Brook Park School teacher Pam Sullivan recently was named a “master teacher” status by achieving certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. To become a master teacher, applicants complete a rigorous self-evaluation process, and not all who complete it are accepted.
National Board Certification attests that a teacher is judged by his/her peers as one who is accomplished, makes sound professional judgments about student learning and acts effectively on those judgments.
She is the second district teacher to achieve master teacher status. English teacher Megan Anderson earned the distinction in 2009. They are among the elite group of 74,000 teachers throughout the U.S. who have earned this prestigious title since 1987.
Board certification took Sullivan two years to complete.
The certification process also changed her career goals, which had previously been focused on teaching technology.
“The process opened my eyes to what made me happy as a teacher, and that was teaching a grade level classroom,” said Sullivan in a press release issued by Brookfield-LaGrange Park District 95. “I followed my passion and became a fifth-grade teacher. I am enjoying every minute.”
Techie teachers
Three teachers at Riverside-Brookfield High School – Patty Sarkady, Dan Mancoff and Cherise Lopez – have been selected to receive the highest award bestowed through the Larry Stilgebauer Exemplary Use of Technology program.
The annual award program recognizes district, schools and teachers in Cook County for innovative projects that increase student learning through the integration of technology.
Sarkadyfs broadcast journalism students collaborate to plan their news programs, study ethical dilemmas and write stories using RB16 News Ning (www.rb16news.ning.com), a social networking site she built.
Mancoff and Lopez led a switch from a paper-based student newspaper to Clarion Online (www.rbclarion.com), which includes regular updates on a Web page that includes many special features.
And the winner is c
Brookfield resident Jeanne Delagardelle picked up $600 as the winner of the “New Year, New You” contest from Fifth-Third Bank and Chicago radio station WTMX-FM “The Mix.”
The contest asked listeners to submit their dreams for starting off the New Year right. Delagardellefs entry was to give her 9-year-old son, Roy, who has autism, a tandem bicycle so he can enjoy bike riding like most kids.
Let the Eagle soar
On Feb. 22, the Brookfield village board honored several Brookfield residents who recently were awarded the rank of Eagle as members of the Boy Scouts. Each of the scouts received a certificate from Village President Michael Garvey noting their achievement.
Among those honored were Timothy Geroulis, a member of the St. Louise Troop, and Tristan Borden, Patrick Deweese, Austin Holtschlag, Anthony Paparo and Christopher Szmczak, who are from the St. Louise de Marillac Troop.
Appointed
Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel has been appointed to serve on the executive board of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. He will be a member of a core working team that will advise the board of officers as to the direction and shape of future projects that influence the law enforcement community and public safety.
On campus
On Feb. 20, Riverside-Brookfield High Schoolfs Repertory Dance Ensemble performed at Buffalo Grove High School as part of a state competition. At that event, senior Natalie Godlewski was recognized for her choreography and her dance “Cukoo” was selected to be performed at this yearfs state dance festival in May.
Among those performing Godlewskifs piece at the Feb. 20 event were Vilija Aleksa, Brigitte Collazo, Hannah Langosch, Kayla Muldoon, Jamie Payne, Alyssa Penna, Melissa Pruitt and Sarah Szydlo.
William OfConnor, a graduate of Riverside-Brookfield High School, has been named to the deanfs list for the fall semester at The College of Wooster (Ohio). A sophomore from Riverside, OfConnor achieved a grade-point average of 3.65 or above.
Brookfield resident John Kissane was named to the deanfs list for the fall semester in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. To be considered for the deanfs list, students must achieve a GPA of 3.75 or above. Kissanefs GPA was 4.0.
Three Brookfield residents, Margaret C. Berry, Melissa Camerano and Beth Michiels, have been named to the deanfs list at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston for the fall 2009 semester. The deanfs list recognizes undergraduates who achieve a GPA of 3.80 or above on a 4-point scale while completing a minimum of 12 graded semester hours.
In addition, Kaitlyn M. Most, of Brookfield, received her Bachelor of Science in Education at EIUfs fall commencement ceremony.
Hauser Junior High School in Riverside held its annual Performing Arts Show on Feb. 17, with many of the students receiving recognition for their musical expertise.
Among those showcased at the event were the winners of the music departmentfs Solo Day contest, including Frances Enger and Tim Somers for band, Kelsey Dickeson and Alex Muntean for orchestra, Anton Kompare and Alex Tong for piano, and Rachel Bennett and Kristin Tomecek for voice. More than 285 Hauser students competed in the Solo Day event in January.
In addition, to the solo contest winners, the show also features performances from Hauserfs music ensembles, including the jazz band, chamber choir, chamber orchestra and several other student acts.
