The District 202 Board of Education honored 33 exceptional educational staff and community members at its 32nd annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
The Awards of Excellence honors teachers and non-administrative staff who have significantly impacted their students, schools, and the community. The Board presented 29 Awards of Excellence to district staff this year.
A committee of three Board members and the Board’s two community ambassadors picks the Awards of Excellence winners from nominations from students, staff, and parents. The Board has honored more than 500 individuals since the Award’s inception in 1993.
The Board also presented these four other awards:
Cheryl Ricciardi Exceptional Student Service Award to Ashlee Cooper, Plainfield North High School social worker
Richard Ira Jones Memorial Award to Matt Starr, community member
Elizabeth “Bess” Eichelberger to Keith Holderman, retired District 202 administrator
Lane Abrell Administrator Award to Kai Freeman, Principal at Drauden Point Middle School.
The 2024 Awards of Excellence winners are:
Laila Ali – John F. Kennedy Middle School language arts teacher and Culture Club chairperson
Lisa Bryjak – Aux Sable Middle School math teacher
Dawn Bullock – President of the Association of Plainfield Teachers
Ashlee (Wright) Cooper – Plainfield North High School social worker
Amber Damm – Ridge Elementary School paraprofessional
Tabitha Galaty - Ira Jones Middle School science teacher
Brian Gier – Plainfield East High School groundskeeper specialist
Karen Gomez – Grand Prairie Elementary School K-2 dual language special education teacher
Katherine Gregory – Heritage Grove Middle School eighth-grade social studies teacher
Keith Hancock – Creekside Elementary School fifth-grade special education teacher
Paula Heyden – Lincoln Elementary School fifth-grade teacher
Takisha Hill – Freedom Elementary School third-grade teacher
Julie Kelly – Plainfield South High School Creative Arts Division Chairperson
Grace McAllister – Thomas Jefferson Elementary School paraprofessional
Colleen McGarr – Plainfield North High School multi-needs nurse
Tracy Mihaljevic – Lincoln Elementary School special education teacher
William Murphy – Plainfield East High School social studies teacher
Melissa O’Keefe – Plainfield North High School science teacher
Jacqueline Pieroni – John F. Kennedy Middle School sixth-grade science teacher
Stephanie Pohlman – Aux Sable Middle School special education teacher
Selena Landa - John F. Kennedy Middle School language arts teacher and Culture Club chairperson
Nicole Rossi Sandilands – Eagle Pointe Elementary School social worker
John Rosner – Plainfield High School-Central Campus Dean of Students
Donna Trillo Ruggles – Plainfield East High School ESL teacher
Kim Schuelke – Creekside Elementary School EL teacher
Lauren Turvey – Meadow View Elementary School fifth-grade teacher
Stacey Vander Heide – Districtwide reading specialist for Creekside, Eichelberger and Liberty elementary schools (nominated for work at Creekside)
Amber Witry - Plainfield High School-Central Campus guidance counselor
Erin Molly Zukas – Creekside Elementary School third-grade special education teacher