Darrell Judon. District 161 technology technician, is congratulated by Superintendent Dana Smith for receiving an Above & Beyond recognition at the Jan. 13 Board of Education meeting. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Education

D161 recognizes the first #AboveAndBeyond award winners of 2025

At its Jan. 13 meeting, the Flossmoor District 161 Board of Education recognized the #AboveAndBeyond winners for the second quarter of the 2024-25 school year. 

The district commended Seena Purham and Darrell Judon for their contributions to the district. Judon is a technology technician, and Purham is a special education teacher at Heather Hill Elementary. Haley Marti, District 161 Human Resources director, presented the awards to Purham and Judon.

Darrell Judon. District 161 technology technician, is congratulated by Superintendent Dana Smith for receiving an Above & Beyond recognition at the Jan. 13 Board of Education meeting. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Darrell Judon. District 161 technology technician, is congratulated by Superintendent Dana Smith for receiving an Above & Beyond recognition at the Jan. 13 Board of Education meeting. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

Colleagues and parents nominated Purham for the award. Donzell Lampkins Sr., a parent of one of Purham’s students, spoke at the board meeting. He said he and his wife nominated her because “she has been amazing.” 

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“Her dedication, intentionality and care for our child, and not just our child, but the classroom, is superb and goes above and beyond the call of duty,” Lampkins Sr. said. “The environment that she creates is not just cultivating a space for learning, but cultivating a space for caring and creativity.”

Heather Hill Elementary School special education teacher Seena Purham (center) received an #AboveAndBeyond award from Flossmoor School District 161, supported by superintendent Dana Smith (left) and parent Donzell Lampkins Sr. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

Marti read a letter from Staci Klein, a STEAM teacher at Western Avenue, nominating Judon for his hard work and dedication. Klein wrote that Judon is an indispensable employee of the district and that she appreciates his positive attitude and technological knowledge. 

“I certainly can attest that he does not make you feel silly when you ask him simple tech questions,” Marti said. 

Marti also mentioned how Judon was essential in converting report cards to standards-based grading and ensuring the district ran smoothly for the 2024-25 school year.

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