U-46 honors longtime employees
During a reception held on April 7, the Elgin Area District U-46 Board of Education honored employees who have served the district, and its students, for 25, 30, 35 and even 40 years.
“The people in this room are certainly dedicated … there is no question of that. Serving any one organization and its mission for several decades is worth recognition. And we all — especially the boys and girls of U-46 — are better because of it,” said board President Ken Kaczynski.
U-46 Superintendent Jose M. Torres noted that many of the employees who were honored are products of the district. “Let me be the first to thank you all for your commitment to U-46, our schools, and most importantly — our students,” he said.
The honorees include:
40-year honoree: Gordon Flentge, Transportation-Vehicle Maintenance Coordinator.35-year honorees: Rebecca Carlson, Kimball Middle School principal#146;s secretary; Pamela Drafall, Highland Elementary fifth-grade teacher; Shelly Hertzog, Abbott Middle School Principal; Shirlene Hogue, Coleman Elementary second-grade teacher; Margaret Morgan, Horizon Elementary fourth-grade teacher; Pamela Norwood, Ontarioville Elementary second-grade teacher; Mary Schroeder, Sycamore Trails sixth-grade teacher; and Kerry Sund, Kimball Middle School Assistant Principal.30-year honorees: Linda Collura, Elgin High Dean#146;s secretary; Terri Dahm, Prairieview Elementary fourth-grade teacher, Nancy DeMarr, Elgin High business teacher; Heidi Gorajczyk, Elgin High Athletic Director secretary; Lori Grimes, Fox Meadow Elementary fifth-grade teacher; Jennifer Lynn Haley, Kenyon Woods Middle School physical education teacher; Timothy Hatfield, Canton Middle School social studies teacher; James Juliano, Kimball Middle School physical education teacher; Candida Kyle, Hanover Countryside Elementary split 5/6 teacher; JoAnn Lance, Otter Creek Elementary first-grade teacher; Cheryl Lemvig, Creekside Elementary principal#146;s secretary; Rhonda Matherson, Streamwood High guidance secretary; Alan Mendro, Elgin High driver#146;s ed teacher; John Musial, Kimball Middle School math teacher; Nydia Ramirez, Washington Elementary ELL teacher grades1-2; William Rosenberg, Ellis Middle School special education teacher; Patricia Rosiejka, Clinton Elementary third-grade teacher; David Saiz, Elgin High Science teacher; Leo Szpejnowski, Bartlett High Physical Ed/driver#146;s ed teacher; Melissa White, Horizon Elementary fourth-grade teacher; Cynthia Wilhelmi, Washington Elementary split grade 1-2 teacher; and Karen Witthuhn, Bartlett High business teacher.25-year honorees: Daryl Allen, Elgin High head custodian; Larry Allen, ESC head custodian; Greg Anthony, Streamwood High math teacher; Elizabeth Bailey, Larkin High business teacher; Jonathan Ames Bast, Otter Creek and Timber Trails Elementary music teacher; Jane Besch, South Elgin High English teacher; Donna Blahnik, Sunnydale Elementary principal#146;s secretary; Mary Cardenas, Bartlett High Food Service manager; Darlene Castelvecchi, Larkin High Cross Category teacher; Calina Cina, Hanover Countryside Elementary cross category resource teacher; Christine Coffey, Huff Elementary Early Childhood para-educator; Edward Comiza, Transportation-Bus Driver; Stephen Connell, Larkin High Science teacher; David Dahn, Canton Middle School Physical Ed. teacher; Yaneth Diaz, McKinley Elementary ELL first-grade teacher; Sheila Dillon, Prairieview Elementary sixth-grade teacher; Carl Draeger, Bartlett High math teacher; Michael Ehorn, Plant Operations Sports Field Manager; Patricia Fischer, Special Ed. Lead Vision Itinerant teacher; Jan Flentge, Highland Elementary Food Service Lead; Maryellyn Friel, Heritage and Timber Trails Elementary cross category resource teacher; Luann Gray, Centennial Elementary first-grade teacher; Sherry Griffin, Centennial Elementary third-grade teacher; Joe Gutierrez, Fox Meadow head custodian; Katherine Heikkinen, Kenyon Woods Middle School and elementary schools orchestra teacher; Janet Heim, Glenbrook Elementary first-grade teacher; Patricia Henson, Garfield, Nature Ridge, Washington Elementary physical education teacher; William Scott Horn, Century Oaks Elementary physical education teacher; Christine Jackson, Centennial Elementary fourth-grade teacher; Kathleen Kaminski, Streamwood High para-educator; Silavong Keo, Creekside Elementary head custodian; Rosalie Kettinger, Oakhill Elementary principal#146;s secretary; Shane Kottkamp, Kimball Middle School physical education teacher; Pamela Leas, adult education recruiter; Michael Lee, Tefft Middle School physical education teacher; William Lucarelli, Willard Elementary head custodian; Susan Meyers, transportation #8212; bus driver; Patricia Molley, Larsen Middle School Science teacher; Sharri Mortellaro, Oakhill Elementary Library Para-pro; Mary Moschini, Elgin High Family and Consumer Science teacher; Jacqueline Natali, Sunnydale Elementary Food Service Lead; Cary Nelsen, Washington Elementary fifth-grade teacher; John O#146;Brien, Bartlett High physical education teacher; Kathryn Olivarez, Eastview Middle School vocal teacher; Linda Orlik, South Elgin High registrar; George Phelan, Heritage Elementary second-grade teacher; Carol Runyan, Highland Elementary first-grade teacher; Karin Runzel, Willard Elementary first-grade teacher; Kimberly Ann Saletta, Tefft Middle School social studies teacher; Denise Sarna, Bartlett High physical education teacher; Jo-Wil Schambach, Hillcrest Elementary second-grade teacher; Kathleen Scumaci, Bartlett High Health secretary; Betty Skyles, transportation #8212; bus driver; Heidi Soderberg, Harriet Gifford Elementary second-grade teacher; Sharlet Spann, Larkin High Cafeteria Para-pro; Linda Wade, Bartlett High math teacher; Lynn Wahl, Kenyon Woods Middle School Family and Consumer Science teacher; Cynthia Wendt, Sheridan Elementary SET SWAS teacher; Gene Wohlert, Otter Creek Elementary physical education teacher; Chad Wolosek, Centennial Elementary physical education teacher; and Nancy Wuilleumier, plant operations director#146;s secretary.