Willowbrook presents 2021-22 second-quarter Outstanding Students and Outstanding Teacher

Pictured are the Willowbrook students who were recognized as Outstanding Students during an event in their honor on Dec. 8. They are (back row, from left) junior Lia Galindo, sophomore Emilia Smolucha, senior Tess Placek, senior Emma Rattana, junior Robert Ernst, senior Mary Whiting, senior Amia Jackson, (front row, from left) sophomore Zachary Flaskamp, freshman Zachary Morris, junior Andrew Brown and senior Angeles Reza. Pictured at right is freshman Evelyn Barron Hernandez.

Willowbrook World Language Department Head Katherine Strand-Carroll (center) receives the Outstanding Teacher award on Dec. 8. She was presented by Willowbrook juniors Neeraja Kumar (left) and Mahnoor Fatani (right).

On Dec. 8, 12 Willowbrook students were recognized as Outstanding Students for the second quarter of the 2021-22 school year.

Criteria to be chosen for that award include:

  • Demonstrating extraordinary achievement, outstanding effort, commendable attitude and motivation
  • Ability to overcome obstacles
  • Continuous exemplary performance

During the event, Willowbrook Principal Dr. Daniel Krause and Assistant Principal Dr. Jamie Gourley welcomed the recipients and their families, as well as the staff members who nominated them.

The Outstanding Students are:
Art: Senior Tess Placek

Career and Technical Education (CTE): Senior Amia Jackson

English: Sophomore Emilia Smolucha

Learning services: Sophomore Zachary Flaskamp

Literacy: Freshman Evelyn Barron Hernandez

Math: Senior Mary Whiting

Music: Senior Emma Rattana

Physical education: Junior Andrew Brown and senior Angeles Reza

Science: Junior Lia Galindo

Social studies: Freshman Zachary Morris

World languages: Junior Robert Ernst

Willowbrook World Language Department Head Katherine Strand-Carroll received the Outstanding Teacher award and was presented by Willowbrook juniors Neeraja Kumar and Mahnoor Fatani. To earn the Outstanding Teacher award, a staff member must treat teaching as a passion – not just a job, create a positive learning environment where students feel encouraged and supported, use a variety of strategies to engage students, be willing to offer extra support when needed, provide prompt and effective feedback to students on their learning and relate to and understand the viewpoints and perspectives of students.