Huntley begins program to recognize teachers

The Huntley Education Association, Huntley Unit District 158's teachers union, has started a new program to recognize its best teachers every month.

Every month during the school year, teachers can nominate their peers as teacher of the month. One teacher will be selected for the honor from each of the district's three campuses.

The first teacher of the month at the Square Barn campus is Michelle McGehee, an eighth grade math teacher at Heineman Middle School.

McGehee organizes monthly volunteer opportunities for students, manages the school store and facilitates a tutoring program for elementary school students.

Rick Rohde, a music teacher at Chesak Elementary School, is the first teacher of the month at the Reed Road campus.

Rohde recently organized a field trip to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for first and second graders at Chesak to teach them about musical terms and instruments.

Brendan Dowling, an algebra teacher at Huntley High School, is the first educator to be named teacher of the month at the Harmony Road campus.

Dowling developed the curriculum for Algebra 2, serves as a leader and adviser to his colleagues for the class and helps coach football at the high school.

Every teacher of the month gets a $25 Borders gift card.

Charter school gets grant

The Cambridge Lakes Charter School in Pingree Grove just had a big payday.

The school has been awarded a $200,000 grant through the Federal Public Charter Schools Grant Program, one of 11 schools in Illinois to receive a grant this year.

Each school that applies for the grant must explain the instructional methods it will use to ensure students meet state standards.

The grant will help pay for staff development, books and other learning materials, science equipment and more.

The grant isn't the first the charter the school has received this year, but it's by far the largest.

There's just one catch: the school only has until June 30, 2008 to spend or earmark the money.

Chop chop.