Neighbors in the news

The Township High School District 214 board of education appointed Johnnie Thomas, executive director of student services for Valley View School District 365-U in Romeoville, to associate superintendent for student services.

Thomas, who will succeed Barbara Kelley effective July 1, will provide leadership, coordination and direction in special education, guidance/counseling, alternative education programs, psychological, social work, speech/language and health services. He holds a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University and a master's degree in social work from Loyola University.

• The District 62 board of education promoted Dr. Janice Rashid, principal of Central Elementary School since 2006, to director of curriculum and instruction, effective July 1.

Rashid began her teaching career in 1998, as a sixth grade teacher in the Chicago Catholic School System. From 1999-2003, she taught preschool for the Skokie Park District and later as a reading specialist at Fairview School District 72 in Skokie and in Northbrook/Glenview School District 30.

Rashid holds a doctoral degree in educational administration and supervision from Loyola University. Her master's degree in curriculum and instruction, as well as a bachelor's degree in psychology were also earned at Loyola. She recently received a District 62 Lighthouse Award and an Award of Merit in the administrator category of the Distinguished Service Awards from the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association.

• Arlington Heights native Lorelei Camp, was appointed director of group sales and new business development at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney.

Before joining Hawthorne, Camp was the McCormick Foundation's Freedom Museum's director of operations, where she was responsible for the museum's day-to-day operations, and a wide spectrum of special events. She is currently completing a master's degree in management at North Park University in Chicago, and she has postgraduate certification in philanthropy and nonprofit fundraising from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree in hotel-restaurant-institutional-tourism management from Purdue University.

• Ashley Palazzo a seventh grade student from Plum Grove Junior High School will travel to Australia for 17 days this summer as a Student Ambassador with the People to People Student Ambassador program. Palazzo, one of only 40 students from the Chicago area selected, was nominated for outstanding scholastic merit, community and civic involvement and leadership skills.

While in Australia, she will experience the history and culture and educational and government systems of the country. Activities will include meeting with government officials, marine biologists and the Aboriginal people; exploring the World Heritage Rain Forest, Litchfield National Park and the Great Barrier Reef; and participating in a service project to help maintain the local ecosystem.