Two District 214 staff members honored with school counseling impact awards
Congratulations to District 214 Director for Student Services, Dr. Jessica Herrmann, and John Hersey High School Student Success Coach, Angela Ferrazza, for earning Impact Awards from the Illinois School Counselor Association (ISCA).
The ISCA annually invites nominations to recognize outstanding work in school counseling. Jessica is one of only five individuals in Illinois to receive ISCA's School Administrator Award; Angela is one of three individuals across the state to be honored with the Key Contributor Award.
Jessica came to District 214 from Mundelein High School District 120, where she most recently served as Director of Student Services. Prior to going into administration, Jessica served as a bilingual school psychologist. A graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, she earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from Northern Illinois University.
Dr. Lázaro López, the district's Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, said: “We are very proud of Dr. Herrmann's recognition by the Illinois School Counselor's Association. Her leadership in support of our students and staff during a critical time of need as demand for mental health services have grown exponentially, has been invaluable to our response to our community.”
Jessica shares she is very honored to earn this recognition and grateful to her colleagues for the nomination. She added, “I feel so fortunate to get to work and learn alongside such passionate and thoughtful educators, and I am excited to continue working together to make a positive difference for our students and our community.”
Angela began working on behalf of students as Director of Development at the Golden Apple Foundation in Chicago. As Student Success Coach, Angela recruits and supports Hersey students in work-based learning opportunities. In this role, Angela helps students make connections and gain invaluable job skills while also addressing the employment needs of local businesses and industries.
Christopher Chiakulas, Post Secondary Counselor at John Hersey High School, said, “Angela actively listens to students about what their interests and needs are, provides an empathetic ear to students who are struggling, and advocates fiercely to make sure our students are getting the maximum benefit out of their experience.”
Angela says she has the best job in the building, adding: “Listening to students talk about career aspirations and playing a small role in their journey is a privilege. This program's success can be directly attributed to the hard work of many, many D214 employees who are dedicated to serving students. I'm grateful to be a part of the team.”