School District 230 recognized with four “Those Who Excel” awards
School District 230 was recognized with four “Those Who Excel Awards” – two in the team category, one volunteer and one in the educator category. Recipients will receive their awards at the 50th annual Illinois State Board of Education Awards ceremony for the work they do to support and positively impact the students at Sandburg, Stagg and Andrew High Schools.
According to the Illinois State Board of Education, the annual “Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards” celebrate incredible classroom teachers, administrators, teams, volunteers, and school support personnel who have made lasting impacts on the students, families, and fellow educators in their school communities.
Team: Board of Education
The Consolidated High School District 230 Board of Education members display unwavering dedication, visionary leadership, and profound commitment to education.
Their teamwork has made an indelible impact on our community, students, and educators at Carl Sandburg, Amos Alonzo Stagg and Victor J. Andrew High Schools. The Board has fostered partnerships with parents, teachers, and the broader community. They have encouraged open dialogue and collaboration, ensuring that community feedback informs their decisions.
Each Board Committee has an advisory component composed of parents, teachers, support staff, community members and even students. This team has also taken significant steps to address issues of equity and inclusion within the district, helping ensure students have a dress code that is culturally and gender respectful, calming rooms to boost student social-emotional well-being, and support co-curricular clubs and activities that promote and enrich student culture and heritage.
The District 230 Board has shown unparalleled fiscal responsibility with the passage of its 20th balanced budget. They have ensured that resources are allocated efficiently and transparently, which has led to the successful implementation of numerous programs and initiatives that have positively affected our schools.
Team: Charger Team Space
The Charger Team Space (CTS) at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School comprised of a dedicated team who work collectively to ensure our students are equipped with the skills to succeed academically and beyond the classroom. The program is an essential piece of the school’s multi-tiered systems of support focused on building relationships with students to most efficiently impact their academics, while also developing essential skills including executive functioning, prioritization, and communication. They connect with their colleagues throughout the building to identify classroom supports for students. This team is an example of what is possible when given time, space, and resources to create something exceptional.
Volunteer: Tracy Sukalo
As President of Amos Alonzo Stagg High School’s Athletic Booster Club, Tracy Sukalo is a remarkable leader with organizational skills and unwavering commitment to the school’s athletic program. She has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the President of the Athletic Booster Club with a unique ability to motivate and inspire volunteers, parents, and supporters, which has been instrumental in the success of the club. During her time as President, not only she increased membership, but volunteers went from four people in year one to 30 volunteers this year. She is always the first to arrive and the last to leave, tirelessly working to ensure that student-athletes have the resources they need to thrive in their respective sports.She has also played a pivotal role in fundraising that has directly benefited athletes with new equipment, uniforms, scoreboards, and scholarships to seniors. Stagg Athletic Director Jen Doede says, “The positive impact her initiatives have had on our athletic programs is undeniable. She fosters a spirit of volunteerism, teamwork, and inclusivity, working seamlessly with coaches, parents, school administrators, and community members to strengthen our athletic programs. She is dedicated to ensuring that every student-athlete and program feels important.”
Educator: Carrie Sinclair
A special education teacher in the Ultima Program at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School for the last six years, Carrie Sinclair is an exceptional special education teacher in all areas, specifically in the areas of instruction and innovative planning, collaborating with colleagues, providing leadership and guidance to staff, and establishing relationships with students and families. Her students may be in her classroom for multiple years, so she developed a four year rotating curriculum to ensure that students are not repeating curriculum during their time in her class. She differentiates and individualizes her instruction to meet the unique learning needs of her students. Creative, competent, and flexible in utilizing various technologies in her classroom for meaningful and engaging activities, her students are empowered to understand their learning and have ongoing engagement and decision making in their educational journey. Sinclair has instituted student-facilitated IEP meetings for the students in her classroom, encouraging students to become advocates for themselves. Special Services Division chair Gail Rubio says, “The staff in the Special Services Department at Stagg High School look to Ms. Sinclair as a leader and as a valuable resource for best practices in working with students with disabilities. The staff truly trust, value, and honor her perspective.”
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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