Meet the Principal: Cynthia Church
Cynthia Church, principal Black Hawk School, Glendale Heights, Marquardt Elementary District 15
Age: Old enough.
Family: Husband, Randy; sons: Phil (teacher at Bartlett High School), Mike (director of expansion, Sigma Chi Fraternity), Dave (U.S. Navy)
Grew up in: Peoria
Your ultimate pet: Pegasus
What's your education philosophy in one sentence: Children learn best in a compassionate and caring community that celebrates differences, believes in excellence and works together to make achievement happen for all children.
Personal hero: Abraham Lincoln
How did you wind up in education? I have always loved learning. In college I changed to education because educators are connected to our world: all that was, all that is and all that will be.
What is your dream vacation? My dream vacation would be to travel to the Southern Hemisphere during our winter and their summer so that I had a year without winters.
If you won the biggest lottery in history you'd … give most of it away, save some and take a really long vacation to the Southern Hemisphere in the winter.
Favorite reality show? "Little People … Big World."
Cubs or Sox? Cubs
If you could invite one literary character to dinner, who would you pick and why? Skellig from the book of the same name by David Almond, because Skellig is such a unique creature.
Musical guilty pleasures. Flight of the Conchords
Favorite childhood book? "The Forgotten Door" by Alexander Key or "Go, Dog. Go!" by P.D. Eastman
Bungee jumping, rappelling or parachuting? Rappelling because I could control the rate of descent.
What's the most innovative program you've seen so far at school? Continuous improvement.
Latest new "it" word you've heard from a student? Bling-bling.
What lasting impression do you hope to leave? The lasting impression I would like to leave is that when we unite in a common cause and with a common focus, dreams hoped for will become dreams realized.
What's the worst influence on today's youth? The worst influence is popular culture that is demeaning and demoralizing, especially so when the negativity is not tempered by positive role models in the child's life.
Thing that makes today's students distinct? Today's students learn and exist in a world that is connected in a way that was not possible just a few short years ago. Information is increasing exponentially, and this expansion has resulted in rapid access to information with less time to process and reflect. Not all information is equal or important. Therefore, it's necessary that children are taught how to be selective in the acquisition and use of that information. The students who excel will be the students who can use the information to think critically to make necessary adaptations.
If I could change one thing about the world it would be … all workers will earn a living wage.
If you could paint your office any color it would be … no change. I like yellow because it is cheerful.