access their classes and participate in learning while at home. As experts on our Black and Gold schedule, they have been instrumental in helping students to understand where they need to be and when. Thank you for all that you do; it does not go unnoticed! We'd also like to send a shout out to Mary Beth on her retirement! Congratulations; you will be missed! 

Beverly Polit

Beverly was recognized for being a superstar at Dorn. Her passion for teaching drove her to master new technology to service both remote and in-person students. She took the initiative to model her effective use of technology to her colleagues. Her door is always open for support. She is an invaluable member of the Dorn staff! 

Meryem Chbicheb

Mike was recognized for his hard work and his willingness to go above and beyond by pitching in and helping out all the teachers when they need assistance. Whenever a teacher asks Mike for help, his response is always “no problem." He responds without hesitation to their request which allows the teachers to focus on their students and the curriculum. He helps the teachers by moving heavy furniture and is willing to tackle any minor repairs that the teachers have as well. He interacts well with the staff and has a firm grip on the things that need to be done so the school can run flawlessly. He maintains a beautiful courtyard for the staff and students to enjoy. Mike is an essential team player at Sorrick School. He is reliable, energetic, dependable, very organized, and meticulous with the jobs that he does for us. We do not know what we would do without him.

Eman Khatib

Eman was recognized for being an amazing first-year teacher. I have had the privilege of working with her as a co-teacher and am blown away by how shew has stepped up to the challenge during this pandemic. She is open to new ideas, flexible and puts great effort into all she does. She has excellent classroom management skills and the children respond to her kind and gentle demeanor. She is a true asset to Dorn School.

Natalie Profita

Natalie was recognized for being an outstanding leader by facilitating a smooth opening of Sorrick School. She has been very organized and supports the staff by giving attention to the details during this uncertain time. She has been an excellent listener and has shown compassion, kindness, and patience to the staff. She continues to organize and provide various resources to assist the teacher’s instruction and to support the needs of our students. Not only has she worked with the teachers to help them prepare for instructional management but she is also is willing to communicate with parents to ensure them that our school will provide an environment that fosters learning and creativity. We are lucky to be working in a school with a principal who respects and listens to her teachers. 

Jen Stefl, Kate Brody and Jen McCormick

Jen, Kate and Jen were recognized for teacher and student advocacy. These ladies are dedicated teachers and union members. We appreciate all the hard work they put in to make our school and our district a safe learning environment for all. They find ways to overcome challenges in a year that has presented many. We are very appreciative of all the additional time and effort they put into this school year!

Sue Maloney

Sue was recognized for creating a positive school climate. Sue is an essential part of our building at Glen Oaks. She runs the front office smoothly and does so with a positive attitude. Sue will always make time to help out a co-worker or student in need. She is a fantastic addition to the Glen Oaks team. Our students and staff are lucky to have her!

Kate Rotsch, Karen Canning and Kelly Calhoun

Christine was recognized for her calm and steady leadership during these times. Christine has motivated us while still having to make the tough decisions. She has guided us and the entire teaching and learning department toward the district's mission of creating a positive and caring learning environment that fosters excellence and active student participation that ensures every student realizes his/her full potential as a socially responsible lifelong learner.

Jenn Stefan

Jenn was recognized for being a true leader in the school reopening plan. There are many times that I have gone to her to ask a question and she is always more then willing to answer all my concerns and ease my anxieties. Jenn always put herself out there in helping students and staff to get into the building safely and as quickly as possible so students have as much time in the classroom for learning. Jenn also will not ask anyone to do something that she herself would not also do. I appreciate her willingness to always listen and support my ideas on bettering Oak Ridge students. 

Stephanie Johnson

Kevin was recognized for being an outstanding leader at Oak Ridge School. Kevin always goes over and above to make sure students and staff feel safe during this uncertain time. He does not ask anyone to do anything that he would not do himself. He has been very open with the staff which I feel has reduced many anxieties that staff may have even if they may not always agree with the outcome. Kevin is a true leader at Oak Ridge and I know that students and staff appreciate all that he does.  

Kevin Buscemi and Jenn Stefan