Kane County Reporter

At the Dec. 12 meeting of the Geneva Community School District Board of Education, the board honored two retiring staff members

Geneva Community High School Principal Tom Rogers spoke on behalf of retirees Lori Dowd, an English teacher at the high school, and Cathy Pool who works in the counseling department. Both women have been at the high school for over 25 years.

Rogers told the board Pool started as an English teacher in 1997 at the high school, and she was the staff member who brought the school newspaper back to life with her passion for journalism. She later joined the counseling and advising department in 2003. She has sponsored a variety of clubs and found many ways to support students, including offering food to those who might come to school hungry.

"Cathy also brought an idea to Geneva High School many years ago, and she believed that we could do a better job of acclimating, helping our incoming freshmen acclimate to Geneva Community High School," Rogers said. "So she started Frosh Fest, which eventually became Viking Fest because it not only helps incoming freshmen, but helps the new students who are coming to Geneva as well. They're not always freshmen when they come to Geneva High School, there's new students. And each year, along with that Viking Fest, we also each spring have helped our eighth grade students or incoming current eighth graders try to get acclimated earlier than the first day of school or just a couple of days before the school year. And Cathy has always been instrumental in helping make those eighth grade visits very beneficial and helping our students feel comfortable and confident."

The board was told Lori Dowd was hired back in 1996, coming from another Chicago area school. She was hired because of her willingness and ability to help in the drama department, teaching and directing, which she did for years, working in plays, musicals, and the drama club. The principal credited her for growing the school's very small drama department to a very popular program. She was also  commended for her ability to boost and encourage students in her classroom as well, with a knack for bringing out their best efforts.