Plainfield Academy held its inaugural “You Matter” celebration on Thursday, February 27, 2025, honoring both students and staff with a day of recognition and appreciation.
The Academy is District 202’s alternative school.
The programs at the Academy provide a supportive environment for students’ academic, behavior, and transitional growth to develop independence and success through high individual expectations.
Plainfield Academy special education teacher Tamara Rupp led the “You Matter” day.
She and her colleagues worked together to design an event that would acknowledge every student regardless of where they stand in their educational journey.
“The heartbeat of “You Matter” was driven by our students, and the event quickly gained momentum,” Rupp said.
The celebration featured a special lunch donated by local businesses and included an inspirational message from guest speaker, Dr. Kate Morris, District 202 Director of High School Curriculum and Instruction. 
Dr. Morris emphasized the event's core message which is that every student and staff member is seen, valued, and appreciated.
“I am thankful for the staff that participated in planning and the community organizations and businesses that supported it,” Plainfield Academy principal Karyn Holstead said.
“The more we all work together, the better the outcome it is for our students,” she added.
The “You Matter” day marks what organizers hope will become an annual tradition at Plainfield Academy, reinforcing the school’s commitment to recognizing the inherent worth of each individual in its community.
Rupp said the day was a resounding success thanks to the generosity of the community partners and enthusiastic participation of the students and staff.
“Together, we created a day that truly celebrated the worth of every individual and reinforced the message that, indeed, You Matter,” Rupp said.