District 70 honors Kyle Malcolm of Zaccharias Center

Submitted by Libertyville School District 70

Libertyville School District 70 honored Kyle A. Malcolm of Zacharias Center in Gurnee with its 2015 Character & Leadership Award.

The honor is the school district's only award bestowed on an outside organization. The prestigious award is given "in honor of exemplary character, leadership and service." The award was designed by Superintendent Dr. Guy Schumacher and is given with appreciation by the Board of Education, administration and staff.

Malcolm was presented with the award at a Board of Education meeting on Dec. 14.

"Zacharias Center has provided, free of charge, sensitive personal safety presentations to all of our kindergartners, second- and fourth-graders for the last two years to help us with Erin's Law," Superintendent Dr. Guy Schumacher said when presenting the award. "We are proud to recognize Kyle Malcolm of Zacharias Center with a Libertyville School District 70 Award of Character, Leadership and Service."

The 32-year-old Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center works to end sexual assault and abuse through counseling, educational programs and training. Malcolm has worked with District 70 to introduce Erin's Law to students through educational programming.

Erin's Law is named after childhood sexual assault survivor, author, speaker and activist Erin Merryn. "Erin's Law" requires that all public schools in Illinois implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program which teaches students in grades prekindergarten through 12th grade, age-appropriate techniques to recognize child sexual abuse and tell a trusted adult. Through Zacharias, Malcolm talks to students and also assists school personnel about child sexual abuse. She also, through Zacharias, can help parents and guardians know the warning signs of child sexual abuse, plus needed assistance, referral or resource information to support sexually abused children and their families.

Zacharias Center worked with students last year, and again this year.

Malcolm was nominated by Erik Youngman, director of curriculum, instruction and assessments for District 70.

"The Community-conscious Zacharias Center has been a great partner with Libertyville District 70 to help students learn about mandated learning topics of sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention that are associated with Erin's Law," said Youngman. "The free, consistent, relevant and appropriate prevention program has been appreciated the last two years."

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