As the 2019-20 school year draws to a close, School District 64 is celebrating career milestones of 40 teachers and staff members.
District 64 announced the retirements of 15 staff members, celebrated 14 staff members who have attained 25 years of service and honored 11 teachers who achieved tenure. According to the Illinois School Code, a teacher is considered probationary for the first four years they work full-time in a district; after that they achieve tenure.
“I’m thankful for each of these employees, whether they are teachers, custodians, nurses or secretaries. Each of them has made a difference in the lives of our students and for that we’re grateful,” said District 64 Superintendent Eric Olson. “For those retiring, we wish them a very happy and healthy retirement. We’ll certainly miss them in our schools.”
While District 64 will not be able to host a banquet in honor of retirees this year, it will produce a printed program highlighting the 25-year staff members and short remembrances of the careers of each of its retirees. The programs will be delivered to the honored staff.
The staff members reaching career milestones this year include:
Carpenter Elementary School
- Renee Jurczak – 25 years of service
Emerson Middle School
- Evelyn Dobrydnio – tenure
- Alex Teater – tenure
- Dave Franz – 25 years of service
- Tina Gomez – 25 years of service
- Charlene John – 25 years of service
- Linda Adamowski – retirement
- Keith Liddell – 25 years of service
- Ourania Prokos – 25 years of service
- Michael Kennedy – retirement
- Lisa Swain – retirement
- Steve Senf – retirement
- June Sorensen – retirement
Field Elementary School
- Kathryn Balogi – tenure
- Kathleen Graham – tenure
- Kathy Pierucci – retirement
Franklin Elementary School
- Robert Rasmussen – tenure
- Giovanni Biondo – retirement
- Mary Jones – retirement
Jefferson Preschool
- Ashley Lichter – tenure
- Amy Rooney – tenure
- Heather Friese – 25 years of service
- Barbara Murphy – 25 years of service
- Jackie Tsevis – retirement
Lincoln Middle School
- Jillian Gronwick – tenure
- Colleen Daly – 25 years of service
- Andrew Duerkop – 25 years of service
- Christopher Francis – 25 years of service
- (Jon) Scott Hulting – retirement
- Thomas Nasshan – retirement
- Michelle Sutschek – retirement
- Richard Szflarski – retirement
Roosevelt Elementary School
- Suzanne Kaplan – 25 years of service
- Christina O’Donnell – 25 years of service
Washington Elementary School
- Caitline Cooney – tenure
- Kerry Downes-Columbia - tenure
- Amber Laureano – tenure
- Alex Govis – 25 years of service
- Steven Hernandez – retirement
- Diane Kucharski – retirement