The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 hosted its Distinguished Service Awards ceremony on Monday, May 2 at Ashyana Banquets. This ceremony annually honors those District 58 employees who exceed expectations and serve as inspirations to their community.
The 2016 DSA winner in the Staff Category is Nancy Mueller, instructional aide at El Sierra. She was nominated by an El Sierra sixth grader, Nathan. Mrs. Mueller has worked with a student in Nathan's class since they were in kindergarten. According to Nathan's essay, she not only has helped her assigned student, but the entire classroom as well!
The DSA Selection Committee spent considerable time reviewing the nominations for the Teacher Category. After much deliberation, the committee made an unprecedented, but completely merited, decision to recognize two teachers for this year's DSA winner in the Teacher Category.
The 2016 DSA winners in the Teacher Category are Gail Pistello and Kit Hamilton! Ms. Pistello is a PE teacher at Herrick and was nominated by her colleague Megan Winthrop. Ms. Winthrop’s nomination essay shared insights into Ms. Pistello's incredible work ethic, dedication and service-oriented nature. For instance, Ms. Pistello started the Herrick service organization Bloom's Angels in 2006 to help Herrick families in need. Under her leadership, Bloom's Angels has raised more than $30,000 in donations.
Ms. Hamilton is an eighth grade science teacher at O'Neill and was nominated by her student, Kira. In her nomination essay, Kira shared how she started eighth grade disliking science, but thanks to Ms. Hamilton, she now plans to take honors biology next year in high school.
The Education Foundation also honored the following Distinguished Service Award nominees:
- Alison Andersson, Hillcrest Instructional Aide
- David Balika, O’Neill Band Director
- Jon Belonio, El Sierra, Fairmount, Hillcrest, Kingsley & Whittier Art Teacher
- Angela Carlson, Indian Trail Third Grade Teacher
- Katy Casey, El Sierra & Kingsley Nurse
- Kelly Coleman, Whittier LRC Teacher
- Jen Conyac, Lester Second Grade Teacher
- Shor Costello, Highland Third Grade Teacher
- Dr. Kari Cremascoli, Superintendent of Schools
- Michele Doose, Pierce Downer Sixth Grade Teacher
- Dan Grajczyk, Belle Aire Head Custodian
- Donna Haidle, Grove Children’s Preschool Teacher
- Kit Hamilton, O’Neill Eighth Grade Science Teacher
- Sandi Hudecek, Highland Resource Teacher
- Maria Ibarra Lorence, Kingsley K Biliteracy Teacher
- Jennifer Kotor, Kingsley Kindergarten Teacher
- Jason Lynde, El Sierra Principal
- Liana Marino, Kingsley Third Grade Teacher
- Kris Marquez, El Sierra Resource Teacher
- Diana McIlvane, Kingsley Resource Teacher
- Louise Modine, Whittier Third Grade Teacher
- Katelyn Morgan, O’Neill BEST Program Teacher
- Nancy Mueller, El Sierra Instructional Aide
- Kate Nickell, O’Neill Seventh Grade English-Language Arts Teacher
- Gail Pistello, Herrick Physical Education Teacher
- Lauren Prosser, Hillcrest Second Grade Teacher
- Jenni Rodriguez, Fairmount Social Worker
- Kate Salsbury, Lester Sixth Grade Teacher
- Michelle Sanders, Pierce Downer 4th Grade Teacher
- Jean Schue, Henry Puffer and Kingsley PE Teacher
- Jen Skolimowski, Hillcrest Fourth Grade Teacher
- Leslie Walker, Hillcrest First Grade Teacher
Congratulations to all of our 2015-16 Distinguished Service Award winners and nominees!
View a video honoring the 2015-16 DSA nominees at https://youtu.be/oEEPsKcE5SQ.