Libertyville Administrators Honored With State Awards

Libertyville Elementary District 70 Supt. Dr. Guy Schumacher and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Kathy Dinger, along with school administrators, were honored at a 2013 Distinguished Service Award luncheon of the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association this month.

Schumacher, who has worked with District 70 for eight years, first as Butterfield School principal and then as superintendent, was nominated for the Distinguished Service Award for an Administrator by Board of Education President Maryann Ovassapian and District 70 Public Relations Facilitator Robin Smith Kollman. Schumacher's service was highlighted for his ongoing push to reach out and connect with the Libertyville community from setting up the first health clinic to distribute H1N1 vaccines to inviting realtors to meet and get to know the schools better, to creating the first awards given to community members as well as District 70's own staff.

The Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA) annually sponsors the Distinguished Service Awards to honor deserving education staff and supporters of local school districts. This statewide program brings recognition to the award recipient and the nominating school district.

Also being honored with a Distinguished Service Award for a Team were Kathy Dinger, along with Highland Middle School Principal Jon Hallmark, Assistant Principal Keri Bongle, and Dean of Students Lorenzo Cervantes; as well as Adler Park Principal Jon Bogie, Butterfield Principal Candice Kehoe and Assistant Principal Andy Elbert, Copeland Manor Principal Erik Youngman and Rockland Principal Jeff Knapp.

Supt. Schumacher nominated the team for their “A Day in the Life” where principals attend a single classroom throughout the day and report on what students are leaning, observations, student thoughts and classroom activities on FaceBook. The event, which is done throughout the year as each administrator takes a day, was created by Dinger and has exposed school day activities to parents and the District 70 community in a fun and live way.

The luncheon was held May 3 at the Park Ridge Country Club with NBC anchor and reporter Dick Johnson serving as master of ceremonies.

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