District 300 Superintendent Susan Harkin recently visited with students at Cambridge Lakes Charter School. | District 300/Facebook
District 300 Superintendent Susan Harkin recently visited with students at Cambridge Lakes Charter School. | District 300/Facebook
The District 300 Board of Education recently recognized teachers and staff from throughout the district for 30 or more years of service.
During a Sept. 27 District 300 Board of Education meeting, the district recognized several staff who had achieved 30 years in the district: Bethany Biallas (French teacher at Jacobs High School), Lisa Biallas (first-grade teacher at Eastview Elementary School), Kimberley Duffey (sixth- and seventh-grade math at Dundee Middle School), Kolleen Hanetho (social worker at Hampshire High), Leisa Hastings (fourth-grade teacher at Eastview Elementary), Pamela Johnson (third-grade teacher at Liberty Elementary), Jackie Lukasik (cross-category resource teacher at Algonquin Middle), William Petersen (social studies teacher at Dundee Crown High), Kevin Pokorny (fifth-grade teacher at Eastview Elementary), Robert Skillman (social studies teacher at Dundee Crown High), and Diane York (STEM teacher at Hampshire and Neubert Elementary schools).
"So District 300 Board of Education has the honor of recognizing staff members who have served the district for 30 years or more," Susan Harkin, District 300 superintendent, said at the meeting. "During tonight's meeting, the board will recognize individuals who have reached milestones of 30 and 35 years of service in District 300. And on behalf of the Board of Education, I would like to thank each staff member for their tremendous dedication to our students and to our community."
All of the teachers were thanked by the superintendent and the board, and they all received a plaque and certificate commemorating their dedication to the district. The superintendent also read remarks from each teacher’s principal in honor of their legacies and achievements in their schools, with occasional input and comments from their students.
There were two staff members who were recognized for 35 years of service in the district. Charlene Cross is currently serving as an education service generalist in the central office, and her supervisor credits her with transforming special education in the district. Michael York is currently a language arts teacher at Hampshire Middle School, where his principal credits his impact on multiple generations of students.
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