Conant High School mourns 30-year teacher

A special-education teacher who spent his entire career at Conant High School has passed away.

Larry Schroeder passed away Tuesday, at the age of 61.

He retired in 2005 after 30 years working with students at Conant. Outside the classroom, he was the longtime student council sponsor and he also worked with the school's Presidents' Club.

"He set the benchmark," said Conant Assistant Principal Jerry Trevino. "Not only was he a terrific role model for the students, but he set the standard for teachers. We all emulated him."

As sponsor of the Presidents' Club, Mr. Schroeder kept his pulse on activities going on throughout the school as he oversaw building-wide initiatives organized by presidents of all the school's extracurricular organizations.

At student council meetings, student leaders initiated some long-standing projects during Mr. Schroeder's years, including adopting a needy family during the holidays, collecting toys for tots and creating cards for youngsters at Children's Memorial Hospital.

One annual activity that seemed to embody Mr. Schroeder's commitment to students with special needs, was leading the student council members to visit adults with disabilities at a nearby group home.

During their regular visits, they played board games and danced to music before sharing special treats together.

Mr. Schroeder himself commented on this when Conant administrators nominated him for the Illinois State Board of Education, "Those Who Excel" award for outstanding teachers.

"The opportunity to spend time with these residents," Mr. Schroeder said, "offers our students a unique experience with adults, who in their own special way, make a meaningful and important contribution to our community."

"That was Larry," Trevino said. "He wanted kids to see the greater good, and the bigger picture."

In 1999, Mr. Schroeder was named Student Council Advisor of the Year" for the Northeast District of the Illinois Association of Student Councils.

The next year, in 2000, Mr. Schroeder was the local representative to win the Walmart Teacher of the Year Award.

Mr. Schroeder was preceded in death by his wife, Rita. He is survived by his children Anne (Thomas) McNamara and Michael (Amanda) Schroeder, as well as two grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Holy Family Church, 2515 W. Palatine Road in Inverness.