Top Kane County educators to be honored Friday
Forty-four suburban educators who are nominees for Kane County Educator of the Year Awards will be recognized Friday at a banquet in St. Charles.
The 40th annual event will be held at the Q Center, Fox River Ballroom, 1405 N. Fifth St.
Special recognition also will be given to those retiring from education this school year, according to the Kane County Regional Office of Education.
Awards will be presented for the top educators in elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as school administrator, student support personnel, early career educator, preschool, educational service personnel and an overall Kane County Educator of the Year.
Nominees come from Hampshire-based Community Unit District 300, St. Charles Unit District 303, Batavia Unit District 101, Geneva Unit District 304, Kaneland Unit District 302, and East Aurora Unit District 131. They were selected by committees of teachers and administrators for their contributions and having earned the respect and admiration of students, parents and co-workers.
The educator of the year winner will receive a $3,000 grant for his/her school district. All 44 nominees will receive special recognition as distinguished educators.
For more information on the banquet, visit kaneroe.org.
Kane County Educator of the Year nominees
• Elementary: Susan Bruno, general education and English as a Second Language, Gates Elementary, East Aurora School District 131; Jessica Dixon, Kaneland John Shields Elementary School, Kaneland Unit District 302; Maria Navarro, bilingual literacy, Parkview Elementary, Community Unit District 300; Thomas Robertson, kindergarten, Cambridge Lakes Charter School, District 300; and Jessica Weir, fifth grade, Lincoln Prairie Elementary School, District 300.
• Middle school: Sherry Douglas, science, Westfield Community School, District 300; Sharon Marcellis, math, Harter Middle School, District 302; Kathaleen O'Brien, English language arts and reading, Cowherd Middle School, District 131; and Stephen Renne, social studies and AVID, Hampshire Middle School, District 300.
•High school: Martha Behlow, French, Geneva High School, Geneva Unit District 304; Kenneth Gerk, social studies and consumer education, East Aurora High School, District 131; Bethany Herrera, psychology, St. Charles North High School, St. Charles Unit District 303; Katie Keller, physical education, Batavia High School, Batavia Unit District 101; Bryan Kunstman, music, choral director/fine arts department chairman, Kaneland High School, District 302; Steven Matthies, chemistry, honors and physics, St. Charles East High School, District 303; and Pierre Thorsen, social studies, Jacobs High School, District 300.
• School administrator: John Baird, assistant superintendent K-12 operations, District 303; Charles Bumbales, assistant superintendent of operations, District 300; Craig Collins, assistant superintendent of human resources, District 304; Alicia Honnert, assistant principal, Thompson Middle School, District 303; Melissa Jackson, supervisor/program coordinator, Mid-Valley Special Education; Martne McCoy, principal, Kaneland Blackberry Creek, District 302; and Maureen Sauter-Taylor, assistant principal, Dieterich Elementary, District 131.
• Student support personnel: Alma Auchstetter, translator/family liaison, Lakewood School, District 300; Janice Finke, computer support specialist, St. Charles North High School, District 303; James Hawkins, counselor, St. Charles East High School, District 303; Colleen Kelso, guidance counselor, East Aurora High School, District 131; Loretta McGough Ruh, Library Media Center director, Heartland Elementary, District 304; and Pat Stacey, Learning Resource Center director/media specialist, Thompson Middle School, District 303.
• Preschool: Darlyne Dwyer, special education, Kaneland Blackberry Creek, District 302; and Christina Morton, early childhood, Early Childhood Development, District 131.
• Early career educator: James Buckwalter, middle school language arts, Cambridge Lakes Charter School, District 300; Curt Dedic, science, Jacobs High School, District 300; and Zachary Sipes, math, East Aurora High School, District 131.
• Educational service: Cynthia Bullis, principal's secretary, Meadowdale Elementary, District 300; Lora Garrison, human resources coordinator, District 300; Patricia Hammersmith, support staff, Lake in the Hills Elementary, District 300; Ann Janson, instructional assistant, Harrison Street Elementary, District 304; Michelle Lage, paraprofessional, Alice Gustafson School, District 101; Kim Mundt, principal's assistant, East Aurora High School, District 131; Ofelia Oliveros, custodian, St. Charles North High School, District 303; Da na Pederson, preschool assistant/executive director, Cambridge Lakes Charter School, District 300; Isabel Schmalzer, paraprofessional, Grace McWayne School, District 101; and Caryn Spitzzeri, support staff, Harter Middle School, District 302.