After 45 years in the classroom, Diane Comandella has seen numerous changes in education. But she believes that the basics of teaching are still much the same. “The way you teach a child is to work with him or her,” said Comandella, who is retiring this year – she has[Read More…]

If Republic Steel had remained open, Bruce Brozynski might never have come to Parker Junior High School. Brozynski is retiring this spring after 16 years as assistant principal at Parker. His 27 years in education started after his first career – in accounting – came to a close when Republic,[Read More…]

Flossmoor village board members this week honored a former resident for years of service to the community. At Monday’s village board meeting, John J. Armellino Jr. shook hands with Mayor Paul Braun and received a plaque in appreciation of his elected and appointed positions in the Flossmoor dating back to 1991.[Read More…]

Homewood-Flossmoor Park District board members Tuesday approved a $16 million budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year. The budget, which was unanimously approved, includes several changes in spending that will help renovate and make improvements to park district facilities. The new fiscal year started on May 1 and will end April[Read More…]

Homewood-Flossmoor High School teacher Tim Caldwell’s 38-year teaching career has included having students qualify for state competition 49 out of the 50 seasons he’s coached swimming and water polo.  Photos of teams and elite swimmers at H-F are plastered on walls and cabinets in the swim coaches’ office and he[Read More…]

Ann Floyd, District 153 special education teacher. She has been a teacher for 38 years. For the first 23 years I worked for District 194 in Steger. The first 17 years were as a K-6 art teacher. The last six were as a seventh and eighth grade special education teacher.[Read More…]

Nancy Wilson, District 161 director of special education. She has a 29-year career as teacher and administrator. I began my career as a special education teacher at a cooperative program, where I worked for four years. After the birth of my second child, I stayed home with my children. (There[Read More…]

Linda Cheney, District 161 paraprofessional. She has worked in the district since 1997. I started at Western Avenue as the third grade classroom paraprofessional. I learned what an excellent group of teachers they had in third grade. I was then put with Ms. White, a very caring special education teacher, to help[Read More…]

Jill Sehlke, District 153 lunchroom cashier. She started in the district in 2009. I make a point every year to learn the name of each child who comes through my line. You would be surprised what a reaction you get when you say, “Hello John, how are you today?” A simple question like[Read More…]

Patricia Fears, principal of Heather Hill School. She has been a teacher for 21 years and an administrator for 12 years. My first year of teaching was at Blakeney Elementary School in Waynesboro, Ga. My tenure in Illinois began at Bryant Elementary School in Harvey and continued at Sauk Elementary[Read More…]