District 88 celebrates School Board Members Day and American Education Week

This week is a special time for public education in Illinois. From Nov. 13 to 17, we will celebrate American Education Week, and we will recognize School Board Members Day on Nov. 15. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff and Board for all they do for our students each and every day inside the classroom and beyond.

We have more than 500 staff members at District 88 – from administrators, to teachers, to support staff, clerical staff and maintenance staff – and American Education Week provides a time to celebrate public education and honor those individuals who are building futures for our students. For more information about American Education Week, go to www.nea.org/grants/19823.htm.

As a district, we continue to receive national honors and be named as “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” by The Washington Post and as “Best High Schools” by U.S. News & World Report. We also continue to earn multiple recognitions from Niche Rankings. Those accomplishments are a result of our partnerships – it takes a committed staff, a knowledgeable Board of Education, engaged students and involved parents/guardians and community members.

Already this school year, the passion and dedication of our staff have helped our students attain tremendous success. Below are student and staff highlights from the first semester of the 2017-18 school year:

  • Seven Willowbrook seniors were named as Commended Students in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program.
  • Thirty-nine Addison Trail students were named as AT’s Best, which honors students who have achieved a "personal best."
  • Eleven Willowbrook students were recognized as Outstanding Students. Criteria to be chosen for that award include:
    • Demonstrating extraordinary achievement, outstanding effort, commendable attitude and motivation
    • Ability to overcome obstacles
    • Continuous exemplary performance
  • Last year, we partnered with the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce and the Addison Workforce Development Committee to work with local businesses to provide our students with real-world experiences. Those programs are continuing and expanding this year.
  • Three Willowbrook seniors committed to compete in their respective sport at the collegiate level.
    • Nicholas Cookingham: Volleyball, Lees-McRae College
    • Jack Jessen: Wrestling, Northwestern University
    • Ethan Schuemer: Basketball, St. Cloud State University
  • For the second year in a row, the Willowbrook Football Team qualified to compete in the Quarterfinals of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Playoffs (which will take place on Nov. 11). The team also claimed its first outright Conference title since 1982 and its first West Suburban Gold title.
  • Willowbrook senior Betty-Ann Garrett was named as the Wintrust Athlete of the Week for Oct. 13 by Wintrust and NBC Sports Chicago.
  • Willowbrook junior Victoria Palma competed at the IHSA Girls Cross-Country State meet.
  • The Willowbrook Special Olympics Volleyball Traditional Team made school history by becoming the first volleyball team at Willowbrook to qualify for the Special Olympics Illinois Fall Games.
  • Addison Trail senior Nick D’Ambrose was named as the Papa John’s Bears “High School All-Star" for Week 9 of the IHSA football season.
  • Addison Trail senior Nicci Scorza was recognized as a School Winner by the Wendy’s High School Heisman.
  • Twenty-seven District 88 students were named as Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-District Musicians.
  • Eight Addison Trail students and two staff members were selected for the 2018 Illinois High School Theatre Festival (IHSTF) All-State production of “Big Fish.”
  • Helping others and giving back remains a cornerstone of pride at District 88. Initiatives include hosting “Go Pink” events for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, blood drives, Relay For Life of District 88 All Youth, food drives, volunteering at local homeless shelters and more. This year, our students and staff also have donated funds and items to Texas, Puerto Rico and Mexico to assist those affected by the recent natural disasters in those areas.
  • Addison Trail physical education teacher Sheri D’Ambrose was honored as an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Those Who Excel award recipient.
  • Willowbrook Football Team Head Coach Nick Hildreth was named as the Papa John’s Bears High School “Coach of the Week” for Week 9 of the IHSA football season.

On Nov. 15, District 88 will join school districts throughout Illinois in celebrating School Board Members Day with this year's theme of "Leading by Learning." School Board members serve their communities without monetary compensation to make public education the best it can be for every child. Their policies and oversight guide the district as tough decisions are made on complex education and social issues that affect the entire community and individual students. Our Board members spend countless hours attending meetings, events and workshops to ensure our students receive a high-quality education.

The District 88 Board of Education is comprised of President Donna Craft Cain (who was honored as an ISBE Those Who Excel award recipient this year), Vice President Jay Irvin, Secretary Sharon Kucik and members Thomas Edmier, Timothy Gillen, Blanca Jessen and Mark Turk. Turk was appointed to the Board earlier this year to fill a seat that opened after Lisa Lullo resigned from the Board (she was a member of the Board since 2011). For more information about School Board Members Day, go to www.iasb.com/sbmd.cfm.

I would like to thank our Board and staff for making a positive difference for the students of District 88. Because of the support we receive from our stakeholders, including our Board of Education and staff members, District 88 continues to accomplish its mission of working for the continuous improvement of student achievement. We look forward to more successes to come, and we know that's possible because of the commitment of our Board of Education and staff members, as well as all of our partners. Thank you for your continued support of District 88.