D300 staffers nominated for top educator award
Community Unit District 300's longtime leader and an enterprising staff member at one of the district's newest schools are among the nominees for the Kane County Educator of the Year Awards.
Kenneth Arndt, the district's superintendent since 2001, and Mary Dudek, the principal's secretary at Gilberts Elementary School, will be among the region's top educators during the Kane County Regional Office of Education's awards ceremony on May 6 at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles.
District spokeswoman Allison Strupeck described the awards as “the Oscars for educators.”
“It's the closest thing we have to Hollywood,” Strupeck said. “It truly is lights, cameras, action on the night. The people who are nominated are not in it for the glory, so it is worthwhile to give them the glory they deserve.”
Educators are nominated in six categories: elementary teacher, middle school teacher, high school teacher, administrator, special educator (such as nurses and social workers), and support staff (such as paraprofessionals, secretaries and custodians).
A Regional Superintendent's Award winner, and an Educator of the Year top overall winner are selected from the aforementioned categories. Nominees may only win one award, however.
Arndt, who is set to retire at the end of the school year, is nominated in the administrator category.
“I am one of those guys who doesn't even like to celebrate his birthday,” Arndt said. “It is extremely humbling and I am deeply honored and flattered that someone considered me.”
A committee of 12 people, which included parents, teachers and administrators, worked on the 124-page nomination book for Arndt, Strupeck said.
The letters, photos and stories Dudek's family and colleagues included in her nomination book brought her to tears.
“It is amazing to me because I am just doing what I am supposed to do,” Dudek said. “I am honored to be recognized for something that I think is just routine.”
Dudek began her career in District 300 as a paraprofessional at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in 2004. She has been at Gilberts Elementary School since it opened in 2007.
“I would say helping to open the school from scratch was one of my biggest accomplishments,” Dudek said.
Tickets for the ceremony are $35 (including dinner) and can be purchased by calling District 300 receptionist Susie Stiles at (847) 551-8329 no later than Friday, April 22.