District 15 receives 6 'Those Who Excel' awards

Posted September 17, 2015 11:00 pm

Submitted by District 15

The Illinois State Board of Education recognized each of District 15's six nominees with awards in its prestigious "Those Who Excel" awards program this year.

Each year, ISBE's "Those Who Excel" awards program honors outstanding teachers, administrators, student support personnel, educational service personnel, and community members for their exceptional contributions to schools throughout the state. Candidates are nominated by their local schools or people in their communities. Letters of recommendation are also required. A committee of peers, including representatives from statewide education organizations and former award recipients, determines the level of recognition nominees will receive - Excellence, Merit, or Recognition.

District 15's honorees will receive two Awards of Excellence, two Awards of Merit, and two Awards of Recognition when they are recognized at ISBE's "Those Who Excel" Banquet, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Marriott Bloomington-Normal Conference Center in Normal.

Honorees are:

• Dr. Laura Swanlund, the coordinator of the district's psychology department and its Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and Response to Intervention programs, will receive an Award of Excellence in the "School Administrator" category.

• Kristin Fortunato, the secretary at Gray M. Sanborn School, will receive an Award of Excellence in the "Educational Service Personnel" category.

• Cynthia Zeivel, a fifth-grade teacher at Frank C. Whiteley School, will receive an Award of Merit in the "Classroom Teacher" category.

• Cynthia Wong, a school social worker at Willow Bend School, will receive an Award of Merit in the "Student Support Personnel" category.

• Chelsea Blanchfield, a third-grade teacher at Stuart R. Paddock School, will receive an Award of Recognition in the "Early Career Educator" category.

• Hunting Ridge School's Front Office Team - Teresa Ostoich, Corry Hamilton, and Julie Simpson - will receive an Award of Recognition in the "Team" category.

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